Here are 4 things we learned from Ohio State's 42-9 win over Rutgers
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Here are four things we learned from No. 1 Ohio State’s 42-9 win over Rutgers on Nov. 22:
Wide receiver is no less concerning
Before Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate ever sat out against the Scarlet Knights, their potential return for the following week at Michigan was bound to dominate the storylines.
Few playmakers in college football are as impactful as the star wide receivers who give the Buckeyes’ offense a quick-strike capability.
But the display from the rest of the position group against Rutgers left the health of Smith and Tate appearing even more of a pressing issue. It took four drives before quarterback Julian Sayin completed his first pass to a wide receiver.
David Adolph and Brandon Inniss, the wide receivers who led the Buckeyes in receptions, had just two apiece. Nine of Sayin’s 13 completions landed in the hands of a tight end or running back.
If another receiving weapon had emerged against Rutgers, it might have helped to allay some of the fan base’s angst.
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said he saw good things from the receivers and highlighted Adolph’s 9-yard catch to move the chains on a third down during the second quarter.
“There’s some good things they did,” Day said. “There’s some things they’ll get on film and get better. But we need to play depth.”
A drop-off from Smith and Tate was always inevitable, but the gap might have been bigger than anyone expected, especially with a bench full of blue-chip talent.
Bo Jackson is a feature back
After fumbling at the goal line on the Buckeyes’ opening drive, it would have been easy to imagine Jackson sitting out their next series. Day has long stressed ball security from the running backs, and the turnover cost them a touchdown.
But Jackson saw a handoff two plays into the next drive and ultimately ran 15 yards into the end zone on another carry later in the series, slipping through a hole and cutting past a safety.
Jackson’s workload remained steady. He would run 19 times for 110 yards against the Scarlet Knights. Eight carries gained at least 10 yards, and his two touchdowns marked his first multi-score game.
It was a moment of clarity in sorting through Ohio State’s backfield rotation. While James Peoples and Isaiah West have made a push for more carries this month, providing other options, it’s apparent Jackson is the primary back and didn’t fall out of favor after his first fumble.
Julian Sayin helped his Heisman case
Ohio State’s supporting cast has been a knock against Sayin’s candidacy for the Heisman Trophy.
The Buckeyes have so many playmakers that they afforded Sayin easy targets as a first-time starting quarterback, or so the argument goes.
It made his latest start against Rutgers important in building his case. While Sayin did not rack up eye-popping statistics, he managed well enough.
Sayin threw for 157 yards and two touchdowns while the star receivers watched from the sideline.
His first touchdown pass displayed his accuracy. He dropped the ball right into the hands of receiver Brandon Inniss in a corner of the end zone.
The stretch run will shape the race. Can Sayin help break a four-game losing streak to a bitter rival? Can he outduel Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the Big Ten championship game?
Sayin’s solid performance without Smith and Tate is a notable step.
Penalties should be cleaned up
Two penalty flags could be red flags.
Defensive tackle Eddrick Houston drew a personal foul for hands to the face late in the second quarter, negating an interception by cornerback Davison Igbinosun.
Right tackle Phillip Daniels was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct early in the fourth quarter.
The late hit by Daniels could have been especially costly. If a replay review had not determined that running back CJ Donaldson crossed the plane of the goal line, the penalty would have set them back, and the drive would have continued, third-and-goal from the 16-yard line. As it followed a touchdown, it was instead just assessed on the ensuing kickoff.
As they prepare for The Game, seeking to break a four-game losing streak in the rivalry, they will need to maintain their composure.
Penalties have not been their issue in the most recent losses, but they were in 2022 and 2021 when the Buckeyes were flagged a combined 19 times, including three for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football beats Rutgers: 4 things we learned from win
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