Ohio State looks the part against Kent

A grade card on Ohio State's 59-3 win over Kent State in its final non-conference game of the season:

OFFENSE: B

How can the grade in this category be anything below an A on a day when OSU put 59 points on the scoreboard?

It's lower than an A because the Buckeyes struggled to finish the deal too many times against the Golden Flashes.

They were just 1 of 8 on third down conversions and the successful attempt came in the final seconds of the game. This was a problem area in Ohio State's loss to Texas a week earlier when it was 6 of 14 on third down conversions. It apparently didn't get corrected.

Bo Jackson, Ja'Kobi Jackson and Isaiah West all were tackled for losses on third down carries.

Fourth down also presented a problem on back-to-back series in the second quarter after OSU had scored touchdowns on its first four possessions. Those series ended with quarterback Julian Sayin being sacked and throwing an interception.

Overall, it was a positive day for the offense with 527 total yards and scoring seven of the Buckeyes' eight touchdowns.

Sayin completed his first 11 passes and was 18 of 22 for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Bo Jackson rushed for 73 yards on 11 carries and scored a touchdown, and Ja'Kobi Jackson continued to play a bigger than expected role so far in the running game when he scored two touchdowns to push his season total to four.

Jeremiah Smith caught five passes for 85 yards and broke Michael Jenkins' Ohio State record for career receiving yards.

Starting right tackle Phillip Daniels did not play because of a leg injury he suffered against Texas. Austin Siereveld replaced him and Gabe VanSickle filled in for Siereveld at right guard.

OSU got more receivers involved in the offense, led by Brandon Inniss who had four catches, including a 49-yard grab as time ran out in the first half.

DEFENSE: B

Ohio State is still looking for players or ways that can put more pressure on quarterbacks. It had just one sack in a game in which it limited Kent State to 134 yards of total offense.

Sophomore linebacker Riley Pettijohn again looked like someone who deserves more playing time with an interception and three tackles. His interception came a week after he sacked Texas quarterback Arch Manning. T.J. Alford, another sophomore linebacker, also stood out.

It's hard to judge exactly where OSU is defensively. It has not allowed a touchdown in two of its first three games but its opponents in those two games aren't as good as the teams it will face the rest of the season.

The most exciting defensive play of the day on Saturday might have been 349-pound defensive tackle Jamir Perez picking up a fumble and running 11 yards for a touchdown.

SPECIAL TEAMS: A

The special teams weren't asked to do a lot of things. Joe McGuire punted once. Connor Hawkins kicked a 31-yard field goal and eight extra points.

OVERALL: B

Methodical. Business-like. Confident. Ohio State successfully put the loss to Texas in the past before and during the game.