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The Ohio State football team must fix this one big problem

The Ohio State football team has to get better in this one area, otherwise it will cost them a game.

By Ryan Stano

Sept. 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Brandon Inniss (11) is pursued by Western Michigan Broncos cornerback Nyquann Washington (13) during the second half at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Sept. 7, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Brandon Inniss (11) is pursued by Western Michigan Broncos cornerback Nyquann Washington (13) during the second half at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images / Barbara J. Perenic/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
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The Ohio State football team looked like a championship-level team on offense against Marshall. They pretty much did anything they wanted against the Thundering Herd. They scored on four explosive plays and also showed they could drive down the field without any problems.

Normally, when you win a game 49-14, there isn't much to work on. That's not the case for the Buckeyes. As good as the offense was, the special teams were the exact opposite. They were absolutely horrendous in pretty much every aspect.

Jayden Fielding kicked the ball out of bounds three straight times on kickoffs in the first half. It's not like the ball barely crept over the out-of-bounds line near the end zone either. These kicks were going out of bounds at the six or seven-yard line. They weren't even close.

The Ohio State football team must fix their special teams

That wasn't the only debacle from the special teams unit. Brandon Inniss muffed a punt inside his own ten-yard line that Marshall recovered. This also occurred in the first half. Had there not been a penalty for illegal formation by the Thundering Herd, they could have had a runway for an easy touchdown.

These are mistakes that you can get away with when you face an inferior opponent like Marshall. The Thundering Herd simply don't have enough talent to take advantage of these mistakes. Still, they did drive the ball down the field at the end of the have for a touchdown after that last kickoff out of bounds.

Had this happened against Oregon or Penn State, the Ohio State Buckeyes could have found themselves in a big-time problem. They have to get this cleaned up immediately before they take on a team that is actually good. That starts this week when they travel to Michigan State.

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Special teams are something that can make or break a game. I'd be surprised if Fielding gets another shot at being the kicker this season.

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