The Ohio State football program is taking on Ohio for the first time in the Shoe in 15 years. It will be the final non-conference game that the Buckeyes play this season, as they have already taken down Texas and Grambling State. It will be a good chance for the offense to continue to hum.
After struggling against the Longhorns, the Ohio State Buckeyes were able to really open up the offense against the Tigers. Jeremiah Smith was particularly good in that game, grabbing five catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns. That was a good job of getting his Heisman candidacy back up.
Smith was one of the preseason candidates for the Heisman Trophy after finishing the run to the College Football Playoff in as spectacular a fashion as possible. No receiver has won the award since Devonta Smith back in 2020. Smith has a shot to become the next one to do it with a big game against Ohio.
The Ohio State football team should shred Ohio's defense
The Bobcats shouldn't put up much of a fight on the defensive end of the field. They have the 83rd-ranked pass defense in the country through two games, and it's not like they've played against Peyton Manning. They've played Rutgers and West Virginia so far.
Julian Sayin should be able to sling the ball around as much as he wants in the first half of this game. He is going to target Smith as much as possible because the Bobcats simply don't have the defensive manpower to shut him down. He could go for 200+ yards if he plays long enough.
As a receiver, Smith needs to have games where he is going to have big statistical games. Putting up big numbers against bad teams will help him later in the year when multiple candidates have good resumes for the award. While beating up on Ohio won't win him the award, it gives him a good head start.
Sayin should receive some consideration later in the year if he is able to play as efficiently as he did against Grambling State. That was an almost perfect performance. Still, the Ohio State Buckeyes will go as far as Smith can take them later in the year against the best teams on their schedule.
There's no doubt that Smith is one of the best players in the country. Now, he's going to shred the Bobcats in primetime.