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Emergence of freshman Bo Jackson adds new element to Ohio State football rushing attack
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- Emergence of freshman Bo Jackson adds new element to Ohio State football rushing attack
As Ohio State held a narrow lead over Ohio early in the third quarter, the Buckeyes turned to a freshman running back.
Bo Jackson took the handoff to begin the Buckeyes ' first drive in the second half and seized the opportunity.
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Jackson hit a hole, split two linebackers and hurdled a safety in order to break free toward midfield at Ohio Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Bo Jackson (25) jumps over the Ohio Bobcats in the second half at the Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
The Bobcats' defenders struggled to catch up. Jackson nearly reached the end zone before a cornerback shoved him out of bounds at the 11-yard line.
While the carry resulted in a gain of 64 yards, setting up a field goal as the Buckeyes began pulling away in their 37-9 win on Sept. 13 , it endured as a glimpse of Jackson's potential.
Over Ohio State's past two nonconference games, Jackson has emerged as a big-play threat , an element that was lost last offseason following the departure of running back TreVeyon Henderson .
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"The more he plays, the more he is going to learn," Buckeyes coach Ryan Day sad, "but you can see the vision and you can see the explosiveness."
Since making his debut in a rout of Grambling State on Sept. 6, Jackson has done nothing but string together 100-yard rushing games.
Jackson had 108 rushing yards and one touchdown against Grambling State, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision.
He followed his breakout debut by running for 109 yards and catching two passes for 21 yards against Ohio.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Bo Jackson (25) stiff arms Ohio Bobcats cornerback Michael Mack II (9) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Sept. 13, 2025. Ohio State won 37-9.
In both lopsided wins, he had at least one run longer than 50 yards, showing a burst out of the backfield. Of the Buckeyes' 15 runs of at least 10 yards this season, seven of them have come from Jackson.
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It seemed as if Jackson was poised to find a role sooner than later. While coming out of Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland , he was the 10th-best running back prospect in the nation, according to composite rankings compiled by 247Sports.
But his impact has been so immediate that it has ignited a conversation about whether he should be the primary back as the Buckeyes look toward their Big Ten schedule.
While he did not make an appearance in the season-opening victory over Texas on Aug. 30, he led Ohio State in carries over its other nonconference games.
Jackson combined for 18 carries between the wins over Grambling State and Ohio, while James Peoples saw 15 and CJ Donaldson had 14.
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His arrival at least points to the likelihood of the Buckeyes using some sort of a three-running back approach this year.
The Buckeyes have largely used two-back tandems in Day's tenure, but it's not unfamiliar to running backs coach Carlos Locklyn, who rotated three while leading the position group at Western Kentucky in 2021.
It's also apparent the Buckeyes have the personnel. Jackson's speed complements the blend of toughness from Donaldson, a transfer from West Virginia. Peoples, a sophomore from Texas, is also a well-rounded runner who has gotten the starts.
The depth of the rotation presents a new dynamic to manage as the Buckeyes divvy carries.
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"I think we're still figuring that out, that rhythm, to be quite honest," Day said.
But it's clear Jackson will be in the picture.
"Bo Jackson is that guy," superstar wide receiver Jeremiah Smith said, "and you'll see more of that the rest of the season."
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky , Instagram and X for more.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bo Jackson flashes big-play ability for Ohio State football vs. Ohio
