Did Ohio State and Ryan Day make a mistake burning five redshirts against Iowa?

The Ohio State Buckeyes have been in a blowout contest through all five games thus far, giving the opportunity for Ryan Day to give his young talent the chance to get real game experience. There are times when it makes sense to withhold certain players from seeing the field, as an extra year eligibility that […]

Ian Valentino — National College Football Writer
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The Ohio State Buckeyes have been in a blowout contest through all five games thus far, giving the opportunity for Ryan Day to give his young talent the chance to get real game experience. There are times when it makes sense to withhold certain players from seeing the field, as an extra year eligibility that comes with a redshirt distinction can help field a deep roster.

However, instead of keeping five players with the maximimum number of games played, which is four, the Buckeyes played all of their cards. We'll glance at each player, what they've contributed, and whether the team might regret not having their redshirt in the future.

Ohio State Players Who Lost Their Redshirt for 2024

17 freshmen have played in at least one game this season, but only five are no longer eligible for their redshirt. Here they are.

Jeremiah Smith, WR

It's quite obvious the Buckeyes have not made a mistake in playing Jeremiah Smith. Smith has been a relevationary presence for the Buckeyes on the heels of losing Marvin Harrison Jr. It's insane to admit, but Smith already feels like an upgrade on one of the best players in program history.  

With 23 catches for 453 yards and six touchdowns, plus two carries for 33 yards, and one touchdown on the ground, Smith surely doesn't have to worry about keeping an extra year of eligibility. He'll be gone after the 2026 season regardless. 

James Peoples, RB

The only way that James Peoples' redshirt would stay in tact is if he fell behind Sam Williams-Dixon. That was unexpected, though. Peoples earned comparisons to JK Dobbins throughout training camp, and he's fulfilled those hopes thus far.

The third back in the rotation, Peoples has looked solid in limited duties. He's totaled 35 carries for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He's depth right now, but he'll possibly start in 2025 and there's not a better option when it's not Quinshon Judkins or TreVeyon Henderson behind center. 

Jaylen McClain, SAF

The Buckeyes brought in Keenan Nelson Jr. via the transfer portal, but the rapid development of Jaylen McClain wasn't enough to motivate Ryan Day from keeping his redshirt in tact. Backup safeties would also get time, but McClain was the only one who might've been able to play his four games and get redshirted.

With only eight tackles on the season, McClain's redshirt was a debatable burn. Could Jayden Bonsu or Nelson have stepped up in order to preserve his extra year of eligibility? It's arguable, and it may not matter as the coaching staff considers that Caleb Downs and Malik Hartford will be starting again next year. 

Payton Pierce, LB

Considering Payton Pierce has only one tackle on the season, one might think burning his extra year of eligibility was silly. However, the linebacker situation almost necessitated it. Because C.J. Hicks has struggled as an off-ball linebacker and instead looks like a better fit on the edge, I think Payton's going to be on the field a decent amount if Sonny Styles gets hurt. 

Aaron Scott Jr., CB

Ideally, Aaron Scott Jr. would have stopped playing after four games. The Buckeyes' 2025 recruiting class is looking shakier than ever at cornerback, and Scott will be seeing more playing time next year. At-best, he could be starting.

That said, playing him eight snaps so he'd lose his redshirt was clearly intentional, and they're not worried about churning the cornerback room a little bit. I can appreciate the priority of giving guys real snaps in case they must play.

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