No. 2 Ohio State had a sluggish start but eventually overwhelmed Akron 52-6 behind two touchdown catches from freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith.
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes kicked off their season with a resounding 52-6 victory over the Akron Zips, but it was not without its initial struggles. Despite being heavily favored, the Buckeyes stumbled out of the gate, failing to find their rhythm on offense.
The Buckeyes' first drive ended with a punt, and Akron capitalized with a field goal. However, freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who had dropped a pass on the opening drive, redeemed himself with a 16-yard touchdown reception from Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard.
Smith added another touchdown late in the first half, this time on a 9-yard catch with a defender draped all over him. The Buckeyes took a 17-3 lead into halftime, but the offense still had not fully clicked.
The second half was a different story as Ohio State's offensive line began to gel and open up running lanes. Quinshon Judkins, a transfer from Ole Miss, scored his first touchdown as a Buckeye on a 2-yard run set up by a 45-yard reception by Smith.
Howard finished the game with 17 completions for 228 yards and three touchdowns.
Akron's offense struggled against the Ohio State defense, mustering only two field goals. Garrison Smith converted kicks from 48 and 49 yards.
The Buckeyes' victory was marred by injuries to starting linebacker Tommy Eichenberg and backup offensive lineman Enokk Vimahi. Eichenberg left the game with a leg injury, while Vimahi suffered a knee injury. The extent of their injuries is unknown.
Ohio State will look to build on its victory when they host Western Michigan next Saturday. Akron will travel to Rutgers for their next game.
Despite the slow start, the Buckeyes showed their potential in the second half. With a talented roster and a new offensive coordinator in Chip Kelly, Ohio State is poised to be a contender in the Big Ten and beyond.
