Here are the three biggest takeaways from the Ohio State Buckeyes’ week five victory over the Washington Huskies.
Despite a rough first half for the Ohio State Buckeyes in week five, head coach Ryan Day and his team managed to hold off the Washington Huskies on the road, 24-6.
The hard-fought win on Saturday afternoon marks the program’s first Big Ten Conference win of the season and extends the Buckeyes’ undefeated season heading into week six. And while the victory may not have been the most exciting, there were plenty of key takeaways from the contest.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from Ohio State’s latest victory.
Offense Finds Groove In Second Half
Prior to the team’s week five contest, the Buckeyes' offense found loads of success in their last two games, with quarterback Julian Sayin leading the charge.
However, Ohio State’s high-powered offense was unable to get a rhythm in the first half, as the Huskies managed to stop running back CJ Donaldson on a huge fourth-and-short on the first drive while in the red zone. The struggles to gain momentum on offense continued into the following drives, but finally took the lead late in the second quarter, thanks to wide receiver Jeremiah Smith finding the end zone off a drag route.
This paved the way for the Buckeyes to score once again to kick off the second half, as Donaldson capped off an efficient drive from Sayin. The change in offensive coordinator Brian Hartline’s game plan was one of the main factors in the offense's success, as the switch to getting the ball out quickly to their wide receivers allowed Ohio State to march down the field. With now four games under Sayin’s belt, the offense is starting to find the correct game plan for the Buckeyes.
Ohio State’s Red Zone Defense Remains Stout
If it weren’t for Ohio State’s incredible defensive efforts in the red zone, the outcome of the matchup could have looked a lot different on Saturday.
In Washington’s first three red zone appearances in week five, defensive coordinator Matt Patrica and his squad held the Huskies to just two field goals despite being pinned against their own 10-yard line. This was the perfect recovery for defense after forfeiting multiple explosive plays before entering the red zone.
Last year, the Buckeyes had one of the best defenses in the red zone, which was a key reason why the program won the National Championship. The concern heading into this season, however, was that the defense lost a slew of playmakers to the 2025 NFL Draft, which became worrisome for Ohio State with Patricia joining the coaching staff.
But luckily for Day and the program, the impressive performances from the defense have played a significant role in 2025. And with Ohio State slated to face the likes of Penn State and Michigan later in the season, this success must carry into the rest of the season.
Bo Jackson Emerging As Lead Running Back
Another day, another big-time performance from true freshman running back Bo Jackson in week five.
The Cleveland, OH native has been all the talk this season after shining against Grambling State and Ohio, as he finished with 217 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. The remarkable two-game stint helped to gain the trust of both Day and Hartline, leading to Jackson receiving the bulk of the carries against Washington. He would finish Saturday’s contest with 17 carries for 80 yards, along with a huge run to set up the Buckeyes' final touchdown.
Jackson’s ability to absorb contact while also possessing speed to break off explosive runs are some of the many reasons why the newcomer has seen an increase in his playing time this season. This is a completely different running style from the Donaldsons and will help to strengthen the run game for the Buckeyes after losing both TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins.