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2026 tOSU Offense Discussion

Can someone please explain this offense's philosophy to me? What is their base play? What is their base formation? How did Ryan Day go from "spread to run" and JK Dobbins running for 2,000 freaking yards, to packing the box with 9 or 10 defenders via 3 tight ends that apparently aren't threats in the passing game OR the running game?

Are the Buckeyes ever going to have 5 OL that can just blow the DL off the line ever again?

We had a OL last year who never even played a snap the last 6 games, and not only did Ethan Onianwa get drafted, he made the Falcons' 53 man roster. Wtf are we even doing?
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2026 tOSU Special Teams Discussion

How Ohio State Kickers Have Performed in Clutch Fourth-Quarter Moments in the 21st Century

Being a kicker can be a tough job.

Do your job correctly? It's what you're supposed to do. Do your job incorrectly? Be ready to hear "you had one job" and perhaps some words that would make your mom blush.

In recent history, it appears Ohio State's kickers have been cursed with late-game yips. Is that factual? Or is it selective memory? As many people remember the agony of defeat – or is that da feet – rather than the euphoria of victory.

After Connor Hawkins’ costly missed 45-yard field goal with 4:16 to play in Ohio State’s loss to Texas this past weekend, we did a deep dive into how Buckeye kickers have performed with the game on the line in the 21st century. Below, we take a look back at all of the Buckeyes’ field goal kicks in one-score games with under 7:30 to play in the fourth quarter or in overtime since 2000.

We’ve divided those kicks into two categories: Money kicks and clutch kicks. The money kicks category includes all kicks where the game was tied or Ohio State trailed by three points or less, while the clutch kicks category includes all kicks where the Buckeyes had a one-score lead. (Note: Ohio State has not attempted any field goals when trailing by more than three but less than seven points with under 7:30 to play in any game in the 21st century.)

Money Kicks: 10/17 (58.8%)​

Year Opponent Kicker Time of Game Score Yards Result Game Result
2025 Indiana (Big Ten Championship Game) Jayden Fielding 2:48 Down 3 27 Missed L, 13-10
2024 Oregon Jayden Fielding 6:00 Down 1 40 Made L, 32-31
2022 Georgia (Peach Bowl) Noah Ruggles 0:03 Down 1 50 Missed L, 42-41
2022 Utah (Rose Bowl) Noah Ruggles 0:09 Tied 19 Made W, 48-45
2016 Michigan Tyler Durbin 0:01 Down 3 23 Made W, 30-27 (2OT)
2016 Michigan Tyler Durbin 7:01 Down 3 21 Missed W, 30-27 (2OT)
2016 Wisconsin Tyler Durbin 3:57 Down 3 31 Made W, 30-23 (OT)
2011 Purdue Drew Basil OT Tied 33 Made L, 26-23 (OT)
2009 Iowa Devin Barclay OT Tied 39 Made W, 27-24 (OT)
2004 Northwestern Mike Nugent OT Tied 40 Missed L, 33-27 (OT)
2004 Marshall Mike Nugent 0:00 Tied 55 Made W, 24-21
2003 Purdue Mike Nugent OT Tied 36 Made W, 16-13 (OT)
2003 Purdue Mike Nugent 0:00 Tied 41 Missed W, 16-13 (OT)
2001 Penn State Mike Nugent 2:55 Down 2 34 Missed L, 29-27
2001 Wisconsin Josh Huston 5:04 Tied 48 Missed L, 20-17
2000 Illinois Dan Stultz 6:05 Down 3 17 Made W, 24-21
2000 Illinois Dan Stultz 0:00 Tied 34 Made W, 24-21

Clutch Kicks: 10/17 (58.8%)​

Year Opponent Kicker Time of Game Score Yards Result Game Result
2026 Texas Connor Hawkins 4:16 Up 6 45 Missed L, 24-23
2025 Notre Dame (CFP National Championship Game) Jayden Fielding 0:26 Up 8 33 Made W, 34-23
2022 Georgia (Peach Bowl) Noah Ruggles 2:43 Up 3 48 Made L, 42-41
2022 Maryland Noah Ruggles 0:42 Up 3 45 Made W, 43-30
2021 Nebraska Noah Ruggles 1:29 Up 6 46 Made W, 26-17
2021 Penn State Noah Ruggles 7:12 Up 6 25 Made W, 33-24
2021 Penn State Noah Ruggles 2:41 Up 6 26 Made W, 33-24
2017 Wisconsin (Big Ten Championship Game) Sean Nuernberger 5:20 Up 3 20 Made W, 27-21
2017 Michigan Sean Nuernberger 2:47 Up 4 43 Missed W, 31-20
2016 Penn State Tyler Durbin 4:27 Up 4 45 Missed L, 24-21
2013 Iowa Drew Basil 5:50 Up 7 25 Made W, 34-24
2012 Michigan Drew Basil 6:26 Up 2 25 Made W, 26-21
2009 Iowa Devin Barclay 7:11 Up 7 47 Missed W, 27-24 (OT)
2005 Texas Josh Huston 5:00 Up 6 50 Missed L, 25-22
2003 Miami (BCS National Championship Game) Mike Nugent 6:36 Up 3 42 Missed W, 31-24 (2OT)
2002 Illinois Mike Nugent 5:31 Up 3 41 Missed W, 23-16 (OT)
2001 Minnesota Mike Nugent 4:17 Up 8 35 Made W, 31-28
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WR Michael Jenkins (All B1G, National Champion)

I mean, of course I remember Holy Buckeye. I remember 4th and 14 in the championship game. Those were amazing plays. But that’s not what I was talking about.

I was speaking to the Jeremiah Smith / Marvin Harrison / Garrett Wilson-type catches where you say “how the hell did he catch that pass!”.

Those catches I mentioned were part of incredibly important plays and they were amazing in the context of when he made them, but the catches themselves were not particularly special on their own.

Did he have any ridiculous 1-handed catches? Or catches where he made a bunch of defenders miss? Or where he performed some ridiculous acrobatics to get a foot down?

That’s what I was going for. He wasn’t the fastest, he wasn’t the biggest leaper, he didn’t Moss people, he just wasn’t a flashy receiver like some of the more recent stars. Gus Johnson never would have made up a ridiculous nickname for him. But he was incredibly reliable and productive when he was on the field and the stats bear that out.
I just watched about ten minutes of Jenkins highlights. What struck me after all this time was how big he was and how many tough contested catches he made look easier than they were. Dude came down with a ton of jump balls, using two hands, and never made it look hard. Even Holy Buckeye is a pretty tough catch that he made look easy. On some slants and hooks he did juke a few dudes with quick change of direction, but not too often. There was a lot of Devin Smith, minus the blazing speed, in his deep ball game.
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