Scarlet Sunrise: Buckeyes expect to have Donovan Jackson back this week

COLUMBUS — Ohio State starting left guard Donovan Jackson missed the season-opening blowout win over Akron on Saturday with an undisclosed injury. His debut for his third year as the starter in that post was postponed.

It should just be a one-week wait for the Buckeyes star lineman. Ohio State coach Ryan Day was asked after the game about Jackson’s status moving forward after second-year lineman Austin Siereveld started in his place.

Day’s update was quite encouraging. In fact, he is expected to play next week.

“He’s going to have a full week next week. We plan on him playing next week,” Day said. “If he doesn’t, then that means he has had a setback. But we want to be smart. We know it’s a long season. He was really all over us about getting back but we’re only going to do it when we feel like the trainers give him the full go on that.”

As long as Jackson has a good week of work, he should be able to make his 2024 debut against Western Michigan.

But the Buckeyes are heavily favored in the matchup, and they have an idle week after that game. So it would be understandable if they held him back another week — which would push his debut back to Sept. 21 against Marshall.

For now, he’s on pace to start at left guard next Saturday. And the Ohio State offensive line would then be at full strength.

Ohio State opens as heavy favorite over Western Michigan

The Buckeyes didn’t cover the massive 48.5-point spread against Akron on Saturday. Well, the folks in the desert aren’t backing down from giving Ohio State plenty of points for the matchup against Western Michigan (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network).

Ohio State opened Western Michigan week as a 38.5-point favorite for the primetime showdown. The total is set at 53.5.

The Broncos, the Buckeyes’ second straight game against a MAC school to open the year, went on the road last weekend and lost 28-14 despite leading early in the fourth quarter. They expect to be a good challenge for the No. 2 Buckeyes this weekend.

Western Michigan is 1-0 against the spread this year. Ohio State, meanwhile, is 0-1.

Miss any Lettermen Row coverage of Ohio State 52, Akron 6?

Let us get you caught up!

READ: First thoughts: Buckeyes start slow, easily beat Akron in opener

Tim May: Lathan Ransom shines, scores touchdown in return to lineup

READ: New Buckeyes stars Will Howard, Jeremiah Smith quickly developing ‘a lot of chemistry’

READ: Buckeyes see promise, room for improvement in rushing attack vs. Akron

READ: Jeremiah Smith quickly erases early mistakes to deliver historic, dazzling debut

Report Card: Grading Buckeyes season-opening beatdown of Akron

Defensive notebook: Buckeyes show flashes of dominance at every level

Ohio State hosted Akron for the season opener. But the Buckeyes also hosted some of the nation’s top recruits so they could watch the second-ranked team in person. Want some recruiting storylines from the win?

READ: Recruits react to Ohio State’s season opening win over Akron

READ: Ohio State moves needle for 2026 wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt

READ: Four-star wide receiver Donovan Murph talks ‘dream come true’ in debut Ohio State visit

ICYMI: Buckeyes land commitment from four-star WR Phillip Bell

Ohio State and Brian Hartline have done it again. The wide receiver factory adds another major weapon for the future. Four-star Mission Viejo (Calif) wide receiver Phillip Bell has committed to the Buckeyes. The 6-foot, 200-pound wideout committed to Ohio State over USC, Washington and Georgia.

Bell is the No. 179 overall prospect and the No. 20 wide receiver in the On3 Industry Rankings.

His decision doesn’t come as a surprise, given the predictions in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, but it doesn’t take away from the juice of the news. Bell has been high on the Buckeyes since going into his junior season.

Lettermen Row first spoke with Bell at OT7 Championships in Los Angeles in the summer of 2023 where he said this about the Buckeyes.

“That’s the place to get developed,” he said. “I feel like that’s every wide receiver’s dream school and that’s the dream for me.”

Bell visited Ohio State last fall for its game against Michigan State. He returned this spring for an unofficial visit and then in June for his official visit.

READ: What commitment of Phillip Bell means for Buckeyes

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Western Michigan: 5 days
Ohio State at Oregon: 40 days
Ohio State at Penn State: 61 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 89 days

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