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Ohio State football: What we liked, didn’t like in OSU’s blowout of Toledo
By Joe Cox
Published:
In Saturday’s 77-21 win over Toledo, Ohio State’s offense looked like it might have been playing a video game instead of competing in FBS football: 77 points and 763 yards couldn’t be real, could it? Indeed it was real.
Here’s our breakdown of an exciting day that signaled to one and all that OSU is ready for Big Ten play.
What we liked …
Offensive balance
Yes, the Buckeyes were great. But it wasn’t just the stars. Everybody was great. Not only did CJ Stroud throw for 367 yards, but Kyle McCord looked good adding 115 more yards. Nine Buckeyes carried the ball and they averaged 6.4 yards per rush. Three OSU receivers topped 100 yards for the game, including Jayden Ballard. Explosiveness and big numbers are great, but it’s even better when the love is spread around.
The return of Smith-Njigba and Fleming
Star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba made his return and even without playing much, the fact of his presence opened up the offense even more for Stroud. Smith-Njigba caught a pair of passes for 33 yards and looked ready to dial up the intensity for conference play. Add in Julian Fleming, who had been out with his own injury, and who promptly caught a pair of touchdowns in his first action of 2022, and the receiving corps was strong and deep.
Dallan Hayden
Particularly given the issues with TreVeyon Henderson (see below), it was nice to see the No. 3 back in the stable fare so well. Freshman Hayden rushed 17 times for 108 yards and a touchdown — the first 100-yard performance by an OSU back this season. Particularly if Henderson misses any additional time, it’ll be interesting to see how Hayden fares against B1G defenses. Saturday suggested that he’ll be just fine.
What we didn’t like …
The injury to TreVeyon Henderson
In finishing the game’s opening drive, TreVeyon Henderson apparently injured his leg. His day was finished with just 4 carries, meaning that OSU has now had their 3 top offensive playmakers (Stroud, Henderson, Smith-Njigba) in the game and available together for only about a quarter and a half. Miyan Williams and Dallan Hayden filled the gap, but Henderson is a cut above virtually all running backs nationally. Losing him in a one-sided game could be a bad break long term for OSU.
Defending the QB run
Toledo QB Dequan Finn had a big day on the ground. Including a pair of OSU sacks, Finn still finished with 70 rushing yards on 7 carries. Early in the second quarter, Finn ripped off 2 23-yard runs to help the Rockets pull within 28-14. Ohio State got more disciplined, but suffice it to say that dual-threat QBs across the Big Ten will be watching on tape to see what they might exploit.
Giving up long drives
The good news is that the most mediocre performance of the season’s first quarter from Jim Knowles’s defense still left the offense with plenty of cushion. But all 3 of Toledo’s scoring drives were 75-yard drives. Points matter, but for Ohio State, the Buckeyes weren’t even really stopped in their 2 losses in 2021 — they just faced potent offenses that kept the defense on the field for long chunks of time. Again, a quarter of the way into the season, Jim Knowles’s defense would get an A or an A- at worst. But if things are going to slide, it’ll be lengthy drives that causes havoc.
Veteran college writer Joe Cox covers Ohio State and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.