This week's stock report is the last that comes with a caveat.
Finally, conference play is on the horizon. Finally, the cupcake nature of Ohio State's opponent won't have to be noted. The Buckeyes played their final – and possibly best – Group of Five opponent on Saturday in Marshall and came away with another blowout victory. There were a few eyebrow-raising trends, good and bad.
Ohio State's running game looked efficient and explosive, from the backs to the blocking to the scheme. Emeka Egbuka reminded everybody why he's among the nation's best receivers.
The defensive front six didn't look as dominant as it did in Week 1 and Week 2, however, and OSU's special teams suffered multiple lapses.
As usual, there was some rise and fall around college football as well. Tennessee, Illinois and Utah had impressive victories while Kansas State and North Carolina suffered blowout losses.
Stock Up
The Monster Tandem
Quinshon Judkins might be the best running back in college football. TreVeyon Henderson might be the second-best running back behind him. At least, that's how it's looked through three Ohio State games. Both of them averaged more than 12 yards per carry against Marshall and both are averaging 8.6 yards per carry or better for the season. Judkins has gotten 50% more carries and as such leads the way in production with 36 attempts for 336 yards and five touchdowns.
Run Blocking
Running backs don't put up numbers like Henderson and Judkins against the Thundering Herd without road graders putting in work before them. Some of the duo's biggest jaunts were on plays where they weren't touched for 10 yards or more, a testament to the progress of an offensive line group that got arguably its best player back this week in left guard Donovan Jackson. Transfer center Seth McLaughlin has elevated the front five's play with his experience and blocking ability.
With help from some good perimeter blocking, the offensive line paved the way for Ohio State to rack up 280 rushing yards at a clip of 9 yards per carry vs. Marshall. The Buckeyes are No. 2 nationally with 7 yards per carry on the season, trailing only Boise State.
"Seth has done a great job of getting everybody on the same page," Day said. "He's like having an NFL center in there. When you go into a meeting and you say something, he's got the answer, or he's going to get it fixed in-game. He's talking to those guys. It's just a calming presence, I think. Then when you add Donovan in there, he's strengthened it even more, I feel like, this week."
Emeka Egbuka
Funny how a season plagued by injury can make people forget there's a 1,151-yard receiving season in your past. Egbuka reminded everyone why he's one of the nation's best wide receivers against Marshall, racking up 117 yards and a touchdown in just five receptions, the score being a 68-yard jaunt on a screen pass.
EMEKA EGBUKA 68 YARDS TO THE HOUSE
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 21, 2024
And just like that @ohiostate responds pic.twitter.com/XmR9uoft6K
Fortune's Favor
Fortune favors the bold, that's the saying, and Will Howard isn't afraid to be bold if he sees Jeremiah Smith singled up in coverage. Howard threw his first interception of the season on Saturday on a go ball to Smith and was unapologetic afterward – and I agree. Keep throwing the ball up to one of the most talented wide receiver prospects ever. Questions still linger about Howard's deep ball accuracy but those are the shots one must take.
"The plan all week was, 'Let that thing rip and put it on the spot,'" Howard said. "I'm gonna trust No. 4 every day of the week and he's gonna go make that play. And sometimes things happen. It's football."
Tennessee
The Volunteers might be entering the national title conversation, now ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll after a 25-15 win at then-No. 18 Oklahoma, a game Tennessee led 22-3 entering the fourth quarter.
Utah, Illinois
While Ohio State, Texas, Georgia and Tennessee are stepping up in the title hunt, some teams vying for playoff consideration are emerging in the next tier of the sport. Illinois has entered the top 20 after a 31-24 overtime win at then-No. 22 Nebraska and Utah hopped into the top 10 after a crucial 22-19 Big 12 victory over then-No. 14 Oklahoma State.
Stock Down
3-Tech Depth
Saturday's game demonstrated the value of Tyleik Williams in Ohio State's defense. With the team's star 3-technique defensive tackle out, the Buckeyes struggled to get anyone to stick as a replacement. Hero Kanu started but proved a non-factor, Jason Moore was more of the same and while Tywone Malone made a few nice plays, the Buckeyes need someone to step up here similar to how Kayden McDonald has stepped up as the second nose guard.
Linebacker Play
Marshall found most of its offensive success – which it should be noted still wasn't much, the Herd scored two touchdowns but punted eight times – attacking the middle of the Buckeyes' defense with quick underneath passes and getting Stone Earle mobile at quarterback. Those are areas of the field linebackers are responsible for. Sonny Styles looked out of place on several plays and C.J. Hicks still struggles when he's not blitzing. Cody Simon is also capable of better performances than he had.
Again, this comes with the caveat that Marshall averaged a meager 2.9 yards per carry and 3.8 yards per play. But there were a few worrisome plays from Ohio State's linebackers in this contest, even if the worry is only a light concern for now.
Special Teams
Outside Ohio State's four touchdown plays of 40 yards or more, the loudest cheer from the Ohio Stadium crowd on Saturday came when walk-on kicker Austin Snyder finally kicked a kickoff in-bounds after starter Jayden Fielding had knocked three consecutive boots out of the field of play. Brandon Inniss also muffed a punt, a turnover erased by an illegal formation penalty on Marshall. He also may have been one slip away from a punt return touchdown, at least?
Missouri
No, Missouri hasn't lost a game yet, but a squad thought to be one of the nation's more talented has limped through back-to-back games against unranked foes. Last week Boston College took a 14-3 lead before the Tigers scratched out a 27-21 win, this week long-time SEC cellar dweller Vanderbilt took Mizzou to double overtime in a 30-27 Tiger win.
Kansas State, North Carolina
Another elsewhere-in-college-football twofer here, this time with teams exposed by mid-majors over the weekend. Then-No. 13 Kansas State lost 38-9 to BYU, who's since vaulted into the top-25 at No. 22, one spot above the Wildcats' new No. 23 ranking. James Madison led North Carolina 53-21 at halftime before defeating the Tar Heels 70-50. (Also note: BYU and James Madison are quite good)
