Ohio State opened the 2023 season not with a bang, but with a whimper.
On the plus side, they didn't end up like TCU getting upset by an upstart like Colorado. But facing an Indiana team that ranked 83rd in SP+, the Buckeyes looked rather uninspiring for a team with national title aspirations.
It was a Big Ten road game and Ohio State got out with a win, that's what matters. It's certainly too soon to hit the panic button.
Having said that, the warning signs of trouble to come were there in Week 1...
No. 3 warning sign for Ohio State vs. Indiana: WR non-factor
Ohio State has the best wide receiver corps in the country. Talents like Marvin Harrison Jr., Julian Fleming, Emka Egbuka and Carnell Tate should make life impossible for every secondary the Buckeyes face.
So what happened on Saturday against Indiana?
Tight end Cade Stover led the Buckeyes in receiving while Harrison had just two catches. Egbuka had three. Fleming was the only one who got involved at the rate you'd expect with six catches.
This isn't a wide receiver problem. This is a problem of will. On a day when Ohio State's offense struggled in general, Ryan Day should have put the ball in Harrison's hands. He should have made sure Egbuka got his chances.
Day needs to understand that he doesn't have C.J. Stroud out there anymore. Finding easy ways to get the ball to his top playmakers is the best way to make life easier for the quarterbacks. The fact that he didn't figure that out has to be a concern.
Speaking of which...
No. 2 warning sign for Ohio State vs. Indiana: Quarterback play
Kyle McCord beat out Devin Brown in the offseason quarterback battle to replace CJ Stroud but Ryan Day indicated he would play both quarterbacks against Indiana anyway.
Indeed, both passers saw action. And, unfortunately, neither impressed.
McCord ran the show for most of the day. He went 20-of-33 for 239 yards and an interception. Brown was 1-of-3 for -2 passing yards and -3 rushing yards.
On one hand, McCord showed flashes but struggled to get the offense rolling despite a wealth of skill position talent around him. His turnover was a terrible mistake.
On the other hand, Brown didn't exactly look like he could do any better.
Stroud isn't walking through that door. The Buckeyes have to figure out which quarterback they can work with and run with him. It would just be a lot easier to do that if one of them grabbed the job by the horns. Neither did, which means the competition will have to continue by necessity, not luxury.
No. 1 warning sign for Ohio State vs. Indiana: Offensive Line
One of the biggest questions for Ohio State going into the 2023 season revolved around the offensive line. With three elite starters off to the NFL, would the Buckeyes be able to reload without a hitch?
The starting five was sorted out relatively easily. San Diego State transfer Josh Simmons filled in at left tackle. Josh Fryar slotted in at right tackle. Redshirt freshman Carson Hinzman took over at center.
But their first test didn't exactly go to plan.
Let's start with the positives first: They cleared the way for two rushing touchdowns and didn't give up any sacks. That's good!
But not giving up any sacks doesn't mean they protected the quarterback particularly well. And opening some gaps on touchdowns doesn't mean they won the battle in the trenches often enough either.
The Hoosiers are far from the most challenging defensive front the Buckeyes will face this year. It was concerning how the offensive line wasn't able to assert their will.
Obviously, it's early and the Buckeyes are fielding a group that hasn't played together very much. It will take time for them to gel. It's just imperative that that happens before Ohio State gets to the meat of their schedule. Matchups against Youngstown State and Western Kentucky will be good opportunities to iron out the wrinkles with Notre Dame looming.
