Little to no pushback was given to the Buckeyes for their dismantling of the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday afternoon. The Scarlet and Grey were fueled by an electric offense and stifling defense en route to a 56-3 victory.

The offense featured the air attack early and often, as Jeremiah Smith and Devin McQuin were able to combine for 14 receptions for 248 yards and 3 TDs in only one half of play. They were both as advertised after an offseason full of praise for the Buckeye coaching staff.

The run game had some trouble early but eventually found its footing in the second half after being an afterthought, with the passing game being so effective in the first half of the contest.

Walking out of the contest, the Buckeyes should feel good about where things stand heading to Austin to play the Longhorns. No large-scale injuries or scares from the lesser team (Shoutout Michigan), there should be some points that the Buckeyes need to look at ahead of this Saturday’s contest.

Phillip Daniels

As mentioned, the run game became an afterthought in the contest for the first half of the game. Daniels had a less-than-desirable day at the tackle spot than what is to be expected in a contest against a far less competent team than the Buckeyes envision themselves being.

On multiple occasions, Daniels was blown back and allowed penetration. On an offensive line that had been rebuilt in the offseason, he looked to be the weak link. It is Week 1, and it may be too early to be harsh on a player, but the challenge ramps up considerably in just a few days when Colin Simmonds and Texas host the Buckeyes.

The Longhorns have to like the prospect of having Simmons line up opposite Daniels, and for the Buckeyes they may need to attempt to help the tackle as much as they can with double teams and chips. The Achilles’ heel from a year ago was the tackles not being able to stop a great pass rush; Week 2 presents the first chance to right the wrongs from a year ago, but the Bucks will need to help Daniels as much as possible in the contest.

WRU is still WRU

With the departure of ex-offensive coordinator and recruiting guru Brian Hartline, some were left to wonder if there might be a step back with Arthur Smith coming from the NFL as the new OC. I can say with confidence, no.

The Bucks will be throwing the ball early, and often it appears this season. 25 passing attempts in the first half support the notion of an aerial assault. Behind the headliner of Jeremiah Smith, the newcomer McQuin took advantage of his first reps in scarlet and grey.

Coming on the horizon is the return of Kyle Parker, a transfer from LSU, who will look to make his impact immediately. Parker was one of the first individuals to shed the black stripe during workouts after being on campus.

Chris Henry Jr showcased some good downfield blocking but had some trouble keeping a hold of the ball, dropping a few should-be touchdowns in the game, shaking those off to catch his first touchdown of the season from Tavien St Clair.

St Clair QB3?

One of the more head-scratching moments of the entire game was the decision of who was going to run with the second team once the starters were pulled. Luke Fahey was the man given the nod to go in before former 5-star Tavien St. Clair.

Fahey is a true freshman, while St Clair is a player in his second year with the program and was assumed to be the backup. If the Buckeyes were going to lose Sayin for any amount of time, it is interesting to see who the team turns to.

Every quarterback who entered Saturday’s contest walked away with success, each tossing at least one touchdown. Fahey did get knocked with an interception, but that was more on the drop of the receiver than the pass Fahey threw.

Ryan Day stated that both QBs have performed well and that he strategically timed the drives so that each quarterback had the same amount of opportunity, giving each a few drives to showcase their talents.

The Real Test Awaits

For all the positives that came out of Saturday, the reality is that Ball State was only the opening act. The Buckeyes handled their business, avoided the type of mistakes that can turn an easy game into an uncomfortable one, and showed that the offensive firepower remains very much intact.

But now comes the game that Ohio State has been waiting for.

Austin will provide a completely different environment and a completely different level of competition when the Buckeyes meet Texas on Saturday. The Longhorns will have the talent to challenge Ohio State in ways Ball State simply could not, particularly along the defensive front.

The questions surrounding the offensive line, the depth at quarterback and how this new-look Buckeye offense performs against elite competition will all receive their first real answers. Ohio State left Week 1 with plenty to feel good about, but Week 2 will reveal whether those positives translate against one of the best teams on the schedule.

The Ball State game went according to plan. Now, the plan gets put to the test in Austin.