By Ohio State football snapped its losing skid with a 28-19 win over Northwestern on Nov. 14 at Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes were 0-2 since returning from their off week, falling to USC and Oregon by more than 10 points in both games. Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey, who has taken over for an injured Julian Sayin during this stretch, threw for 201 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in his first win as a starter.
Former Ohio State offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was on the opposite sideline for the first time since winning the 2024 national championship with the Buckeyes. Northwestern's Kelly-ran offense posted 278 total yards while being held to two touchdowns and two field goals.
Here are the game's key moments and takeaways:
Ohio State's sophomore running back duo provides crucial production
Sophomore running backs Bo Jackson and Isaiah West took on a large part of Ohio State's legwork, each finding the end zone and combining for 159 of the Buckeyes' 168 rushing yards.
West rushed for 45 yards on 10 carries, and Jackson posted 114 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Jackson was coming off a two-touchdown outing in the 41-28 loss to Oregon, though after scoring in the first quarter, he recorded just 17 yards the rest of the game. Against Northwestern, Jackson continued to be an asset following his 2-yard touchdown during the second quarter.
Jeremiah Smith breaks Big Ten record early vs Northwestern
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith officially took the Big Ten all-time receiving yards title with a 22-yard catch near the end of the first quarter. Smith entered just 31 yards off from the record, which Purdue's John Standeford set at 3,788 in 2003.
The record-breaking catch was the fourth of Smith's 11 receptions, a high in the three games Fahey has been at quarterback, and finished with 117 yards.
In the fourth quarter, Smith logged his lone touchdown. He came close to scoring another in the second quarter, but instead had the first pass interference call go his way for the first time since the Purdue game last season. Northwestern defensive back Ore Adeyi was charged with the foul against Smith.
Smith has the record at 3,874 yards with two games remaining in the regular season. A junior, Smith is likely in his final season at Ohio State, as he's expected to declare for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Ohio State improves pass rush, third-down defense
In the past two games, the Buckeyes' opponents had moved the chains 15 times on third down. The Wildcats did convert on third down six times, but their third-down conversion rate was below 40% (6 for 15).
The biggest defensive boost Ohio State got against Northwestern was from the pass rush. After recording just two sacks across the past four games, the Buckeyes sacked Wildcats quarterback Nicco Marchiol five times, with Kenyatta Jackson Jr. leading the team with two.
Ohio State's special teams display mix of positive, negative moments
Ohio State still racked up highs and lows after firing special teams coordinator Robby Discher on Monday.
Wide receiver Brandon Inniss opened the Buckeyes' special-teams play with a punt 17-yard return.
But in the third quarter, Ohio State showed its special-teams cracks, first when multiple Buckeyes allowed a squib kick to pass them on the ground, pinning the offense at its own 17-yard line. During Northwestern's next punt, the ball bounced off the back of cornerback Devin Sanchez's shoulder, and the Wildcats recovered it at Ohio State's 44-yard line.
The Buckeyes made up for their errors when long snapper Dalton Riggs recovered a misplayed Northwestern punt return inside the red zone, leading to Smith's touchdown.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State gets lift from RBs Bo Jackson, Isaiah West in win over Northwestern
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ohio-state-gets-lift-rbs-204010932.html