by Per the Ohio State Media Communications team
Attendance: 102,011
Ohio State Postgame Notes
- Ryan Day is now 57-8 since becoming Ohio State’s head coach and is 2-0 in his career against Akron.
- Ohio State saw seven first-time starters for the Scarlet and Gray – Jeremiah Smith (WR, Fr.), Will Howard (QB, Grad.), Seth McLaughlin (OC, Grad.), Austin Siereveld (OL, So.), Tegra Tshabola (OL, Jr.) on offense and Caleb Downs (S, So.) and C.J. Hicks (LB, Jr.) on the defensive side of the ball.
- Six Buckeyes scored in the first game they wore the Scarlet and Gray.
- Smith, a true freshman, had two receiving touchdowns, both off passes from graduate transfer Howard. Freshman James Peoples rushed for a TD on his first carry as a Buckeye and junior transfer Quinshon Judkins had a two-yard rush for his first score at Ohio State. Defensively, graduate student Lathan Ransom returned a fumble 27 yards for a score and junior Gabe Powers had a 29-yard interception return.
- Smith is the 13th Buckeye to catch two touchdown passes week one and the first to do so since Jeremy Ruckert in 2019 against Florida Atlantic.
- Smith ended the game with six catches for 92 yards, leading the Buckeyes in both categories. He is the first freshman to score in his first collegiate game since Jerron Cage against Penn State in 2021.
- Howard ended the game 17-for-28 passing for 228 yards and three touchdowns. He crossed the 6,000-yard mark for career passing and now has 6,014 yards.
- Denzel Burke recorded his third career interception with 12:03 remaining in the second quarter.
- Ohio State is 49-0-1 all-time vs. Ohio teams in Ohio Stadium and is now 37-1 vs. MAC schools. The Buckeyes are 9-1 in the all-time series vs. Akron.
