Off-Script Ohio: Kent State preview, keys to the game and what we want to see from Ohio State

Ohio State is looking to bounce back, and the Buckeyes have the right opponent to do it against.

Episode 35 of Off-Script Ohio gets you ready for Ohio State’s home matchup with Kent State, as Cole breaks down what to watch for as the Buckeyes try to move past a gut-punch loss in Austin.

Ohio State enters at 1-1 and No. 6 in the country after blowing a 23-3 fourth-quarter lead to Texas, a game that saw the Longhorns become the first team since 1988 to overcome a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit against an AP No. 1 team.

Kent State, meanwhile, is also 1-1, having followed a 57-0 loss to South Carolina with a 36-15 win over Wofford. Ohio State has won all three previous meetings between the programs, and enters as roughly a 52.5-point favorite.

The biggest question isn’t whether Ohio State wins, it’s how the Buckeyes respond. Does this team come out with something to prove, or does the Texas loss linger into the first quarter?

Kent State isn’t devoid of talent, either. Quarterback Dru DeShields is a legitimate dual-threat coming off an 18-touchdown, three-interception season, and playmakers like Wayne Harris and Da’Realyst Clark give the Golden Flashes real juice in the passing game and on special teams.

On offense, Cole wants to see how aggressive Arthur Smith gets with his play-calling in a lower-stakes environment, and whether a receiver beyond Jeremiah Smith. Brock Boyd, Chris Henry Jr., Brandon Inniss or Devin McCuin — can finally have a breakout day. Smith torched Texas for 164 yards, but the rest of the receiver room was quiet, and that’s a problem Ohio State needs to start solving before Big Ten play ramps up.

Defensively, the story is about finishing. Ohio State held Texas to three points through three quarters before completely unraveling in the fourth, and Cole wants to see early signs that the issue was a one-game blip rather than something structural.

Cole also runs through the names he wants to see more of as the game (hopefully) opens up, including Isaiah West, Tavien St. Clair and a deeper look at the young defensive backs who flashed against Texas. This one’s about answers, not suspense.