Ohio State football spring game 2024: What to Watch For

Ohio State kicks off its spring football game this weekend. Here's what you should watch for as the Buckeyes return to the field.

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator Chip Kelly watches Will Howard throw the ball. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA

Few other college football teams have been quite as busy this offseason as Ohio State, and with good reason: after losing to Michigan three straight times and missing out on the playoff a year ago, Ryan Day and the Buckeyes face more pressure to right the ship in 2024.

Ohio State was active in the transfer portal, signing veteran quarterback Will Howard and running back Quinshon Judkins, and former five-star safety Caleb Downs, while returning important experience, especially on the defensive side of the ball. And notably, the school brought in Chip Kelly to call the offense.

Now, the Buckeyes take the field in their spring game. Here's what you should be watching out for.

Ohio State football spring game 2024 schedule

When: Sat., April 13
Time: 12 p.m. Eastern
TV: Fox network

Related: Ohio State Football Schedule 2024

Chip Kelly's offense

Ryan Day teams have been built around dynamic offense, but the unit suffered a statistical downturn a year ago in the changeover from C.J. Stroud to Kyle McCord at quarterback. Ohio State was 45th in scoring and 48 in total production last season.

How will Kelly address it? Expect a lot of pace and a variety of looks, especially with OSU's backs getting involved as pass catchers and Howard getting moved around more in the pocket. Spring games don't tell us much, but it's a good chance to get an early look at what Kelly has been up to.

QB competition?

Given his experience, Howard is the presumptive favorite to win the QB1 role. Or is he? Ohio State has five quarterbacks on the roster, and in the transfer era, that means one of two of them could leave, making the spring game crucial to show what you can do.

This competition likely revolves around who can get a head start for 2025. Alabama transfer Julian Sayin and five-star recruit Air Noland appear to be the favorites in that race, while Devin Brown looks to get a leg-up alongside redshirt freshman Lincoln Kienholz.

Jeremiah Smith debut

No player in Ohio State history lost his black stripe faster than Smith, the school's 5-star freshman wide receiver, ranked No. 1 at his position in the 2024 recruiting class. He's been putting up highlight grabs on a regular basis at practice and is already poised to earn WR1 snaps right away. Smith has the speed, agility, and handwork to emerge as starting material immediately.

Offensive line watch

Josh Simmons looks set at left tackle, with Donovan Jackson at left guard, and Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin at center. Right guard and tackle are up for grabs, and Ohio State wants to try as many combinations as possible and test them against its strong edge rushers to see what sticks.

Luke Montgomery is the tentative favorite at right guard, although Josh Fryar struggled at right tackle a year ago, so it's possible the Buckeyes try switching the two. Spring football is the time for experimentation, and anything is up for grabs.

Downs in the secondary

Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has improved the unit's fortunes the last two seasons, but it has still struggled in bigger games and in the postseason.

Part of that difficulty has stemmed from secondary pass coverage, and the addition of Alabama transfer safety Caleb Downs could be the difference maker.

A prodigy in coverage, Downs led the Crimson Tide with 107 stops a year ago, proving he has a knack for finding the football and closing down deeper passing routes.

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