Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline has been able to maximize quarterback Julian Sayin and star sophomore receiver Jeremiah Smith's Heisman candidate-level performances this season, but he's had to cover up for the rest of the receiving corps in the process.
OSU defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, meanwhile, has done well to guide the defense to another dominant showing in Jim Knowles' absence -- but it's come via covering up defensive losses on the line, like Tyleik Williams and JT Tuimoloau, and a WR room that didn't have a single 35-plus-yard showing outside of Smith.
USA Today's Paul Myerberg pointed out those worries while still lauding the Buckeyes as a college football Week 5 "winner." Myerberg claimed the offense "might have some work to do," but was overly enthusiastic about Patricia's performance thus far in 2025.
"Amid legitimate questions about the health of the defensive line following a rash of offseason departures, the Buckeyes’ defense aced this first road trip of the regular season by holding the Huskies to 61 yards on 30 carries with nine tackles for loss. Ohio State also had six sacks," Myerberg wrote.
"The defending national champions are building a blueprint that has successfully papered over some apparent flaws, including the rebuilt defensive front and a receiver corps that lacks reliability beyond superstar sophomore Jeremiah Smith.
"In fact, the most positive development from the first month of the regular season is the play of the defense under new coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes have allowed just two touchdowns through four games, one with under four minutes to go in the opener against No. 7 Texas and the second on a defensive breakdown last Saturday against Ohio.
"The offense might have some work to do. OSU averaged 9.5 yards per play against Grambling and Ohio but just 4.7 yards per snap against Texas and Washington. But there are elite building blocks in Smith, Sayin and true freshman running back Bo Jackson, who ran for 80 yards on 17 carries on Saturday."
All of this may seem like nitpicking after a 24-6 win over Washington in Seattle. Still, it's important to point out potential weaknesses now before things get worse.
OSU won't be invincible forever. All it will take in the College Football Playoff is a single bad game to end the team's national championship designs. This fanbase won't be happy, despite the parade this past January.
As things are, though, the timing of the biggest complaints in Columbus this season comes after three-score deficits for the opponents. That's as good a problem to have as any.