The Ohio State Buckeyes welcome the Western Michigan Broncos to The Horseshoe for the first night game this season. 

The 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Akron Zips 52-6 in their season and home opener last Saturday. A slow start led to just a 17-3 lead at halftime in a game they were favored by 50, but the Buckeyes took full control in the second half.

A pair of newcomers converted a pair of touchdown drives in the first half as Kansas State transfer Will Howard found true freshman Jeremiah Smith for two impressive touchdowns. A 40-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding was the only other first half points as the Buckeyes held a 17-3 lead.

The second half was more promising as faces new and old both got involved. Ole Miss transfer running back Quinshon Judkins got the half started with a touchdown run, his first in the scarlet and gray. Defensive veteran Lathan Ransom returned a fumble 27 yards just 18 seconds later to build the lead up to 28.

Freshman running back James Peoples and sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate both found the endzone and freshman Gabe Powers returned an interception to the house, as the Buckeyes cruised in the second half. The five-touchdown second-half explosion meant a 52-6 victory over the Akron Zips.

Ohio State’s Second Game Features a MAC Foe

The Buckeyes welcome another MAC team on Saturday as Western Michigan comes to town, coming off a solid performance on the road against another Big Ten team in Wisconsin.

Western Michigan trailed the Badgers in Madison by just three points at the half and battled to a 28-14 loss. They easily covered the +24.5 spread, and the current spread against the Buckeyes is +38 for the Broncos.

What to Expect

This week the Buckeyes will look to get off to a faster start to relieve some of the jitters and pressure they may have felt in their first game where they took time to develop a lot of phases. New Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly and Head Coach Ryan Day both harped on getting off and running much quicker and incorporating all their players into the game.

Last week, quarterback Will Howard looked poised and overcame a few drops from his wide receivers early on. He threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns, and will likely have similar numbers this game. The hope is to get his game reps in and keep him healthy as they did against Akron.

The rushing attack was fine in week one, but more touches for the backs could be in the cards. Running back TreVeyon Henderson did great with his touches but only ran the ball eight times for 65 yards. Quinshon Judkins saw 13 carries go for 55 yards as the offensive line went through some growing pains.

Through the air, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was advertised, hauling in six catches for 92 yards and two impressive touchdowns. Carnell Tate had a solid four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Senior captain Emeka Egbukla had four catches for 52 yards, and a negated touchdown that most of Buckeye Nation felt should have counted. I expected Senior tight end Gee Scott to get a few touches this game after zero targets in week one.

Western Michigan struggled to get going against a stingy Wisconsin defense. Their quarterback Hayden Wolff had just 141 passing yards and an interception through the air. Their lead running back Jalen Buckley had some success on the ground with 16 carries for 64 rushing yards and their two touchdowns in the game.

The Buckeyes’ defense, the Silver Bullets, played well against the Zips as everyone made plays en route to just six points allowed. Any week where the opposition fails to find the endzone is a good week. Turnovers through the air and on the ground, added with a handful of sacks, are a recipe for success.

The expectation should be more of the same against a slightly more difficult opponent. Western Michigan showed they can hang around against Big Ten competition, however, Ohio State is a different beast with a game under their belt. The defense will continue to make plays in all three phases, forcing a few turnovers along the way.

As for the offense, the plan is for everyone to see some touches and work on their game. More runs and creative pass plays are in the cards as the offense gets more familiar with each other in-game action. Health and chemistry are important to build on as the schedule only gets tougher.

I expect another solid game for Will Howard, more explosive plays from the backfield especially Quinshon Judkins, and a bigger game for Emeka Egbuka with a touchdown. The Buckeyes will get off to a slightly better start and cruise through the second half.

Prediction: Ohio State 45, Western Michigan 10