The Ohio State Buckeye football team are currently struggling with the Indiana Hoosiers in their 2023 season opener to the tune of 10-3 despite the spread being north of four touchdowns.
Heading into halftime, quarterback Kyle McCord is the leading passer with 94 passing yards. Running back TreVeyon Henderson has looked impressive with 40 rushing yards and tight end Cade Stover is surprisingly the leading receiver with 33 receiving yards.
Buy Buckeyes TicketsBackup quarterback Devin Brown has also seen action at quarterback as the coaching staff is clearly waiting for someone to pop and make an impact.
This Ohio State squad doesn’t look ready to play so let’s dive into five things that were noticed throughout the first half.
Ohio State looks bad
10-3 at halftime, Buckeyes lead.
Let's call it a less-than-ideal half for OSU.
— Andrew Gillis (@Andrew_Gillis70) September 2, 2023
Thoughts
There is simply no other way to put it. Ohio State looks rough. The offense has no identity and the defense is holding up, but not exactly suffocating this Indiana offense.
We need to chill on the McCord hatred
Just for the comparisons here:
C.J. Stroud’s 1st half at Minnesota in 2021: 8 of 14 for 58 yards and an INT
Kyle McCord’s first half at Indiana in 2023: 9 of 12 for 70 yards and an INT
In both cases, the new quarterback wasn’t elevating things, but he also wasn't the problem
— Stephen Means (@Stephen_Means) September 2, 2023
Thoughts
X, formerly Twitter, is on fire with people already calling the McCord experiment a failure, but as the post above reminds us, C.J. Stroud needed time to adjust as well.
Offensive line issues?
That should be Indiana ball, but it's really close. Kyle McCord got hit from the blind side.
We'll see the call.
— Andrew Gillis (@Andrew_Gillis70) September 2, 2023
Thoughts
This whole off-season I expressed my confidence in the offensive line, but this game is scaring me. I am just as alarmed by the offensive line play as I am about the quarterbacks.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is not injured
Marvin Harrison Jr. down on the OSU sideline. Looks like a left shoulder.
— Andrew Gillis (@Andrew_Gillis70) September 2, 2023
Thoughts
The best news of the first half isn’t the score or the fact that Ohio State is winning, but the fact that Marvin Harrison Jr. isn’t injured. Harrison went down hard and all of Buckeye nation was scared for a second.
Caden Curry is a name to watch
Ohio State’s Rushmen Package:
Jack Sawyer, Caden Curry, Mike Hall and J.T. Tuimoloau
— Stephen Means (@Stephen_Means) September 2, 2023
Thoughts
We hyped defensive end caden curry all last season, but this season is going to be the season he shines and plays a pivotal role. teammates Jack Sawyer, Mike Hall and J.T. Tuimoloau are all potential first-rounders and Curry is a part of this elite unit.
