COLUMBUS — Ohio State starting left guard Donovan Jackson missed the season-opening blowout win over Akron on Saturday with an undisclosed injury. His debut for his third year as the starter in that post was postponed.
It should just be a one-week wait for the Buckeyes star lineman. Ohio State coach Ryan Day was asked after the game about Jackson’s status moving forward after second-year lineman Austin Siereveld started in his place.
Day’s update was quite encouraging. In fact, he is expected to play next week.
“He’s going to have a full week next week. We plan on him playing next week,” Day said. “If he doesn’t, then that means he has had a setback. But we want to be smart. We know it’s a long season. He was really all over us about getting back but we’re only going to do it when we feel like the trainers give him the full go on that.”
As long as Jackson has a good week of work, he should be able to make his 2024 debut against Western Michigan.
But the Buckeyes are heavily favored in the matchup, and they have an idle week after that game. So it would be understandable if they held him back another week — which would push his debut back to Sept. 21 against Marshall.
For now, he’s on pace to start at left guard next Saturday. And the Ohio State offensive line would then be at full strength.
Ohio State opens as heavy favorite over Western Michigan
The Buckeyes didn’t cover the massive 48.5-point spread against Akron on Saturday. Well, the folks in the desert aren’t backing down from giving Ohio State plenty of points for the matchup against Western Michigan (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network).
Ohio State opened Western Michigan week as a 38.5-point favorite for the primetime showdown. The total is set at 53.5.
The Broncos, the Buckeyes’ second straight game against a MAC school to open the year, went on the road last weekend and lost 28-14 despite leading early in the fourth quarter. They expect to be a good challenge for the No. 2 Buckeyes this weekend.
Western Michigan is 1-0 against the spread this year. Ohio State, meanwhile, is 0-1.
