Stephen Leonard
Writer
Minnesota put their best script of plays out there last Saturday and came away with only a field goal. From that point, the hunting dogs were caged; Minnesota didn’t even sniff the red zone from that point forward. It was the bend but don’t break defense, but they only bent once and never broke.
Now this defense is trending toward historic status, giving up only five points per game, 25 total points in five games. Zero redzone touchdowns have been scored against the silver bullet defense this year, and of course, zero rushing touchdowns allowed.
We are in October, ladies and gentlemen, and this defense has given up only two touchdowns. The Buckeyes also rank third in total defense (total yards given up), but if you can’t score, yards don’t matter. I put a premium on scoring defense over yards every day.
Let’s get back to the five points a game and this scoring defense. Buckeyes fans and even college football fans in general are now watching this defense as intently as they do the offense.
What defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is doing schematically is like poetry. The defense is where all the national attention is focused, and it’s hard to focus anywhere else. Each game, I’m looking to ask myself defensive questions.
What are they going to do now? Will Matt Patricia show a blitz and back off, or vice versa? Is the defensive lineup in man, but mixing it up to zone before the snap? What are they going to do to confuse the opposing quarterbacks? How is Patricia going to utilize Arvell Reese?
Finally, where is the leading tackler going to come from? Because every single game has been a different one. And that’s got to be some type of record. Five different leading tacklers in each of your first five games? That’s insane.
I almost feel like it’s a competition now. Players are fighting to lead the team in tackles. The defense is just so stacked and so versatile that the leading tack holder can come from any position. I think it’s a badge of honor to be able to say I love this number one scoring defense and tackles this week.
Despite the historic results laid out above, Ryan Day says this team, “hasn’t accomplished a thing”.
That sounds hyperbolic, but Coach Day has a different mindset after a national title under his belt.
He should consider it an accomplishment to win on the road against a top-20 team in the Illinois Fighting Illini. This is a veteran group for head coach Bret Bielema. The Illini had 9 returning starters offensively, including quarterback Luke Altmyer and all five offensive linemen. It will be the stiffest test yet for this defense to hold Illinois under double digits, like it has done in all five wins so far this season.
The Buckeyes continue to dominate the recruiting trail, this time with 2026 tight end Nick Lautar. The Lebanon, OH, native flipped his commitment from Louisville. Lautar becomes the 27th member of the Ohio State 2026 recruiting class. The Buckeyes place 7th nationally in the recruiting rankings. Lautar is the lone tight end in the class […]
Cody Croy
Writer
2026 4-star EDGE Dre Quinn has committed to Ohio State. Quinn was previously committed to Clemson. Quinn currently attends Buford High School, a powerhouse that has seen a long line of Division 1 athletes, including Ohio State defensive lineman Eddrick Houston. Quinn finished his junior season with 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. […]
Jeremiah Smith wasn’t dominating defenders as usual; he was dominating the pregame buzz. Listed as questionable, his status sent shockwaves through the Buckeye faithful. Compounding the worries, his counterpart on the other side of the hash marks, Carnell Tate, was held out for a second week in a row. Turned out Smith played sparingly, and […]
