Indiana

What Ohio State’s Run Game Needs to Look Like Without Ja’Kobi Jackson and a Backup Quarterback

Ohio State running back Bo Jackson (#25) is lifted in celebration after scoring against Indiana on Oct. 17, 2026, at Memorial Stadium, in Bloomington, Ind. (Photo/Josh Herd)
October 22, 2026
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With Ja’Kobi Jackson out and a backup quarterback leading the way, Ohio State’s run game has become even more important. The Buckeyes survived for a pivotal win against Indiana. However, the celebrations were short-lived after the Bloomington win, as key injuries began to mount. The biggest blow is the loss of Julian Sayin, who could miss the rest of the season. “Due to the nature of his injury…we’re putting together…

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Challenges Ohio State Football Faces the Rest of Season and How They Should Be Navigated

Ohio State now finds itself squarely in a six-week gauntlet that has been anticipated since the release of the 2026 schedule. The stretch will unfold as follows post-Indiana: BYE, @USC and then Oregon, Northwestern, @Nebraska and Michigan. With Northwestern being one of the biggest surprises in college football this year, all five of OSU’s remaining opponents sit inside the top 32 in the FPI rankings as of this week. We are going to find out what this OSU team is truly made of as depth will be as important as ever. Improved Discipline Ohio State ranks 68th in the country when it comes to penalties per game, averaging nearly 7 per game. The matchup against Maryland was no exception either as OSU committed 8 penalties for 65 yards and Ryan Day was not hiding his displeasure on the sidelines throughout the contest. On one particular drive, a roughing the passer penalty bailed Maryland out on third down. Then on following drive, Maryland found some succcess moving the ball into their red zone. When the Buckeyes had a chance to bow up and force a field goal, they instead committed back-to-back penalties that allowed the Terps to easily punch it in and cut OSU’s lead to 14-10 early. Against Indiana, Ohio State only committed 4 penalties, but they were costly ones. Jermaine Mathew’s roughing the passer. Holding call to take the offense out of field goal range and Luke Fahey’s intentional grounding were all costly mistakes. Even though OSU came out with the win, there was a slew of errors that kept Indiana within striking distance all game. OSU’s depth was certainly tested against Indiana. The status of Julian Sayin is still unknown and coach Day as alluded to the fact that they trust Luke Fahey moving forward. With that said, Ryan Day wants his team to be a “four quarter” football team. Being able to sustain focus and play smart football for four quarters will be a major key to watch if Ohio State wants to take care of business during this stretch, no matter who ends up taking the field for Coach Day. Otherwise, The Buckeyes could find themselves unable to manage or finish games during a period of time where they can’t afford to. Sustain Run Game Arthur Smith offenses are notorious for being with predicated on and creative in the run game, going back to his days calling plays for the Tennessee Titans with Derick Henry. Although OSU got off to a fairly slow start running the ball this year, the results have steadily improved, particularly in Big Ten play. In the past four games, Ohio State’s leading rushers (Bo Jackson, Ja’Kobi Jackson and/or Isaiah West) have combined for 109, 142, 183 and then 101 yards against a stout Indiana run defense. Considering The Buckeyes are now depending on backup QB Luke Fahey for the foreseeable future, have this run game peaking at the right time is essential. Keeping the pressure off of Fahey and not allowing defenses to pin their ears back on him is a must moving forward. With that, the offense should be able to operate at a high enough level to make it through the regular season as a playoff team, assuming Luke is able to protect the football. Defense Wins Championships What Matt Patricia has been able to do with his unit after losing so much talent to the NFL has been remarkable. Ohio State’s defense currently ranks No. 4 nationally in both opponent yards (264.3) and opponent points per game (13.4). It wasn’t always easy for the defense, as pass rush was a major issue up until Big Ten play and the Illinois game exposed the defense with a handful of big plays. However, since then this unit has essentially been lights out. The pass rush, although not quite where it needs to be, has improved dramatically. Particularly with the surge of guys like Qua Russaw and Eddrick Houston. Defensive Back blitzes have also been a useful way to apply pressure, as evident with Jaylen McClain making a huge strip sack against Indiana and even Jermaine Mathews hitting Josh Hoover on the questionable roughing the passer penalty. Being able to successfully apply this pressure was the missing link in what has now become an elite defensive unit. With so much unknown and inexperience leading the offense, this defense will be even more important. If the offense isn’t able to sustain success or takes time to gel under Fahey, The Buckeyes may have to win games with defense, much like they arguably did in Bloomington. Ohio State certainly has their work cut out for them as they navigate the next five games with a winded roster. Injuries are part of the game though and any team on OSU’s schedule is going to dedicate game plans to exploit this. The coaching staff has done an exceptional job thus far, but the challenges have only grown in difficulty. This bye week couldn’t come at a better time for the Buckeyes.
October 19, 2026
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After surviving a thriller in Bloomington, Ohio State now faces replacing Julian Sayin and navigating a challenging five-game stretch. Ohio State now faces a five-week gauntlet that has been anticipated since the 2026 schedule dropped. The stretch will unfold as follows post-Indiana: Idle, @USC, Oregon, Northwestern, @Nebraska, and Michigan. With Northwestern being one of the biggest surprises in college football this year, all five of OSU’s remaining opponents sit inside…

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Ohio State vs Indiana: Buckeyes Survive an Instant Classic in Bloomington, but Not Without a Cost

Image Credit: Justin Cohen Photography
October 17, 2026
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Ohio State survives a 19-15 win in Bloomington, but not without a handful of injuries, as Julian Sayin is expected to miss several weeks. The last two National Champions. No. 4 vs. No. 5. The biggest Big Ten game of the season. The Buckeyes squared off against the Hoosiers in Bloomington in a massive top-5 clash. Ohio State received the kickoff to start. The Buckeyes go back-to-back run fakes and…

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Ohio State vs. Indiana: How Both Teams Have Changed and Where the Matchups are 10 Months Later

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 10: Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle John Walker #55 reacts to a play during the first quarter of the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on October 10, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
October 12, 2026
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Ohio State and Indiana meet in a massive rematch of the 2025 Big Ten Championship. With major changes on both sides, new matchups have emerged. On December 6th, 2025, Ohio State last played the Hoosiers in what became the genesis of a historic run for Indiana. After defeating the Buckeyes in a 13-10 rock fight, Curt Cignetti’s squad became the first-ever 16-0 national champion in college football history. Now, both…

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Ohio State Takes Care of Business Against Limping Maryland; Turn Attention to Indiana

Teammates celebrate a touchdown by Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Mason Williams (86) during the NCAA football game against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Oct. 10, 2026. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch
October 10, 2026
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Ohio State dispatches a reeling Maryland team 45-16 and sets sights on a massive matchup against the Hoosiers next week. Ohio State hosted the Terrapins amidst what may be the toughest stretch of schedule in the country (@Iowa, MD, @IU, @USC and Oregon). With both teams banged up, the Buckeyes looked to take care of business and get the roster healthy for the tough road ahead. Ohio State would start…

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Bunch of Nuts Podcast 12/19: 2025-26 College Football Playoff Preview

Caleb Downs celebrating against Rutgers | Image Credit: The Ohio State University Department of Athletics
December 19, 2025
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Welcome to the newest episode of the Bunch of Nuts Podcast! Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! On this episode of Bunch of Nuts we release our college football playoff bracket. Is Alabama primed for a run? Did Indiana peak too early? Dan and Cass also debate which team will face Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. Cass also reveals his top 10 potential CFP matchups. Finally, we…

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Bunch of Nuts Podcast 12/12: Sherrone No More

December 12, 2025
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Welcome to the newest episode of the Bunch of Nuts Podcast! Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Ohio State falls to Indiana 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship. Dan and Cass discuss what went wrong for Ohio State. Who is to blame for this loss? Next, we discuss the Heisman race. The boys are in agreement that Fernando Mendoza will win the Heisman. Finally, we wrap up the…

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Bunch of Nuts Podcast 12/4: Big Ten Championship Preview!

December 4, 2025
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Welcome to the newest episode of the Bunch of Nuts Podcast! Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! We start the show recapping Ohio State’s massive win in THE GAME. Dan praises Bo Jackson’s performance. We also discuss Ohio State’s decision to handle the win with humility. Next, we discuss the news regarding Brian Hartline leaving for USF. Cass puts the move into perspective and explains why everything will…

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Saturday Cadence Week 11 Preview: CFP Rankings Reaction, BYU-Texas Tech, and Oregon on Upset Alert

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning runs during practice with the Ducks Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA
November 7, 2025
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CFP chaos brews as contenders battle for playoff position. Blake, David, and Grant break down rankings, upset alerts, and Week 11 picks on Saturday Cadence. A wild week in college football continues to deliver as Auburn fires Hugh Freeze. On this week’s episode of Saturday Cadence, Blake Biscardi, David Wertheim, and Grant Kincaid react to the breaking news and discuss what’s next for the Tigers’ program moving forward. The guys also…

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Bunch of Nuts Podcast 7/25: Big Ten 2025 Season Preview

Ohio State Buckeyes safety Caleb Downs celebrates a play against the Western Michigan Broncos. — Source: (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
July 25, 2025
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Welcome to the newest episode of the Bunch of Nuts Podcast! Please like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Big Ten Media Days have arrived! We quickly touch on the biggest moments from Las Vegas. Sonny Styles had big praise for a couple defensive players. Meanwhile, Michigan continued to run their mouth. We then hop into our annual Big Ten preview! Does Penn State need to win the conference this…

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