Ohio State football is still sitting at the top of the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Poll after three weeks of the college football season. Not everyone is sold on whether they actually deserve that ranking, though. Kirk Herbstreit, who used to play quarterback at Ohio State and now spends his days analyzing college football, has been pretty open about his doubts. Even after the Buckeyes handled Ohio University 37-9, Herbstreit put LSU and Penn State above his alma mater in his own rankings. On his “Nonstop” podcast, he broke down his reasoning. The big issue? He thinks Ohio State’s running game might not be up to snuff. Herbstreit’s Analysis of Ohio State’s Performance Herbstreit does give credit where it’s due. He likes what he’s seeing from Ohio State’s new-look defense, and he’s got good things to say about quarterback Julian Sayin’s steady hand. But he can’t help but wonder if the Buckeyes have someone in the backfield who can really break a game open. He points out that so far, no one’s stepped up like J.K. Dobbins, TreVeyon Henderson, or Quinshon Judkins did in the past. After three games, Ohio State has leaned mostly on CJ Donaldson and James Peoples, who have 33 and 25 carries. Then there’s freshman Bo Jackson—he didn’t suit up against Texas, but over the last two games, he’s led the team in carries with 18. Jackson had a highlight-reel run against Ohio, shaking off defenders for 67 yards. That’s 37 yards longer than any other Buckeye run this year. He also busted out a 51-yarder against Grambling State, and right now he’s got more rushing yards than anyone else on the team, sitting at 217. Potential for Improvement Herbstreit isn’t ruling out a turnaround. He thinks maybe the Buckeyes just haven’t shown their full potential from the backfield yet, especially since conference play hasn’t really heated up. “I’m not saying they don’t have it,” Herbstreit said. “We just haven’t seen it yet from their backs.” Joey Galloway, who played wide receiver at Ohio State and now co-hosts the podcast, doesn’t agree at all. He actually put the Buckeyes at No. 1 in his own rankings, ahead of Georgia and Tennessee. “Speaking of fans, you’re gonna get it,” Galloway joked to Herbstreit about his ranking. “I can promise you when I leave my house today, somebody is going to say to me, ‘Why does he hate the Buckeyes?'” Comparisons to Previous Seasons Herbstreit tried to explain where he’s coming from by looking back at Ohio State’s College Football Playoff seeding in 2024. He reminded everyone that the Buckeyes earned their respect by showing up big in the postseason and grabbing a national championship. “If we’re going by who we love, I would put Ohio State at No. 1 every week,” Herbstreit admitted. Ohio State’s got a big game coming up against Washington on Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m. ET. That one might be the real test—maybe it’ll answer some of these lingering questions about whether the Buckeyes are as good as their ranking says. Key Points to Watch Running Back Performance: Will CJ Donaldson, James Peoples, or Bo Jackson step up and become the next big star in the backfield? Defensive Consistency: Can this new group on defense keep playing at a high level? Quarterback Leadership: How will Julian Sayin handle the pressure of leading a team that’s expected to stay No. 1? Upcoming Conference Games: Will the Buckeyes finally find that explosiveness in the backfield as the competition gets tougher? Ohio State is gearing up for their matchup against Washington. All eyes are on their running game and overall performance. Herbstreit has raised some valid concerns. Still, the Buckeyes have enough talent to prove their critics wrong—if they can pull it together when it counts. If you want more insights and updates on Ohio State’s journey this season, check out the full article on The Dispatch.
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