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Ohio State Shows they're ready to live up to high hopes

After the win in Week 2, the Ohio State football team has shown they are prepared for the high hopes everyone has for them.

By Tyler Lyman

Sept. 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeye football players pose with strength and conditioning assistant KJ Redmon of Western Michigan during the second half of an NCAA Division I football game on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
Sept. 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeye football players pose with strength and conditioning assistant KJ Redmon of Western Michigan during the second half of an NCAA Division I football game on Saturday at Ohio Stadium. / Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Ohio State's 46-point blowout of Akron in Week 1 showed just how high expectations are for the 2024 season. But if there were any doubts, the Buckeyes’ 56-0 win against Western Michigan in Week 2 made it clear they're living up to the hype.

Ohio State dominated from the start of their game on Saturday. The offense was on fire, scoring touchdowns on eight of 13 drives and racking up 683 yards—121 more than any game last year. After some early criticism about their slow start and run blocking against Akron, the Buckeyes addressed those issues head-on. They scored on five of their first six drives, ran for six touchdowns, and averaged seven yards per carry. It’s the first time they’ve scored six rushing touchdowns in a game since 2019.

On defense, Ohio State was even more impressive. They earned their first shutout since 2019, holding Western Michigan to just 99 total yards. It’s the first time since 2017 that Ohio State’s kept an opponent under 100 yards.

The Buckeyes were relentless, even after their starters were out. They scored on two of four possessions after backup QB Will Howard took over and could’ve scored on a third if they hadn’t kneeled to run out the clock. Meanwhile, the defense forced five 3-and-outs in the second half, even with backups in.

Ryan Day wasn’t surprised by the dominant performance, attributing it to a strong week of practice. “We practiced hard and physically, and I had a good feeling going into the game,” he said. “It came down to the players playing really hard.”

Ohio State took Western Michigan seriously, knowing they had a competitive game against Wisconsin in Week 1. Linebacker Sonny Styles emphasized starting strong to avoid letting the opponent get any hope.

The Buckeyes have one of the most talented rosters in college football, with the big questions being the offensive line and quarterback play. Both areas looked solid on Saturday. The offensive line dominated despite missing Donovan Jackson again, and Howard had another good game, completing 18 of 26 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown, plus a rushing touchdown.

If these trends continue, Ohio State could be the most complete team in the country. Their defense has been stellar, allowing just six points in two games. The running backs, TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, combined for 174 yards and four touchdowns, and the receiving corps, led by Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith, continues to impress.

Looking ahead, Ohio State is likely to be favored in every game this season. Oregon struggled against Boise State and Idaho, Michigan looked off in a loss to Texas, and Penn State barely escaped Bowling Green.

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But even with these signs, the Buckeyes have a long way to go to achieve their major goals including beating Michigan, winning the Big Ten, and going for the national championship. Western Michigan was one of their weaker opponents, so while Saturday’s performance was promising, there's still a lot to prove.

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