6 winners and 2 losers from Ohio State football’s blowout win over Kent State in Week 3
Taking a look at the stock up/stock down report coming out of Ohio State’s Week 3 win over Kent State.
The Ohio State Buckeyes bounced back in Week 3 of the college football season with a 59-3 win over Kent State after a tough loss to Texas in Week 2.
Ohio State protected home field, though the Buckeyes didn’t look as sharp as they hoped coming off the defeat. Ohio State scored just seven points in the third quarter, and opportunities were left on the field. Still, it’s a win the Buckeyes will take heading into Big Ten play against Illinois next week.
Coming out of Saturday’s blowout, here is a stock up and stock down report from the game.
Winners from Ohio State’s blowout win against Kent State
Jeremiah Smith has to lead the list. Smith is now Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver in terms of yardage, breaking the record previously held by Michael Jenkins. Smith had a smooth 85 yards on five catches, and he only played the first half, as you would expect against Kent State. The Buckeyes are going to continue to be careful with Smith when they can. This might be the last game where they’re able to get him out so early, though. He’s on pace for a monster season, and Saturday was another easy day at work.
Riley Pettijohn is next. Pettijohn had three tackles, and the interception he hauled in showed great coverage in the middle of the field. He stayed with the intended target and jumped in front of the pass, showing off the athleticism he has as a linebacker. At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, he works sideline to sideline. Petajan is one of Ohio State’s best linebackers, and he needs to be starting. That’s become clear.
Brandon Inniss caught the 49-yard Hail Mary heave just before halftime, and that was a great moment he’s deserving of. The two-time Ohio State captain hasn’t been the most productive player in his college career, but four catches for 78 yards against Kent State was a good push for him. He should be in store for his best season yet at Ohio State.
Chris Henry Jr. scored his second touchdown as a Buckeye on a short hitch where he made a defender miss and went 75 yards for a score. A great moment for the freshman, and his usage is going to continue to trend up for the Buckeyes this season.
Gabe VanSickle stepped in as Ohio State’s sixth offensive lineman and started at right guard with Phillip Daniels out at right tackle. The Buckeyes slid Austin Saraveld over to right tackle, and VanSickle played well. There were multiple plays where he got down the field blocking. He’s always looking to put someone on the ground, and it was a strong day for the Buckeyes’ offensive line.
Will Smith Jr. rounds out the winners. The Buckeyes’ defensive tackle had a strong day with at least four tackles and a half sack. The Buckeyes need defensive tackles to step up, and Smith might be the guy who pushes for snaps in the interior of the defensive line.
Stock down from Ohio State’s win over Kent State
Julian Sayin lands on this list, and that might surprise some when you look at the stat sheet. He was 18-of-22 for 241 yards and two touchdown passes. It was a very efficient day overall, but he made mistakes that just cannot happen, though, especially against a team like Kent State. A fourth-down pass sailed over the head of a wide-open Smith, and he took a sack in a goal-to-go situation in the first half on fourth down. Sayin was not sharp against Texas, and he needed to come out and be near perfect against Kent State. He just wasn’t.
Tavien St. Clair is clearly Ohio State’s third quarterback at this point. Ohio State has given Luke Fahey the backup job, and Fahey has entered as the second quarterback in each of the two games Ohio State has been able to play backups against Ball State and Kent State. St. Clair entered the game late in the fourth quarter and was intercepted only his only pass attempt.
St. Clair is a former 5-star quarterback in the class of 2025 who figured to one day be a starter for the Buckeyes. That doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. He hasn’t taken the step Ohio State wanted him to, and now he’s third on the depth chart. That’s tough for a player many had pegged as the backup this season and starter next year. It’s trending the opposite direction.
