Ohio State lines up next group of young defenders, just like last year; memories of OSU-UCLA after Sept. 11: Doug Rants

Ten thoughts on the Buckeyes and college football

Freshman Devin Sanchez is one of the backups playing roles on the Ohio State defense while getting ready to start in 2026. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State)

Ten thoughts on Ohio State football as the Buckeyes prepare to host UCLA in Ohio Stadium on Saturday night.

1. Freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn was on the field for Ohio State’s third defensive snap of the game against Purdue. He was out there again on the sixth snap, another third down.

   For the game, Pettijohn played 11 defensive snaps, or 23 percent of the defensive plays. It was unusual to see Pettijohn get action that early.

   That bit of experience might help when he almost certainly starts for Ohio State next season.

   News flash — young backups from one season often become starters the next. It’s how it works, Doug. Great find.

   But two things clarified the Ohio State pipeline on the defensive side of the ball. One was realizing that the top six backup defenders a season ago — Buckeyes No. 12 through 17 in defensive snaps — are all starting for Ohio State this season. The other was seeing Pettijohn, who earned a lot of deserved hype after playing 15 strong snaps against Grambling, get on the field early when it mattered in a Big Ten game.

2. I’ve been enamored with the snap counts from last year’s defense because it outlined such a clean transition. The defenders right behind the starters all slid into starting roles this season on a defense replacing eight starters.