COLUMBUS — Western Michigan’s game against Wisconsin in Week 1 was closer than the 28-14 final score.

COLUMBUS – Last Saturday’s game against Akron was the first time in Ryan Day’s six seasons as Ohio State’s football coach that he turned the play-calling duties over to an offensive coordinator.

A grade card on Ohio State’s 52-6 win over Akron. It took a little longer than expected but it eventually turned into the blowout everyone predicted.

COLUMBUS – With sweat accumulating on his forehead, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard paused when answering questions in his postgame press conference after OSU’s 52-6 win over Akron on Saturday in its season opener to ask a question of his own.

COLUMBUS – Ohio State freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith has received more attention and generated bigger expectations than any OSU freshman at any position in a long time.

COLUMBUS — Akron’s visit to No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday likely won’t be much of an indicator of how good the Buckeyes can be this season.

COLUMBUS — Since the mid-1990s the years Ohio State has gone into a college football season seeming to have a chance to compete for a national championship probably outnumber the years it didn’t by a comfortable margin.

Here’s my ranking of Ohio State’s regular season games from easiest to most challenging.

Illinois

After winning the transfer portal by convincing his next starting quarterback, three of Alabama’s best players and one of the best running backs in college football to come to Ohio State, Ryan Day had one more surprise to reveal.