Jeremiah Smith’s 38-yard touchdown at Indiana came on fourth-and-1, against double coverage, early in the fourth quarter of a one-score game. It was the 39th touchdown catch of his career, tying Braylon Edwards’ Big Ten record. A few minutes later, the quarterback who threw it was on the sideline with an injury.
How Ohio State keeps its best offensive player involved over the next few weeks is one of the big questions of the bye, and the answer will shape how much Matt Patricia’s defense is asked to do.
A season of records
Smith’s been the most productive receiver in program history for a while now. His day at Iowa (11 catches, 206 yards, two touchdowns) left him holding the program’s career marks in all three major receiving categories. He got there in his third season in Columbus.
At Indiana, he finished with four catches for 68 yards and the touchdown. Even on a quieter day, he made the play the Buckeyes needed most, and he did it while playing a career-high snap count. Sayin threw two touchdowns before he got hurt, and that was one of them. “I just had to stay patient,” Smith said. “I’m happy I was able to make it.”
The quarterback question
Julian Sayin was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter, and Ryan Day said afterward that he’ll probably be out several weeks. Freshman Luke Fahey finished the game. The bye gives Fahey and the other quarterbacks extra time with the first team before the trip to USC.
“I just said, ‘We’ve got you,'” Smith told 247Sports. “We’re going to take care of this win for you and we got it. That’s all I told him.”
Keeping Smith involved
The staff hasn’t said how it will adjust, and it doesn’t need to yet.
Whoever is under center, defenses will keep rolling coverage toward Smith. He was double-covered on his touchdown at Indiana, and that kind of attention opens things up for everyone else on the field.
Even on a quieter day, he found a way to make the play that mattered most. The bye gives the offensive staff two weeks to plan around him before the trip to Los Angeles on Oct. 31.
Where Matt Patricia’s defense comes in
A defense that forces punts and creates takeaways gives a young quarterback shorter fields and fewer must-score drives.
Ohio State has forced 10 takeaways this season and allows 13.4 points per game through seven games, and it held Indiana to 73 rushing yards in Bloomington. Maryland managed just 146 total yards on Oct. 10.
Since allowing 199 rushing yards to Illinois on Sept. 26, the Buckeyes have held Iowa to 39 and Indiana to 73. Keeping opponents one-dimensional helps the offense too, because it keeps the score manageable and the game plan flexible.
If the defense keeps games close and gives the offense good field position, the staff can pick its spots with Smith instead of forcing the ball to him. If Smith wins one or two of those moments each week, the defense doesn’t need to be perfect.
The stretch ahead
USC, Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan are still ahead. Smith will be the player every defense game-plans for. The defense will be the unit that decides how much he has to carry.
The first of those is a cross-country trip to USC, where Ohio State hasn’t played since 2008. The Buckeyes have a record-setting receiver and a defense that is getting better each week. Over the next month, they’ll need both.
