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Know Your Foe: Five questions on the Ohio State Buckeyes with Lettermen Row

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•about 15 hours•

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Ryan Day Jeremiah Smith reporter
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On3’s network extends outside of the SEC footprint, as Lettermen Row is one of the oldest and most trusted websites covering Ohio State Buckeyes football out there.

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Spencer Holbrook covers the Buckeyes as close as anyone and answered a few questions ahead of Friday’s Cotton Bowl matchup between Texas and Ohio State.

Ohio State really seems to have found its stride on offense in the past few games. What’s been the key to that success?

Spencer Holbrook: It’s been the aggression. The Buckeyes tried and tried to establish the run to set up the pass for much of the season, but the last two games have been the inverse. Ohio State is using its best players out wide and doing a really good job of that — and then turning to the tailback duo of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Of course, it helps that Will Howard is throwing to Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka to set all of this up. That’s been the catalyst for the last two games

Just how good is Jeremiah Smith, really?

Spencer Holbrook: He’s the best wide receiver I’ve seen at Ohio State, and that includes all the receivers the Buckeyes have had since 2019. He’s pro-ready at 19, which is remarkable. He does things that seem impossible for a freshman, and Ohio State is using its best player as much as it can. The only person to really slow down Smith at any point this season has been Ryan Day/Chip Kelly when they weren’t calling plays to get him involved more.

What type of impact did the loss of center Seth McLaughlin have on the Ohio State offense

Spencer Holbrook: It was huge at first, and it showed in the Indiana game and then especially the Michigan game. But once the Buckeyes had a couple of weeks to figure things out, they have weathered that storm with the new offensive line. Carson Hinzman is playing well during this two-game stretch, and the three-man rotation at guard has been impressive so far. Texas is a different animal, though.

What part of Ohio State’s defense should the Longhorns try to attack?

Spencer Holbrook: Putting the linebackers in serious conflict is really the only way I would say you can attack this defense. Sonny Styles and Cody Simon are playing well right now, but Texas will need to use Gunnar Helm and the tight ends to see if they can get open against these linebackers — because every other part of this defense is so sound.

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How has Ryan Day been over these past few weeks, especially following the Michigan game?

Spencer Holbrook: He’s been through it, man. From everyone calling for his job to now everyone loving him, Day has experienced the full spectrum of being the head coach at Ohio State. He’s coaching like he has nothing to lose right now, and it’s paying off through two games. Two more, and they might never ask for him to be fired again.

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