There was no drama this time. Ohio State scored touchdowns on each of its first four drives, built a 35-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 59-3 victory over Kent State on Saturday.

After blowing a 20-point fourth-quarter lead against Texas one week earlier, the biggest question wasn’t whether the Buckeyes would win. It was how they would respond, and Ohio State answered that question quickly.

Episode 36 of Off-Script Ohio breaks down the biggest takeaways from the dominant win, including Julian Sayin’s efficient afternoon, Jeremiah Smith making Ohio State history, young players making their case and a defense that looked much more like the unit we expected coming into the season.

Ohio State finished with 518 yards of offense while holding Kent State to just 119 yards. The Golden Flashes converted only 4-of-14 third downs and never seriously threatened the Buckeyes.

Was Kent State a great measuring stick? Obviously not. But after the Texas collapse, Ohio State needed a game where they played with urgency from the opening snap. The Buckeyes scored 21 points in the first quarter and had the game essentially finished before halftime.

It doesn’t erase what happened in Austin, but it was the kind of response Ryan Day needed to see before Big Ten play begins.

Julian Sayin was efficient without needing to do anything spectacular, completing 18-of-22 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns. He looked comfortable operating the offense and avoided the mistakes that can turn easy games into unnecessary problems.

He even connected with Brandon Inniss on a 49-yard Hail Mary on the final play of the first half. Jeremiah Smith also made more Ohio State history. The junior broke Michael Jenkins’ school record for career receiving yards and finished with five catches for 85 yards.

But perhaps more importantly, Ohio State finally got contributions from some of the young receivers around him. Five-star freshman Chris Henry Jr. turned a short pass into a 75-yard touchdown, while Brock Boyd caught four passes and continued to show why he could become a bigger part of the offense. Luke Fahey also got extended fourth-quarter action, throwing for 141 yards and a touchdown despite an interception.

These aren’t necessarily players Ohio State needs to rely on right now. They could become much more important later in the season.

This was probably the most encouraging part of the response. Ohio State’s defense had plenty to answer after Texas, particularly after struggling to generate pressure and close out the game late. Against Kent State, there was never much doubt.

The Buckeyes held the Golden Flashes to 119 yards and three points, while the defense consistently created negative situations and kept Kent State from finding any rhythm. There were even a few memorable moments, including freshman defensive tackle Jamir Perez scooping up a fumble and returning it 25 yards for a touchdown at 349 pounds.

The defensive end rotation is worth watching heading into Big Ten play. Zion Grady missed the game after his injury against Texas, allowing Qua Russaw to start opposite Kenyatta Jackson Jr., while Beau Atkinson also saw opportunities.

Kent State was exactly the type of opponent Ohio State needed after Texas. The Buckeyes handled their business, got young players valuable reps and entered Big Ten play with some of the questions from Austin at least temporarily quieted.

Now comes the real test. Can Sayin maintain this level of efficiency against Big Ten defenses? Can the defensive front consistently create pressure? And what does the rotation look like once Grady returns?

The Texas loss isn’t erased. But 59-3 was about as clean a response as Ohio State could have asked for. Now we find out whether the lessons actually stuck.

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“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.

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On episode 217 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Justin and Connor are back with another guest, and this time we are doing our annual state of the union with Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch.

Jardy was boots on the ground for the Buckeyes’ trip to Puerto Rico and filled us in on what the team did, how they looked, and everything else from the trip. We also discussed the starting center position, the lineup versatility, and where LJ Smith may fit in.

We also talked about Jake Diebler, the national perception of the team, and the recently released full Ohio State schedule.

Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! We have episodes every Thursday morning.

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Ohio State is looking to bounce back, and the Buckeyes have the right opponent to do it against. Episode 35 of Off-Script Ohio gets you ready for Ohio State's home matchup with Kent State, as Cole breaks down what to watch for as the Buckeyes try to move past a gut-punch loss in Austin.

Ohio State enters at 1-1 and No. 6 in the country after blowing a 23-3 fourth-quarter lead to Texas, a game that saw the Longhorns become the first team since 1988 to overcome a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit against an AP No. 1 team. Kent State, meanwhile, is also 1-1, having followed a 57-0 loss to South Carolina with a 36-15 win over Wofford. Ohio State has won all three previous meetings between the programs, and enters as roughly a 52.5-point favorite.

The biggest question isn't whether Ohio State wins, it's how the Buckeyes respond. Does this team come out with something to prove, or does the Texas loss linger into the first quarter? Kent State isn't devoid of talent, either. Quarterback Dru DeShields is a legitimate dual-threat coming off an 18-touchdown, three-interception season, and playmakers like Wayne Harris and Da'Realyst Clark give the Golden Flashes real juice in the passing game and on special teams.

On offense, Cole wants to see how aggressive Arthur Smith gets with his play-calling in a lower-stakes environment, and whether a receiver beyond Jeremiah Smith. Brock Boyd, Chris Henry Jr., Brandon Inniss or Devin McCuin — can finally have a breakout day. Smith torched Texas for 164 yards, but the rest of the receiver room was quiet, and that's a problem Ohio State needs to start solving before Big Ten play ramps up.

Defensively, the story is about finishing. Ohio State held Texas to three points through three quarters before completely unraveling in the fourth, and Cole wants to see early signs that the issue was a one-game blip rather than something structural.

Cole also runs through the names he wants to see more of as the game (hopefully) opens up, including Isaiah West, Tavien St. Clair and a deeper look at the young defensive backs who flashed against Texas. This one's about answers, not suspense.

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Episode 33 of Off-Script Ohio is all about the Buckeyes’ trip to Austin and the aftermath of a brutal loss to Texas. Cole and Joey break down what went right for Ohio State, which players stood out and how the Buckeyes managed to let a game slip away after controlling so much of it.

The second-half collapse is a major focus, including the miscues that allowed Texas to completely flip the game and turn what looked like a comfortable Ohio State victory into a disaster. The guys also look beyond Jeremiah Smith and discuss whether Ohio State’s other wide receivers did enough to establish themselves as reliable options in the passing game.

On the other side of the ball, Cole and Joey break down the defense and what the performance means for a unit that entered the season with plenty of questions after losing significant production from last year’s team.

From there, the conversation gets bigger. Should Ohio State fans reevaluate Ryan Day? What did the game tell us about Arthur Smith’s offense? And how should we view Matt Patricia and the direction of the defense moving forward?

Finally, Cole and Joey look ahead to where the Buckeyes go from here and whether the Texas loss changes their expectations for the rest of the 2026 season. After entering the year with national championship expectations, Ohio State now has to figure out what went wrong in Austin, and whether they can fix it before the season gets away from them.

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“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.

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On episode 216 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Justin and Connor are back with another guest, and this week it is the host of the “BlueBlooded Podcast”, Ryan Hammer.

Hammer is a college basketball content creator and podcaster with 15,000 YouTube subscribers. We talked with Hammer about the national perception of the Buckeyes, what Jake Diebler has to do this season, and why Amare Bynum and John Mobley aren’t getting enough credit.

We also talk about the changing media landscape, the way he makes his videos, and his recent A10 video tour. Also, Ohio State adds Jared Sullinger to the staff, joining Will Buford.

Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! We have episodes every Thursday morning.

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Ohio State football is already on to one of its biggest games of the season. Episode 34 of Off-Script Ohio gets you ready for the Buckeyes’ road trip to Austin to take on No. 5 Texas, as Cole and Joey break down the biggest storylines heading into Saturday night’s matchup.

Both teams enter the game coming off dominant season-opening victories. Ohio State rolled past Ball State 56-3, while Texas handled Texas State 59-7. Now, the two top-five programs meet in a rematch of last season’s 14-7 Buckeye victory, with Texas opening as a 1.5-point favorite.

The biggest question on offense is whether Julian Sayin is ready to take the training wheels off. Last year's matchup with Texas was Sayin's first career start and came in Columbus. This time, he has to lead Ohio State into Austin against a Texas team that knows exactly what it is getting.

Jeremiah Smith will also be a major focus. Texas has successfully limited Smith in the last two meetings, so who becomes Ohio State's version of Carnell Tate if the Longhorns once again dedicate significant resources to stopping No. 4?

On the other side of the ball, Ohio State's secondary faces a completely different challenge from Ball State. Arch Manning threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns in Texas' opener, while Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman combined for 190 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The Buckeye defensive backs will have to prove they can handle an NFL-caliber receiving corps without giving up explosive plays.

The running game is another storyline for both teams. Texas struggled to consistently create on the ground against Texas State outside of a 45-yard Hollywood Smothers run, while Ohio State will need to be more efficient if it wants to keep the Longhorn defense honest. Cole and Joey also discuss which young Buckeyes they want to see more of, including Khary Wilder, Riley Pettijohn, T.J. Alford, Nate Roberts, Chris Henry Jr. and Jay Timmons.

Finally, the guys look at the biggest questions surrounding the matchup. Julian Sayin or Arch Manning in the Heisman race, whether Devin McCuin can establish himself as Ohio State's WR2, which defensive lineman steps up and whether the Buckeyes' revamped secondary can hold up against Texas' elite receivers. This is the first real measuring stick of the 2026 season.

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Ohio State football is officially back, and if Saturday was any indication, the Buckeyes haven't lost much of their swagger.

No. 1 Ohio State opened the 2026 season with a 56-3 demolition of Ball State, piling up 671 total yards while holding the Cardinals to just 165. The Buckeyes scored touchdowns on eight of their next 11 possessions after going three-and-out on their opening drive, turning what was supposed to be a tune-up game into exactly that.

But as much as there was to like about Saturday, the real test is already here. Ohio State travels to Austin next Saturday to take on No. 5 Texas in a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC.

Let's start with the obvious one. Jeremiah Smith was ridiculous. The junior receiver finished with eight catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns, with both scores coming in the first half. His first was a 48-yard one-handed touchdown grab, while his second came on a toe-tapping catch in the back of the end zone with just 10 seconds remaining before halftime.

Eight catches, 151 yards and two touchdowns before halftime. That's about as strong of a Heisman opening statement as you could make. Smith was the biggest star of the afternoon, but what stood out almost as much was how many different players Ohio State was able to get involved. Fourteen different Buckeyes caught a pass, while Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson each finished with 83 rushing yards and a touchdown.

This offense has plenty of weapons. Arthur Smith's first real game as Ohio State's offensive coordinator showed that pretty clearly.

The biggest question surrounding Ohio State entering the season was obvious, what would Julian Sayin look like as the full-time starting quarterback? The answer, at least against Ball State, was pretty encouraging.

Sayin completed 27 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns while also adding a rushing touchdown. He looked comfortable operating the offense, made several impressive throws downfield and showed some mobility that should make him even more difficult to defend as the season progresses.

Obviously, Ball State isn't Texas. But Sayin didn't need to do anything spectacular. He just needed to look like a quarterback who belonged in the driver's seat of a team with national championship expectations, and he did.

There was always going to be some uncertainty surrounding Ohio State's defense after losing so much production from last year's historic unit. Saturday offered a pretty encouraging first glimpse. The Buckeyes held Ball State to just 165 total yards and three points. The Cardinals never found the end zone, while Ohio State's defense consistently made life difficult for the Ball State offense.

The most important thing wasn't necessarily the final numbers. It was seeing some of the younger players and new pieces actually get on the field and begin establishing themselves.

This group doesn't need to be last year's defense. It just needs to become its own version of a great Ohio State defense. And Saturday was a pretty good first step.

This was probably my favorite part of the game. Ohio State didn't just blow out Ball State. It got young players meaningful reps.

Legend Bey scored his first career touchdown on a 25-yard catch-and-run, while Chris Henry Jr. scored on the first catch of his Ohio State career. Jay Timmons also saw significant action at nickel, while Khary Wilder moved around the defensive front and made an impact in pass-rushing situations.

For a team trying to reload rather than rebuild, that's exactly what you want to see. The talent is there. Now it's about figuring out which young players can turn those flashes into consistent roles.

And this is where the conversation changes. Ohio State did exactly what it was supposed to do Saturday. It dominated a lesser opponent, got its starters meaningful work, gave younger players opportunities and escaped without any major drama.

But nobody is going to remember a 56-3 win in November if the Buckeyes aren't ready for what comes next. Texas looked just as dominant in its opener, crushing Texas State 59-7 behind a four-touchdown performance from Arch Manning.

Now Ohio State heads to Austin for one of the biggest games of the young season. Saturday was about getting comfortable. Next Saturday is about finding out what this team actually is. And that's where Episode 35 of Off-Script Ohio gets really interesting.

Jeremiah Smith looked every bit like a Heisman favoriteJulian Sayin looked comfortable in his first full gameThe defense picked up where it left offThe freshmen are already making their caseThe Ball State game was fun. Texas is the real test.

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“Bucketheads” is LGHL’s men’s basketball podcast, hosted by Connor Lemons and Justin Golba. In every episode, they give you the latest scoop on the Ohio State Buckeyes and everything else happening in college hoops.

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On episode 215 of the Bucketheads Podcast, Justin and Connor are back, and we are joined by the head man himself, Jake Diebler.

Diebler joined the program for the third time, and we talked about a plethora of topics. We discuss the transfer portal with Diebler, life without Bruce Thornton, how the team is adapting with new personnel, and how he walks the scheduling tightrope.

We also talked with Diebler about how he spent his summer, what he has seen from the new transfers, and what he is expecting from John Mobley and Amare Bynum as leaders. Plus, some fun questions to end the interview.

Remember to like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, leave a comment, and review! We have episodes every Thursday morning.

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Ohio State football is finally back. Episode 33 of Off-Script Ohio gets you ready for the Buckeyes’ season opener against Ball State, as Cole breaks down what he wants to see from Ohio State in the first game of the 2026 season.

We start with the big-picture questions surrounding a game Ohio State is heavily favored to win. What will Arthur Smith’s offense actually look like in its first game? How will the running back, wide receiver and tight end rotations shake out? And will the Buckeyes stick with their projected starting offensive line or begin rotating players early?

The defense provides just as many questions. With only three starters returning from last year’s historic unit, who will make the biggest impression up front? Can Kenyatta Jackson Jr. establish himself as Ohio State’s top pass rusher? What will the defensive line rotation look like? And will Matt Patricia show much of the three-linebacker package that has been discussed throughout the offseason?

The secondary is another position to watch, particularly with Jay Timmons potentially seeing his first significant action at nickel. Cole also discusses Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, Chris Henry Jr. and Bo Jackson before wrapping things up his bold prediction for the opener.

After a long offseason, it’s finally time for some football.

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Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from ⁠⁠Ohio State⁠⁠ press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.

On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from the Tuesday, Sept. 1 Ball State Week press conference from the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Ohio State head football coach Ryan Day wrapped up loose strings from the past month of preseason camp, while providing some insight into the team as it prepares to open its regular season on Saturday. The coach discussed the progress of Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin as he enters his second season as a starter, as well as how things stand on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Day also revealed a little bit about plans for some of the dynamic true freshmen on offense, including Legend Bey, Chris Henry Jr., and Brock Boyd. The coach also talked about Ohio Stadium's new turf, the impact of Jim Tressel and Maurice Clarett, and much more.

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Online Portfolio: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://authory.com/MattTamanini⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bensound.com

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