It was a blowout. Most people saw the score flash across the bottom of the screen, shrugged, and figured it was just another Saturday in Columbus where a MAC team got paid to take a beating. But if you actually watched Ohio State vs Western Michigan, you saw something else entirely. It wasn't just about the 56-0 final. Honestly, it was about how clinical the Buckeyes looked, which is a scary thought for the rest of the Big Ten.
Under the lights at Ohio Stadium, Chip Kelly finally showed us what this offense is supposed to look like. It wasn't just talent winning out. It was a scheme that felt intentional, punishing, and—dare I say—fun? For a fan base that spent most of last year biting their nails through clunky offensive possessions, this was a massive exhale.
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Western Michigan isn't a bad football team. Let’s get that straight. Lance Taylor has them playing hard, and they hung tough with Wisconsin for a while. But the gap between "good Group of Five team" and "National Title contender" has never felt wider than it did during those four quarters in the Shoe.
The Will Howard Factor and This New Look Offense
Will Howard isn't C.J. Stroud. He isn't Justin Fields. And that might be exactly why this team is better.
Against Western Michigan, Howard was surgical. He finished 18-of-26 for nearly 300 yards. But the stats don't tell you about his presence. He’s a big dude. When he’s in the pocket, he has this calmness that seems to settle the entire offensive line. You’ve seen quarterbacks who panic when the first read isn't there; Howard just resets.
Then you have Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. It’s unfair. Truly. Having two top-tier NFL prospects in the backfield means the defense never gets a break. Judkins runs like he's trying to break the stadium, while Henderson is essentially a blur once he hits the second level. Against the Broncos, they combined for four touchdowns. It was basically a track meet where the other team was wearing boots.
Why the Offensive Line Finally Looked Real
We’ve spent three years complaining about the Buckeyes' front five. It’s been the Achilles' heel. But something clicked during the Ohio State vs Western Michigan game. Seth McLaughlin, the transfer center from Alabama, has changed the entire dynamic. The snaps are clean. The calls are loud.
Josh Simmons and Josh Fryar actually looked like bookend tackles. They weren't just blocking; they were finishing. You could see the Western Michigan defensive ends getting visibly frustrated by the middle of the second quarter. When a MAC defensive line starts looking at the sideline for help every three plays, you know you're doing something right.
Jim Knowles and the Shutout Mentality
Shutting out anyone in modern college football is hard. The rules are designed for scoring. Referees want to see points. So, when the Buckeyes held Western Michigan to zero, it sent a message.
It wasn't just that the Broncos didn't score. They couldn't move. At one point, Western Michigan had more punts than first downs. Jim Knowles has this defense playing a "safety-first" style that still feels aggressive. Caleb Downs is everywhere. He’s like a cheat code in the secondary—one play he’s filling a gap on a run, the next he’s thirty yards downfield breaking up a deep ball.
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The most impressive part? The depth. Even when the starters sat in the second half, the intensity didn't drop. Young guys like Eddrick Houston were getting into the backfield. That’s how you build a championship culture. You don't let up. You don't play down to the logo on the other jersey. You play to a standard.
Jeremiah Smith is Not a Freshman
We need to talk about Jeremiah Smith. It’s getting ridiculous.
Usually, a freshman wide receiver has a "welcome to college" moment where they drop a pass or get jammed at the line. Smith hasn't had one. Against Western Michigan, he caught a 70-yard touchdown that made veteran defensive backs look like they were standing still. He moves differently. His hands are massive.
He’s already being compared to Marvin Harrison Jr., which feels like a lot of pressure, but Smith seems to thrive on it. He’s not just a deep threat. He’s running intermediate routes with the precision of a five-year pro. If he stays healthy, we’re looking at a Heisman finalist by his sophomore year. Seriously.
The Special Teams "Meh" Factor
If there was one "kinda" bad thing, it’s still the special teams. It’s the one area where Ryan Day still seems to be tinkering. There were a couple of moments where the return game looked indecisive. It didn't matter in a 56-0 win, but against Oregon or Penn State? That stuff matters.
The kicking game seems stable enough with Jayden Fielding, but you'd like to see a bit more "pop" in the return game. Brandon Inniss has the potential to house one every time he touches it, but the blocking has to be more consistent.
Western Michigan’s Outlook Post-Columbus
If you’re a Broncos fan, don't burn your jersey. Playing Ohio State in Columbus is a nightmare scenario for any team in the country. Western Michigan actually showed some grit in the trenches early on. Jalen Buckley is a solid back who will tear up the MAC this year.
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The problem was simply the speed. Western Michigan’s linebackers couldn't scrape fast enough to catch Henderson, and their secondary couldn't handle the sheer size of the Buckeyes' receivers. They’ll take their paycheck, look at the film, and probably win eight or nine games in their own conference. They’re well-coached; they just ran into a buzzsaw.
What This Means for the Rest of the Season
The Ohio State vs Western Michigan game served its purpose. It was a tune-up that felt like an engine swap.
We learned that Will Howard is the right guy for this specific season. We learned that the defense is deeper than we thought. And most importantly, we learned that Chip Kelly hasn't lost his touch when it comes to creative play-calling.
People love to talk about the "soft" non-conference schedules, and sure, this wasn't a playoff preview. But these games are where the chemistry is built. You saw the offensive line communicating better. You saw the rotation at linebacker solidify.
The Buckeyes aren't just winning; they are dominating in a way that suggests they are bored with anything less than perfection. That’s a dangerous mindset for a team with this much talent.
How to Evaluate This Performance for Your Power Rankings
If you're trying to figure out where the Buckeyes stand after the Western Michigan game, don't just look at the score. Look at these specific indicators that actually matter for the long haul:
- The "Success Rate" on Third Down: Ohio State stayed on the field because they weren't constantly facing 3rd-and-long. The run game on early downs was so efficient that Western Michigan was constantly guessing.
- Zero Turnovers: For a high-octane offense, keeping the ball clean is the holy grail. Howard’s decision-making was elite, even on the few plays where the pocket collapsed.
- Defensive Line Rotation: Look at the snap counts. The Buckeyes are keeping their stars fresh by rotating heavy in the first half. Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau are going to be fresh in November because of how they handled these early-season games.
- Penalty Discipline: Very few pre-snap penalties. That’s a coaching win. It shows a level of focus that usually takes weeks to develop.
Your Next Steps for Following the Buckeyes
Watch the tape of the first three drives specifically. If you want to see the future of this offense, look at how Chip Kelly uses the motion of the tight ends to pull the Western Michigan safeties out of the box. It’s subtle, but it’s why the running lanes were so wide.
Keep an eye on the injury report for the offensive line depth, as that’s the only thing that can derail this train. Otherwise, start looking at those late-season matchups, because this team is playing like they already have a reservation in Indianapolis.