To compete for a National Championship in college football, a team must establish a clear identity. For Ohio State, that identity is emerging loud and clear after their dominant start to the season, particularly following a 49-14 victory over Marshall. The Buckeyes’ offseason additions and established talent are blending to create a potent force on the field.
One of the key offseason moves was the addition of Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Judkins, who has quickly become a central part of Ohio State’s offensive strategy. Alongside senior TreVeyon Henderson, Judkins forms a powerful backfield duo that is expected to carry the team throughout the season.
Ohio State’s offensive game plan seems straightforward: ride this two-headed monster of Judkins and Henderson to success. While quarterback Will Howard has shown consistency and talent through three games, this team’s ultimate ceiling will depend on how far the running game can take them. With the way Judkins and Henderson are performing, there’s potential for this backfield to lead the Buckeyes deep into the postseason.
In the win over Marshall, Judkins showcased his explosiveness, racking up 173 yards on just 14 carries, including an 86-yard touchdown run that highlighted his big-play ability. He finished the day with two touchdowns and has already amassed 336 rushing yards and five touchdowns through Ohio State’s first three games.
Not to be outdone, Henderson contributed 76 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries, bringing his season total to 207 rushing yards and four touchdowns. With both backs thriving, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Ohio State will produce two 1,000-yard rushers this season, and they might reach that milestone in just 10 or 11 games.
The return of left guard Donovan Jackson, who made his season debut against Marshall, gave Ohio State a fully healthy offensive line for the first time this year. That boost up front only strengthens the Buckeyes’ run-heavy approach, giving Judkins and Henderson even more room to operate.
While the ground game is the backbone of the offense, Will Howard has been efficient in the passing game, going 16-of-20 for 275 yards and two touchdowns against Marshall. Although he threw his first interception of the season, Howard has settled in well during his first few games at Ohio State. With a talented receiving corps that includes Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka, and Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes have the ability to stretch defenses vertically while keeping them honest with the run.
Ohio State’s formula is simple but effective: spread out defenses with their dynamic receivers and pound the ball with two NFL-caliber running backs. It’s a rare luxury to have two potential early-round draft picks in the same backfield, and Ohio State plans to keep them both fresh with a rotation system, hoping this powerful rushing attack will carry them well into January.
While the competition has only been against Akron, Western Michigan, and Marshall so far, the Buckeyes are clearly developing into the team many suspected they would be once Judkins transferred. The identity of this Ohio State squad is firmly established: a balanced offense with a deadly rushing attack, poised to make a deep postseason run.