Ohio State defense building confidence

Before the season began, Ohio State's defense might have been the biggest question about the 2025 version of the Buckeyes Sure, quarterback was a big question. But it was a foregone conclusion for most people that Julian Sayin would be the starter. But the picture wasn't quite as clear on defense where OSU had to replace eight starters, including all four starters on the defensive line. But after allowing seven points, no points, nine points and six points in its first four games, the defense now might be a source of confidence, not an area of concern. Names like Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, Cody Simon, Denzel Burke, Lathan Ransom and others have been replaced by players like Caden Curry, Kenyatta Jackson, Kayden McDonald, Jermaine Mathews and others. "We have a long season ahead of us but we have confidence right now. That's the most important thing for young players," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said in his post-game press conference after the Buckeyes' 24-6 win at Washington on Saturday. "Maybe they don't have as much experience as some of the guys last year. Some of these guys are starting for the first time. Their first start was Texas at home and now their first road start is a team that had won 22 straight at home. These are all things that are building up our confidence, which is critical. I'm not surprised, but I'm excited. It's exciting to see the capability and potential. But there's a long way to go and a lot of work to do," he said. Things did not start well for the Buckeyes when their first possession Saturday ended with yet another trip to the red zone which produced no points, a problem which was supposed to have been stressed during the bye week after their 37-9 victory over Ohio on Sept. 13. And their second possession was over before it ever got started when Brandon Inniss fumbled on a long punt return to give Washington the ball at its own 21-yard line. Ten plays later the Huskies took the lead for the only time in the game on a 28-yard field goal by Grady Gross early in the second quarter. That lead held up until Sayin connected with Jeremiah Smith for an 18-yard touchdown pass for OSU's first score with 1:08 left in the first half. In his halftime television interview Ryan Day said he wanted to win the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half and that's what the Buckeyes did, though their opening drive of the second half consumed more than four minutes when it went on for the first 7 minutes, 19 seconds of the third quarter. That 14-play, 75-yard drive ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by C.J. Donaldson which gave Ohio State a 14-3 lead. Gross kicked another 28-yard field goal late in the third quarter to make it 14-6 before OSU scored twice in the fourth quarter – on a 34-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding and a 4-yard touchdown pass from Sayin to Donaldson. OSU finished with 357 yards of total offense against Washington, the second-best team it has played so far this season, and its longest pass completion was only 19 yards. It beat Texas 14-7 with only 203 yards of total offense. The big numbers on Saturday belonged to defensive players. Curry, a defensive end, had 11 tackles, five tackles for losses and three sacks. McDonald, a defensive tackle, had two sacks, and Jackson, the other defensive end, had one sack. It would not be a big stretch to say Ohio State's season so far has been defined by its defense. "It's important that we continue to grow on offense and figure out where the identity of this team is and where it's going. It's something we will work on week to week. But when you have a defense that is playing the way it is now you can play with confidence, knowing you don't have to score every single possession," Day said. "The goal is to score every time. We've got to figure out ways to be more explosive and we will." We're going to work hard on it this week."