COLUMBUS — Ohio State destroyed Kent State on Saturday and got the starters out of the game by the midway point of the third quarter. Here are some first thoughts on what we saw from the Buckeyes:
1. Jeremiah Smith became the program’s all-time leader in career receiving yards on a 23-yard slant in the first quarter. It was Smith’s second catch of the game. He needed 27 yards to pass Michael Jenkins for the record and finished his day with five catches for 85 yards.
It was the first game this season that Smith hasn’t scored a touchdown.
Saturday’s game felt more like a chance for quarterback Julian Sayin to build rapport with the non-Smith receivers, and while Sayin completed passes to seven different pass-catchers, it wasn't like he was spraying it around in rhythm to everyone. The Buckeyes missed a second-quarter touchdown opportunity when Sayin stared down Smith, who was triple-covered, and missed an open Brandon Inniss in the middle of the field. Sayin took a sack on fourth down.