2024 MAC Football Week 1 Game Recap: Ohio State Buckeyes 52, Akron Zips 6

The Akron Zips, 48.5 point underdogs by most prognosticators, weren’t expected to score first in their contest vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes. Many people certainly didn’t expect the Zips to be able to push the envelope at the end of the first half to try and cut into a 17-3 OSU lead.

Certainly, nobody could reasonably have expected Akron head coach Joe Moorhead to utilize use a two-quarterback formation for multiple first-down pickups.

But by the end of Saturday afternoon’s contest, the expected result came through, as the Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0) endured the punches and unexpected adversity to cruise to a 52-6 victory over the Akron Zips (0-1) at historic Ohio Stadium.

Akron threw the first punches, with the defense forcing a three-and-out on OSU’s first drive of the game and then the offense driving down to the Buckeyes 23-yard line to threaten for a score.

Tahj Bullock, who started the game on the bench, had to engineer a drive after starting QB Ben Finley left the field with a shoulder injury, and went 2-of-2 for 18 yards while picking up 15 yards before an errant snap on second down and a sack on third down doomed the drive to end in a field goal from Garrison Smith Jr. to give the Zips the initial 3-0 lead.

Ohio State responded with a long, efficient drive of their own, with five-star receiving prospect Jeremiah Smith hauling in his first touchdown as a Buckeye from 16 yards out to cap off a 10-play, 76-yard drive lasting over six minutes to put the margin at 7-3.

Akron’s first opportunity to instill fear in the Ohio State fanbase came on fourth-and-five at the Zips 25-yard line early in the second quarter, when new addition Aman Greenwood broke up a Will Howard pass intended for Emeka Egbuka to force a turnover-on-downs.

Hopes would be dashed fairly quickly, however, as Ben Finley would give the ball right back to Ohio State via interception after trying to throw out of a sack two plays later. The Buckeyes would cash in Denzel Burke’s pick for a field goal, extending their lead to 10-3 with 11:23 to go in the first half.

After an Akron three-and-out on the next possession, Ohio State would once again add to their lead on a second Howard-to-Smith connection, this time from nine yards out on a snazzy one-handed catch through coverage to push the lead to 17-3.

Akron would drive into OSU territory on their final full possession of the first half, carrying the ball to the Buckeye 35-yard line on a 12-play, 45-yard drive, but it ended ignominiously with a scramble drill sack on a hobbled Finley.

The Zips defense valiantly forced a three-and-out to prevent the Buckeyes offense from taking advantage of the turnover-on-downs thanks in part to forcing a fumble, but between Finley’s injuries and the game clock situation, the offense was unable to nab any final points.

It was all downhill from there, as Ben Finley left the game after suffering shoulder and rib injuries, and Tahj Bullock could no longer find room to operate, eventually giving Ohio State the ball back on a 52-yard punt on the first drive of the third quarter.

The Buckeyes would score two plays later on a two-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins and then nab their first defensive touchdown of the night on a Bullock fumble recovered by Lathan Ransom to balloon the scoreboard to 31-3 within 30 seconds of game clock.

Garrison Smith Jr. stopped the bleeding with a 49-yard field goal to put the margin at 31-6, but Ohio State would rack up 21 unanswered points in reply, scoring a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, and a pick-six to effectively end the evening.

Will Howard finished with decent stats after a rocky start in his debut as a Buckeye, compiling 228 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-28 passing.

Debutante receiver Jeremiah Smith finished with six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first OSU freshman receiver to score twice in a debut since 1996. Carnell Tate (four receptions, 58 yards, one touchdown) and Emeke Egbuka (four receptions, 51 yards) also contributed in the air.

TreyVeon Henderson led the Buckeyes with 65 rushing yards on eight carries, while former Ole Miss back Quinshon Judkins held team leads in carries (13) and tied for the team lead in touchdowns (one) on 55 yards. James Peoples (six carries, 30 yards) contributed with a rushing score in the second half.

Defensively, Ransom Lathan was the hero of the day, shutting the door on a potential comeback with a fumble recovery touchdown while also leading the team with nine total tackles and two tackles-for-loss. Tyliek Williams and J.T. Tuimoloau each had 1.5 TFLs to lead the Buckeyes, while Gabe Powers returned an interception for a touchdown late in the contest to get on the box score.

Tahj Bullock finished 9-of-13 passing for 68 yards passing and 42 yards on 14 carries rushing (both team leads), while Ben Finley was 8-of-14 for 53 yards and an interception. True freshman Brayden Roggow is credited with 1-of-3 passing for nine yards and an interception on a deflection.

Charles Kellom, Jordon Simmons and Marquese Williams combined for 19 yards on 13 carries.

Tight end Jake Newell led the Zips in receiving yards (41) on two catches, while Simmons led in receptions (four) and had 22 yards. Receiver Bobby Golden contributed three catches for 32 yards, while Tahj Bullock had four yards on two catches in special packages.

A pair of transfers were vital to the defensive effort for Akron, with former Oregon Duck Daymon David leading Akron with six tackles, while former Syracuse Orange Aman Greenwood registered two pass break-ups— including the fourth-down stop on Egbuka— and two tackles. Antavious Fish and CJ Nunnally IV held joint-second with five stops each. Bryan McCoy, who was in and out with injuries suffered during the game, finished with three tackles and a PBU.

Avery Book was a star performer at punter, with a 48.2 yard net average and four punts of over 50 yards on six attempts— even with a shank early on in the contest.

Akron will look to their second-straight trip to a Big Ten school next week, as they’re scheduled to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Sept. 7th for a noon kickoff game.

Ohio State, meanwhile, will host another MAC program at Ohio Stadium next week, this time taking on the Western Michigan Broncos— fresh off an upset attempt against Wisconsin. The game is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, Sept. 7th at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.