Freshman Jeremiah Smith caught two touchdown passes and No. 2 Ohio State overcame a sluggish start to bury Akron 52-6 in the opener for both teams Saturday.
Under new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the Buckeyes needed nearly all of the first half to start running smoothly against the overmatched Zips.
Smith dropped the first pass thrown to him on the opening drive. The Buckeyes punted, leading to an Akron field goal.
Smith redeemed himself, however, turning around to make a slick catch in the end zone of a 16-yard pass from Kansas State transfer quarterback Will Howard for a touchdown.
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Late in the first half, the much-hyped receiver from South Florida caught a 9-yard pass in the end zone with cornerback Devonte Golden-Nelson draped all over him. That put the Buckeyes up 17-3 at the half.
A 45-yard contested catch in the third quarter set up a 2-yard scoring run by Quinshon Judkins, the first as a Buckeye for the Ole Miss transfer.
Howard finished 17 for 28 for 228 yards and three TDs.
The Zips got field goals of 48 and 49 yards by Garrison Smith.
[College football Week 1 live updates: Top moments from Ohio State, Nebraska, more]
Key takeaway
The Buckeyes were seven-touchdown favorites, but didn’t look like it for most of the first half. The offensive line, especially, seems to still be a work in progress. They finally started to tune up and roll in the second half.
Up next
Akron: At Rutgers next Saturday.
Ohio State: Hosts Western Michigan next Saturday.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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