The Ohio State Buckeyes are limping into Big Ten play with a serious identity crisis on offense, and it all comes to a head Saturday afternoon when Illinois rolls into Columbus. This unit, usually one of the most lethal in the country, has been a total mixed bag this season, struggling big time in both the rushing and passing attacks. Coach Ryan Day laid it out: the offense has got to step up.
Run Angry, Buckeyes, Or Else
If there’s one thing Ohio State absolutely has to fix, it’s the run game. These guys are ranked a dismal 79th nationally in rushing yards right now, and the running backs have just not found any consistency all season. Good news, maybe? Illinois hasn’t exactly been a brick wall against the run, giving up 131 yards per game on the ground. They got gashed for 194 by UAB and 147 by Duke’s Nate Sheppard! It’s not just the offensive line needing to produce more, though that’s a given. It’s on Bo Jackson and Ja’Kobi Jackson too. Day wants his backs to “run angry” this week. If they can get something going early on the ground and find that consistency, things could look good. If not, get ready for another tough afternoon of one-dimensional football.
Someone Else NEEDS to Catch a Ball, STAT
Look, we all know Jeremiah Smith is a beast. He’s got 21 catches for 400 yards, and often he can just put the offense on his back. But teams have seen him now, they’ve played against him multiple times. Entering Big Ten play, Ohio State needs a serious second option at wide receiver. Right now, no other receiver has more than nine receptions or 135 yards. Seriously? Thirteen different players have at least one catch, but outside of Smith, there’s zero consistent production. Julian Sayin is clearly forcing the ball to Smith, and yeah, sometimes it works. But against better defenses, like Illinois is bringing, Brandon Inniss and Devin McCuin HAVE to emerge as clear No. 2 options. If they don’t, this team’s ceiling gets a whole lot lower.
Third Down Disasters Are Sinking This Offense
A huge chunk of Ohio State’s offensive inconsistency comes down to one thing: they can’t stay on the field. Their third down conversion rate is a shocking 36.3 percent, putting them at 102nd nationally. Think about that for a second! Meanwhile, the Illinois defense ranks 61st, holding opponents to just 34.9 percent on third down. Momentum in Big Ten games flips on a dime, and it almost always happens on third down. The Buckeyes simply have to be better, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith needs to find a rhythm with this group, fast. It all starts Saturday. If they can’t convert, Illinois will feast, and Ohio State’s hopes for establishing their identity will vanish faster than a summer day.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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