COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the latest episode of Buckeye Talk, hosts Stephen Means, Stefan Krajisnik and Andrew Gillis spent dissected what might be the most intriguing subplot of Ohio State’s season: the Buckeyes’ running game and freshman phenom Bo Jackson’s role within it.
The debate centers on a fascinating question — is Ohio State limiting its star freshman’s carries as part of a long-term strategy, or is the coaching staff still searching for the right formula?
“I think what’s missing from this run game right now is Bo Jackson,” Stephen Means said. “I almost want to go rewatch the Illinois game and go, ‘Ehat would that carry have looked like if Bo Jackson was carrying the ball instead of CJ Donaldson or James Peoples?’”
The hosts painted a picture of a team deliberately managing their star freshman’s workload with December and January in mind. While this approach might frustrate fans wanting to see more explosive plays now, it suggests a calculated long-term vision that prioritizes championship readiness over early-season dominance.
Krajisnik offered perhaps the most revealing insight into Ohio State’s approach: “Last year, it was split the workload between these two (TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins) so that these two can be healthy for the playoffs.
“This year, it feels like split the load between these three so that Bo and someone else can be healthy for the playoffs. I think when we get to the biggest games, I still maintain that it’s going to be two guys who split the workload.”
This three-back rotation featuring Jackson, Donaldson and Peoples has been the subject of much scrutiny, with many wondering if it’s too diluted compared to last year’s more focused approach with Henderson and Judkins.
The careful handling of Jackson becomes even more intriguing when you consider his age and potential. As Means pointed out:
“He’s also 18 years old. Forget the position he plays. He’s 18. They did that last year with guys who were, like, 22 and could have very well been playing in the NFL. They’re doing that with somebody who just legally is allowed to vote now.”
The comparison to last season’s running game is particularly revealing.
Henderson and Judkins formed a devastating one-two punch that helped power the Buckeyes to a championship. But neither back was overworked — Henderson never exceeded 11 carries in a game until the national championship, while Judkins topped out at 17 carries in the Rose Bowl.
Gillis suggested the coaching staff might be experiencing some frustration with the current state of the running game:
“I think they’re realizing how important having a running game that you could rely on was… And I think they’re still trying to find that mix.”
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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