Ohio State’s quick-strike offense is elite, but Buckeyes have plenty of room to grow

For head coaches like Ryan Day, who oversee programs with such sky-high expectations that perfection is often viewed as the only acceptable outcome, non-conference games that follow a script similar to the one that unfolded at Ohio Stadium between No. 3 Ohio State and Marshall often resemble the best of both worlds for a team with national championship aspirations.

The broad strokes were fairly straightforward: a 49-14 win against an overmatched opponent that afforded Day and his assistants the chance to rotate personnel, rest a few starters in the second half and avoid the scrutiny of high-profile upsets that have rocked programs like Notre Dame and Mississippi State in recent weeks. Tailbacks Quinshon Judkins (14 carries, 173 yards, two scores) and TreVeyon Henderson (six carries, 76 yards, two scores) bolstered an offense that ripped off one chunk play after another with incredible efficiency. There’s little doubt the Buckeyes are among the most talented offenses in college football this season with Kansas State transfer Will Howard (16-of-20 for 275 yards, two TDs, one INT) running the show at quarterback.

But despite the lopsided scoring margin, the lopsided yardage total and the lopsided time of possession that reflected just how lethal Ohio State’s offense can be, there were plenty of miscues and mistakes for Day to address in the coming days and weeks: overthrows and underthrows by Howard, one of which resulted in an interception; multiple kickoffs out of bounds for penalties; clock management issues that prompted Day be flagged for arguing with the officials; a sporadic and inefficient pass rush.