Through the first five games of the season, the Ohio State defense was considered one of the best in the nation. Then, Oregon feasted and put out a blueprint for the rest of the Ohio State foes. Given, that one bad game is not the end of the world for the defense; however, it was reminiscent of the pre-Jim Knowles era.
Despite that loss to Oregon on October 12, the Ohio State defense ranks well in the nation thanks to a strong start. With six games to go, the Buckeyes’s 11.0 points per game rank as fifth-best in the country. Additionally, the Ohio State defense is fifth in the FBS in total defense (254.3 yards per game), eighth in rushing defense (86.3), and 16th in passing defense (168.0 yards per game).
Previously, we took a look at the offense. Now, let’s focus on the defense.
Buckeye Bye Week Breakdown: Is The Defense Blueprint Out?
Run Defense? Yes. Pass Rush? Nope.
The strength of this Ohio State defense is its run defense. However, over the last two games, there have been some cracks in the armor. In the first four games, Ohio State opponents were held to 247 yards on the ground off 134 rushes and just one touchdown. That’s 61.75 yards per game and 1.84 yards per rush.
Over the last two weeks, Ohio State has surrendered 271 yards and three touchdowns off 58 rushes, good for 135.5 yards per game and 4.67 yards per carry.
Ty Hamilton and Tyleik Williams have been great on the interior defensive line both in run defense and in the pass rush.
The issue has been on the edges. Jaylahn Tuimoloau leads the way with five tackles for loss and three sacks. Jack Sawyer has two-and-a-half tackles for loss and sacks. When five games are against inept offenses and that’s all they can manage, eyebrows are raised and questions are asked. For reference, the FBS leader in sacks has 11 and the leader in tackles for loss has 15 (both belong to San Diego State’s Trey White). Ohio State’s entire team has recorded 17 sacks and 40 tackles for loss.
However, this is all fine and dandy when you play lesser opponents. Against the one team with a pulse, the Ohio State defense managed two tackles for loss and did not sack Dillon Gabriel once. He had all day to dissect the secondary.
The pass rush will have an opportunity to get going, however. Five of the final six opponents left on the schedule average at least one sack allowed per game (Indiana has only allowed four).
Linebacker Issues
This year was supposed to be the year the Ohio State linebackers bounced back. Between Cody Simon, Sonny Styles, and C.J. Hicks, the corps should have been fine. It’s been an up-and-down season.
Styles leads the team with 29 tackles and has added two-and-a-half tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. It’s frustrating because Styles has flashed. Against Iowa, he was everywhere and was a big reason for the Buckeyes’ stifling the Hawkeyes on the ground. He’s been hanging around the 70s in terms of PFF grading, so he’s been above average, but not elite.
Simon was named a captain and recipient of the “Block O” jersey. He recorded just his second 10-tackle game in his career against Oregon. However, assuming Knowles picks him out in the post-game film study, there is one play that will stick out. In the fourth quarter, Ohio State was leading 28-22 early. Oregon’s Gabriel pulled down a read option because Tuimoloau sold out to stop the running back and the quarterback scampered in 27 yards untouched. Simon also bit on the run fake with Styles in coverage, leaving a gaping hole. If Simon had hesitated, he could have come over to fill the gap and potentially get the stop on third and two.
Finally, Hicks has been seeing his role diminish. He logged the start in Week 1 due to Simon’s injury. Against Oregon, he only appeared for four snaps. Against Iowa, it was eight. Sophomore Arvell Reese has been out-snapping Hicks this year.
With three top-40 rushing attacks left on the schedule, the Ohio State defense will have to trust the linebackers to come up and make stops.
Secondary Concerns
The lack of a pass rush put a lot of stress on the Buckeyes’ secondary in the loss to Oregon. Gabriel was able to stand in the pocket and pick apart the secondary with ease.
The two safeties, Lathan Ransom and Caleb Downs have been the MVPs of the defense. In each game, both safeties have been able to step up and make crucial stops.
It was the cornerbacks who struggled against Oregon. In the first five games, the Ohio State defense held opponents to 129.8 yards per game through the air and surrendered just two passing touchdowns. Heading into the Oregon matchup, much was made of Gabriel dink-and-dunking his way with high-percentage throws all year.
Thanks to the lack of a pass rush, Gabriel had all day to pick apart the secondary, and Denzel Burke was on the receiving end of the onslaught. According to PFF, Burke was targeted eight times. He ended up allowing eight catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Davison Igbinosun has been solid this year with his sticky, physical play. While he has been hit with a couple of holding or pass interference calls, his high-risk, high-reward play has been key to the Buckeyes’ defense.
BIA — “Best In America,” as the unit prides itself — was great against inept offenses. Sure, it was left out to dry without any tangible pass rush at Oregon. Regardless, when a unit thinks of itself so highly, that should be no issue.
The secondary has plenty of opportunities to get back on track over the next six weeks.
The Road Ahead
The key for the Ohio State defense will be to take care of business against opponents it very obviously can overwhelm. It looked great against Akron, Western Michigan, Marshall, Michigan State, and Iowa, there is no denying that fact. However, none of those teams prepared the unit for the Oregon offense that amassed 514 yards, the most since the 2022 CFP Semifinal Peach Bowl loss to Georgia. It was also the most points allowed since that bowl game and just the second 30-point performance allowed.
- Nebraska: 72nd in scoring offense (28.0 points per game), 77th in total offense (381.3 yards per game), 57th in passing offense (244.7 yards per game), 90th in rushing offense (136.7 yards per game)
- at Penn State: 31st in scoring offense (34.2 points), 14th in total offense (471.2 yards), 33rd in passing offense (270.0 yards), 28th in rushing offense (201.2 yards)
- Purdue: 101st in scoring offense (23.7 points), 106th in total offense (340.0 yards), 109th in passing offense (183.8 yards), 73rd in rushing offense (156.2 yards)
- at Northwestern: 110th in scoring offense (21.7 points), 120th in total offense (299.5 yards), 113th in passing offense (180.0 yards), 103rd in rushing offense (119.5 yards)
- Indiana: Second in scoring offense (47.5 points), fourth in total offense (515.7 yards), 10th in passing offense (315.3 yards), 31st in rushing offense (200.3)
- Michigan: 102nd in scoring offense (23.5 points), 119th in total offense (306.3 yards), 132nd in passing offense (115.0 yards), 39th in rushing offense (191.3 yards)
The Last Word
The Ohio State defense has a fantastic opportunity to get back on track. Only two teams have scoring offenses better than 72nd. Only two teams have total offenses better than 77th.
Bear in mind, that there are 134 FBS teams. Michigan is near the bottom across the board but overlooking them would be a mistake. Meanwhile, Indiana hasn’t quite faced a good defense. Regardless, statistically, the Hoosiers have one of the best offenses in the country.
Penn State’s offense does not jump off the page but the Nittany Lions have played Ohio State tough and will do so again. Drew Allar is starting to feel himself and if the Ohio State defense forgets to wake up as it did against Oregon, it very well could kick-start his Heisman campaign.
Purdue and Northwestern could give the Buckeyes two opportunities to pitch shutouts. They are not very good and that’s putting it mildly.
