After another less-than-stellar outing against Rutgers, the Ohio State offense has questions but has two major factors going for it: they’re 9-0 and still first in the CFP Rankings. It sounds like a broken record at this point that Kyle McCord and the offense as a whole are not quite up to par with what Ohio State has had thus far in the Ryan Day era. Even then, again, they’re still 9-0 and ranked first in the CFP Rankings.
The incredible play of the defense is a major factor, obviously. But having the second-best offense in the Big Ten in terms of yardage and third in scoring feels like the sky is falling. The dead horse has been beaten enough but that 2002 Ohio State team was 70th in the nation in yardage.
Regardless, Ohio State has three games left including this weekend against Michigan State. Overall, the Spartans are looking to the offseason so they can hire a coach and put the Mel Tucker situation behind them.
Ohio State Offense Must Continue Dominance vs. Michigan State
Quarterback “Struggles”
In the Day era, the Ohio State offense has had very little resistance against Michigan State. In his four years, day’s offense has put up 49, 56, 52, and 34 points and has averaged nearly 580 yards. Michigan State’s secondary is not nearly as bad as it was but McCord and company should be okay this year.
Leading up to this game, McCord is often the brunt of many’s frustrations. He’s not a first-round quarterback like Justin Fields or C.J. Stroud and he will be the first-day quarterback to not receive an invite to the Heisman Trophy ceremony. He has missed his marks a few times and has made a few bone-headed throws.
Despite that, he’s second in the Big Ten in yards and quarterback rating, third in completion percentage, and fourth in touchdowns.
McCord is fine and will be fine. Ohio State does need to do better to game plan around him and let him manage the game rather than try to take over as they’ve seen in the past. Fields and Stroud were good enough to play hero ball. McCord does not quite have the gene but he has elite weapons.
The Spartan secondary has allowed nearly 223 yards per game through the air this year. They’ve played two offenses worth mentioning and gave up 536 yards and four touchdowns to Washington and 357 yards and four touchdowns to Michigan. The Ohio State offense should be able to continue developing as the massive clash in Ann Arbor looms in just over two weeks.
The Impact of Missing Playmakers
The game against Rutgers had a few injury-related awakenings. First off, TreVeyon Henderson is good at football and he is easily RB1.
Yet again, Henderson came in and showed the Ohio State offense that it would do well to go through him. After a welcome-back party at Wisconsin where he amassed 162 yards and a touchdown, Henderson gashed Rutgers to the tune of 12 yards and one touchdown. Henderson is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball and if he were healthy, he’d have a legitimate case to be the top back in the conference.
The other takeaway is that missing Cade Stover and Emeka Egbuka hurts. Both players were available as of kick-off but neither stepped on the field. It was obvious.
Stepping up in Stover’s place was Gee Scott, Jr. and he played well enough, even scoring an impressive touchdown. However, Scott is just not quite the athlete that Stover is. He only recorded three catches for 24 yards and that score but he was given more opportunities to make an impact. Scott only dropped one pass but it was a perfect chunk play and it stalled out the drive.
Against Michigan State, barring health, Stover will be asked to step up once again as the secondary will focus on the weapons outside.
Egbuka was also available but was evidently not healthy enough to go. He is one of the best WR2s in the nation and without him, defenses can key in on the main threat of Marvin Harrison, Jr. The kick and punt return game has been non-existent, as per usual. However, Egbuka’s absence only exacerbated it. Again, assuming health, look for Egbuka to get going early against the Spartans.
Strike the Pose
It’s been 16 years since the Ohio State offense has had a Heisman Trophy winner and Harrison is still making a legitimate case despite only four catches for 25 yards against Rutgers. Two of those catches, however, were incredibly athletic touchdowns which did not quell the hype.
The Heisman market is not unlike that of DeVonta Smith‘s back in 2019 where no quarterback went and took the award for themself. Of course, thus far, Harrison has not put up the numbers Smith had. With three games left to make a mark and have his Heisman Moment, Harrison is going to have to go above and beyond. In an offense with so many weapons, he will have to continue making the most of his opportunities.
Thus far, Harrison has hauled in 52 passes for 914 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s easily atop the Big Ten leaderboard and is top five in touchdowns and top ten in yards in the nation. With big games against Michigan State, Minnesota, and Michigan, Harrison can be the next in a not-so-long-line of wide receivers to hoist the trophy.
Sing the Song
There’s a song that Buckeye faithful sing about not giving a darn about the whole state of Michigan. Oddly enough, Michigan State would happen to fall under that umbrella.
Ohio State and Michigan State have faced off 51 times in history and the Buckeyes own a healthy 36-15 lead over the Spartans. The last time MSU prevailed was that 2015 last-second field goal game where Urban Meyer forgot about the existence of Ezekiel Elliott which prompted the running back to declare for the draft in the aftermath.
Ohio State has won seven in a row and, aside from the 17-16 win in 2016, it hasn’t been particularly close. Ohio State just needs to keep doing what has been working and not suffer a letdown with only a few weeks to go.
