Ohio State Week 3 Preview: Breaking Records and Getting Right
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For two quarters against Texas, the Ohio State offense looked like a well-oiled machine. Even with the turnover-on-downs in field goal range, Ohio State’s offense, led by a couple of Heisman hopefuls, did what it wanted. Then, the Buckeyes looked like they played to not lose, and lost. They got tight, didn’t execute, and left the defense out to dry, competing for 40 plays on the hot turf.
This week, the Buckeyes have a great opportunity to get right in time for Big Ten play. The second MACrifice on the schedule is Kent State. At least one record should be broken, and we should get to see some of those young, promising playmakers once again.
Ohio State Week 3 Preview: Breaking Records and Getting Right
Records In Sight
We are going to continue to bring it up until everything is official, but Jeremiah Smith, arguably the greatest and most talented receiver to come through Ohio State, is inching closer to owning the Ohio State triple crown. Last week, Smith was fantastic, hauling in eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown, bringing his 2026 total to 16 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns.
In the loss, he passed Emeka Egbuka on the yards leaderboard with just one name sitting above: Michael Jenkins. Now, Smith is just 27 receptions, 26 yards, and eight touchdowns away from the Ohio State records. For the Big Ten? When you look toward the conference leaderboard, Smith is 197 receptions, 916 yards, and 10 touchdowns away.
Needless to say, expecting at least one record to fall against Kent State is reasonable. It’s unlikely that anything other than receiving yards gets broken on Saturday, but a strong performance would set Smith up nicely for another record to follow suit shortly.
Ideally, Smith only needs to play the first half of this one, just as he did against Ball State.
A Work In Progress
The ground game against Ball State in Week 1 was a struggle until a pair of big runs broke off. Against Texas, there were no big runs; the biggest play was an 11-yard scamper by Bo Jackson. On the day, Jackson led the Buckeyes with 74 yards on 19 carries. Ja’Kobi Jackson scored the lone touchdown on the ground. The offensive line got a little push here and there, but it had to really slog it out against a talented Texas defensive line.
The question against Kent State will be how incorporated the run game will be in the script with the starters out there. Ohio State will likely run the ball in the second half with the game in hand, ideally.
What sort of role will Legend Bey play? After just one snap against the Longhorns, Bey posted a “Free Deuce” image on Instagram, to which The Fringe lost their collective minds, calling for Ryan Day’s job; so, it was a normal Monday. Bey is too talented to keep on the bench one way or another.
He needs to be in the game plan moving forward, assuming everything is going fine during practice.
Find Another Stud
Keeping with the skilled guys, Julian Sayin locked in on Smith against Texas, for better or for worse. Sure, he’s obviously the best player on the field at any given moment, but others have to step up.
Against Ball State, it was Devin McCuin. Against Texas, it was nobody. McCuin and Brandon Inniss combined for just two catches for 24 yards. That’s not going to get it done in the tougher games down the stretch.
It’s time for Sayin to get a better rapport with McCuin, Inniss, Chris Henry Jr., Phillip Bell, and the rest of the room. Kyle Parker has been limited due to injury, so maybe he could be the answer when he returns.
It may be fine against Kent State, but things get tougher as the schedule progresses. Is McCuin that Egbuka-level threat the offense is missing? Was Sayin just missing his guys? The answer is yes, a bit to both.
The Task At Hand
Kent State returns to The ‘Shoe for the first time since 2014. Oddly enough, the two faced off in the 2002, 2007, and 2014 seasons. If that perked your ears up a bit, it’s because Ohio State made the national championship in all three seasons, winning twice. This year, the Golden Flashes are 1-1 after a thrashing at the hands of South Carolina and a win over Wofford.
The offensive line will have to keep an eye on linebackers Hayden Dawahare (10 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup) and Rocco Nicholl (13 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks).
The Buckeyes are going to try to replicate what the Gamecocks were able to do in Week 1. This could be a great opportunity to run up some stats on the ground; South Carolina ran for 278 yards and four touchdowns at 7.4 yards per carry. Through the air, USC was just as successful with 367 yards and four touchdowns.
Don’t expect anything too crazy from the offense. Against a defense as exploitable as Kent State’s, the Buckeyes will likely drill their bread-and-butter plays.
The Bottom Line on Ohio State vs. Kent State
Where: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
History: Ohio State 3-0 Kent State
Last Matchup: Ohio State won, 66-0, in 2024
Last Kent State Win: N/A
Date and Time: September 19, 2026; 12:00 P.M.
How to Watch: FOX
Spread: Ohio State -52.5; O/U 59.5 (via FanDuel)
Prediction: Just like the Ball State matchup, there is a massive spread in favor of the Buckeyes. To this point, Ohio State is 2-0 ATS. Kent State, like Ball State, is not one of the better teams in the MAC. Let’s say Ohio State wins this one, 59-3.
More Ohio State News
- College Football Sunday Summary: Riding the Hype Train
- The 2026 Big Ten College Football Playoff Picture: Week 3
- The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly From Ohio State’s Loss To Texas
- The Best Matchups In The Big Ten Each Week: Weeks 0-6
Main Image: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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