After two Big Ten Conference games, there are 3 reasons to be optimistic about the 2026 Ohio State Buckeyes’ path and team development.

Ohio State is coming off an emphatic top-15 win in Iowa City, where they dominated the second half. With three of the next four matchups coming against teams currently inside the top 18 of the AP poll, the Buckeyes are entering a season-defining stretch of the schedule. For me, these are some promising signs for Ryan Day’s squad as the season rolls on.

Progressing Run Game

Arthur Smith’s run game has been steadily improving as the season has progressed. Against Texas and Kent State, OSU’s running backs averaged just over 4 yards per carry. As a team, OSU averaged only 3.8 yards per carry against the Golden Flashes. After this game, Coach Day challenged his backs to run “angry,” hoping his run game could take the next step heading into Big Ten play.

So far, they have answered the bell and averaged over 5 yards per carry in two conference games. OSU also averages one run of 10+ yards per quarter in that span, which has opened up the pass game and made Jeremiah Smith the Heisman favorite through 5 weeks.

Considering Legend Bey’s relationship with the staff seeming to grow more tenuous by the week, the timeline for him making an appearance in the backfield is hard to gauge. However, Bey is another potential weapon for Smith and Day to utilize down the road and add another dimension to the offense.

Given the defenses OSU still has to play, sustaining this run game and keeping teams off balance can’t be overstated. The running backs haven’t been the only ones stepping up either. Julian Sayin has improved drastically and has used his mobility over the past two weeks, logging 9 scrambles for 41 yards and a touchdown.

This has been the perfect complement to an explosive pass game for the Buckeyes while also keeping the offense on schedule when needed. If the run game as a whole can keep growing and improving, OSU’s title hopes will become much more achievable.

Defensive Line Improvement

The defensive line’s inconsistent play has been well documented this year. Between injuries, players in the program not taking the next step, and portal additions not panning out as anticipated, the results simply haven’t met the OSU standard. That said, the line seemed to wake up against the Hawkeyes this past weekend. According to Pro Football Focus, three of the top five highest rated players on defense were on the line (Kenyatta Jackson Jr, Qua Russaw and Zion Grady).

Qua Russaw, in particular, took the largest leap against Iowa. Russaw had consistently graded as one of the least effective defenders when he’s been able to get snaps. He started the season with a minor injury and couldn’t play against Ball State. His first action was against Texas where was a non-factor.

After a lackluster performance last week, the outlook was bleak for Qua making an impact on this team. Against the Hawkeyes, however, he shined. Russaw finished as the third highest-rated defender on the defense, racking up 5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a key sack to cap off a standout performance.

Last but not least, the run defense improved immensely from last week. Against the Illini, OSU’s defense was gashed for 199 rushing yards. Against Iowa, it was a different story. The Buckeyes’ defense bowed up and allowed only 39 rushing yards at 1.9 yards per carry.

There wasn’t too much “hero ball,” as Kenyatta Jackson Jr. called the woes against Illinois. Guys were much more sound in their gaps and disciplined with their assignments. With the line finding its stride in both phases of the game, it should be a key cog in propelling this team to a championship run.

Jeremiah Smith

There isn’t enough that can be said about the kind of athlete that Jeremiah Smith is. From a purely physical standpoint, he’s perhaps the most menacing wide receiver since Calvin Johnson. Ryan Day and the staff around Jeremiah have always clamored about his elite-level work ethic and discipline.

All this, combined with his ability to stay on the field, has made him the OSU all-time leader in career receptions, yards, and touchdowns, with at least eight games left in his career.

His ability to routinely make catches in double, sometimes even triple coverage is nothing short of remarkable. Additionally, the coverage allocated to Jeremiah has opened up opportunities for guys like Devin McCuin to shine, as he did against the Hawkeyes.

Whether he’s making the play himself or creating opportunities for his teammates, Jeremiah Smith impact on this offense and team cannot be understated. When the best player on your team (and in the country) is the hardest-working guy in the room, the standard is set for the rest of the WHAC.

OSU’s first three games of the season proved to be a roller coaster for a number of reasons. The Texas loss exposed shortcomings and galvanized this team to find the answers. So far in conference play, the Buckeyes have begun to make quantifiable improvements en route to a potentially historic season.