1. Ohio State is crazy talented. OK, that might be obvious, but it still bears pointing out. It’s still too early to say the Buckeyes are more talented than last year’s team — or the 2014 national champion — but that is entirely possible. There are great athletes at seemingly every position for Meyer, whose staff continues to develop talent at the same rate he brings it in (that’s high).
2. The Buckeyes are also tough. The best way to win a big game is to win the rushing battle, and Ohio State did that 291-178. Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel combined for 221 yards, besting OU’s outstanding duo of Joe Mixon (78 yards) and Samaje Perine (60). The Ohio State offensive line still looked shaky at times in pass protection, but it opened up holes for the ground game all night while an untested defensive line held its own.
3. Did we mention depth? End Jalyn Holmes and linebacker Jerome Baker combined for one of the big early plays in the game as Holmes deflected an Oklahoma pass that Baker caught and returned 68 yards for a touchdown. Those two both entered the season as reserves, though Baker started Saturday night in place of the injured Dante Booker. Baker finished with seven tackles and 1.5 for loss while Holmes also had a TFL. On offense, quarterback J.T. Barrett completed passes to seven different receivers.
4. Noah Brown is a tremendous weapon. He didn’t have to tie the school record for touchdown receptions in a game to prove it, but that really drove the point home. Brown was thought to be a possible asset as a blocker on the outside, but his acrobatic touchdown catches against the Sooners indicated he could become one of the elite players in the country and a safety blanket for Barrett.
5. The Buckeyes look like they’re having fun again. After last season seemed like a year-long root canal, Ohio State has played loose and fast the first three games, and the results speak for themselves. Will keeping that feeling be a challenge? They have a week off before returning home to play Rutgers.
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