Ohio State opened the season with a 56-3 win over Ball State. The Buckeyes also found enough to fix before Saturday’s trip to Austin to face Texas. 

Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith connected early and often, while Devin McCuin gave the Buckeyes another reliable target. The running game eventually produced explosive plays, but the offensive line struggled early. Ohio State also has to clean up its kickoff return operation after Ryan Day called it a “disaster.”

Here are five things Ohio State must figure out before facing the Longhorns.

1. Can Ohio State settle the offensive line?

The offensive line was already one of the biggest questions entering the season. Arthur Smith said during camp that Ohio State had sufficient depth and versatility up front, with six players capable of starting. Phillip Daniels struggled early against Ball State before leaving the game, forcing Ohio State to reshuffle the group.

Gabe Van Sickle moved into the lineup and Austin Siereveld shifted outside as the Buckeyes eventually found more consistency. Bo Jackson’s 65-yard touchdown and Ja’Kobi Jackson’s 46-yard score helped the rushing numbers, but Ohio State struggled to control the line of scrimmage early. Day acknowledged there were positives while pointing to areas that still need work.

“We’ll continue to evaluate that throughout the week,” he said. “The good news is we have flexibility there if we need it.”

Ryan Day also described Ian Moore as “solid,” while noting “a lot of movement.” Ohio State needs to settle on the combination that best protects Sayin and creates running lanes. Day’s road-game formula is still the same: “When you go on the road, you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run.”

2. Can Ohio State make Texas pay for focusing on Jeremiah Smith?

Smith caught eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns against Ball State, including a 48-yard touchdown from Sayin on Ohio State’s opening drive.

“Jeremiah will always be a big part of the game plan,” Day said, “but there’s a balance between feeding him and distributing the ball to other players on the field who can make plays.”

McCuin could be the biggest piece of that answer, as he followed with six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown against Ball State. Brandon Inniss added three catches, while Chris Henry Jr. and Brock Boyd also saw meaningful snaps.

Arthur Smith has spent the offseason adding variation to the offense through formations, cadences, and more responsibility for Sayin at the line of scrimmage. If Texas commits another defender to No. 4, Sayin has to make the Longhorns pay elsewhere. If Texas plays Smith straight up, Ohio State needs to keep putting him in position to win.

3. How does Julian Sayin handle pressure?

Sayin’s first game gave Ohio State exactly what it wanted. He completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns while consistently finding the open receiver.

His development has been a major offseason storyline. Sayin added size and strength, reaching 215 pounds, while Ohio State has emphasized his ability to use his legs. Arthur Smith has also given him more responsibility at the line of scrimmage, asking him to process defensive looks and make adjustments before the snap.

Sayin offered a similar approach. “As a quarterback, you have to stay even-keeled and be the calm in the storm.”

Can Sayin get Ohio State into the right play when Texas changes its look? Can he take what is available when Smith isn’t open, or use his legs when the pocket breaks down?

Will Muschamp is in his first season as Texas’ defensive coordinator, adding another layer to the matchup. Ohio State has limited game film of his defense in this role, which could make the in-game adjustments between Muschamp and Arthur Smith especially interesting.

4. Can Ohio State’s young defensive linemen provide enough depth?

Ohio State had to replace significant production on defense, making the development of its young defensive linemen worth watching. Day singled out Khary Wilder and Zion Grady on Monday.

“Khary Wilder has real juice and is going to earn more opportunities,” Day said. He described Grady as a player who has shown enough growth and consistency to become “a big part of what we do on all three downs.”

Kenyatta Jackson, at the podium, said he has been high on Wilder since the beginning. “I knew he’d contribute from Day 1…he’s just in his own category of player.”

Day also identified stopping the run as one requirement for winning on the road. Ohio State needs enough depth along the defensive line to rotate without losing production, particularly against a Texas offense that will test the front throughout the game.

5. Can Ohio State clean up special teams?

“Our kickoff returns were a disaster,” Ryan Day said after reviewing the Ball State game film. The Buckeyes did not attempt a field goal, and the punt team also struggled on Saturday.

Legend Bey opened the season as Ohio State’s kickoff returner after earning back the coaching staff’s trust. His first game showed there is still work to do. Bey brought the opening kickoff out of the end zone when a touchback would have given Ohio State better field position, and the Buckeyes have other options in Brandon Inniss, Phillip Bell, and McCuin.

A poor decision, missed block, or bad exchange can handicap field position before the offense takes the field. Ohio State had enough margin against Ball State to overcome it; however, there is less room for those mistakes against Texas.

The Longhorns are one of the most talented teams in the country in all three phases. But Day doesn’t expect the Buckeyes to be surprised by Texas’ talent, namely Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo on the perimeter.

“We practice against elite talent every day, so there’s not going to be a huge jump in talent when we step on the field,” he said. “You just have to win your 1-on-1 battles—both teams are going to win some.”

Ohio State has the talent to win those matchups. Texas does, too. Situational football has been the deciding factor each of the last two years. Saturday in Austin will come down to which team executes when it matters.

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