There are plenty of intriguing storylines surrounding the Ohio State football team that will shape its 2023 season in Saturday’s Spring Game.

The country will get its first look at the 2023 Ohio State Football team on Saturday in its annual Spring Game. Ryan Day announced the scrimmage format would remain the same as last year, and kickoff will be at 12:05 ET live on the Big Ten Network. 

There will still be four quarters, likely a running clock in the second half at some point, but halftime will be abbreviated to 10 minutes. The first-team offense will face the first-team defense, and the same structure will follow for the second and third teams with the traditional Scarlet vs. Gray uniforms. 

Who will play quarterback for the Buckeyes is the biggest question surrounding the team heading into the season, as Kyle McCord and Devin Brown have been locked in a highly competitive battle all spring. However, Brown will not be available on Saturday due to a mild procedure on his finger. The Spring Game will be the Kyle McCord show as he rotates with transfer Tristan Gebbia, as the two will be Ohio State’s only options under center. Both McCord and Gebbia will wear black non-contact jerseys. 

Brian Hartline will call plays during the Spring Game but do not be quick to judge the first-time play caller. Though it is a football game, the format is a scrimmage, and it is very common for most drives to follow a script and concepts more base-package and personnel centered. Due to injuries and availability, the offense will only have Marvin Harrison Jr in returning production from a year ago. 

Moreover, this will allow young wide receivers to make plays and impact the game to begin climbing the depth chart. Carnell Tate and Noah Rogers should see significant roles and involvement in the game plan. Jayden Ballard is already making his ascent and will also have many eyes on him on Saturday. 

Are the Silver Bullets back?

Defensively, CJ Hicks will get substantial time at linebacker, but his performance might take second place to the defensive backs. The back end of the Silver Bullets ranked 82nd last year in pass defense, but Jim Knowles added a few pieces out of the portal to tighten it up. Davison Igbinosun transferred from Ole Miss after an All-American season as a freshman, which places lofty expectations in Columbus to be the next great one. 

The line of scrimmage will be another intriguing battle to watch as Larry Johnson’s defensive line should overpower the new-look offensive line, which still needs to gel and establish five starters. That will come with time but expect high-impact games from JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, and company. 

Despite the array of injuries, the Ohio State football team will have a plethora of talent on the field to give its Scarlet and Gray faithful a glimpse into the 2023 Buckeyes. Overall, the defense and young wide receivers should carry most of the takeaways following the game. However, the offense will still come out victorious.