Kyle McCord has established himself as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, although he brings a different style to the position than we’re used to seeing.
The game against Penn State showcased two formidable defenses, resulting in a final score of 20-12 that clearly highlighted their strength. This performance left us pondering whether Kyle McCord is the right choice for the job or if Penn State’s defense was exceptionally strong.
Examining McCord’s statistics from the game, he completed 63% of his passes, going 22-of-35 for 286 yards and one touchdown. Despite facing significant pressure from the Nittany Lions’ defense, his throws included numerous overthrows and inaccuracies.
In the first half, he struggled to connect with his receivers, including Marvin Harrison Jr., signaling that the passes were nearly impossible to catch.
McCord did show some improvement in the second half, going 11-for-14, but much of this success seemed to be a result of Marv’s exceptional performance. Although McCord did settle down, he still grappled with finding a rhythm.
Throughout the season, McCord has led the team to two significant victories, and it’s worth noting that the defense played a significant role in this game. However, he did contribute to the offense, particularly with the crucial touchdown pass to Marv that sealed the win.
It’s not entirely fair to label Saturday as an “off day” for McCord, considering he still threw for almost 300 yards and managed to avoid turnovers, partly due to a defensive holding penalty.
During the Ryan Day era, Ohio State fans have grown accustomed to 300 and 400-yard passing games, primarily led by quarterbacks like Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields, and C.J. Stroud. McCord’s 1,937 passing yards in 2023 rank 20th in FBS, and he holds the 17th quarterback rating in the country.
These are commendable numbers for a first-year starter, even though they may not match the expectations set by his predecessors. The most significant achievements are his undefeated record as a starter, along with 12 touchdown passes and just one interception.
Nonetheless, it’s crucial to address McCord’s occasional inaccuracies, particularly in the first halves of games, and his tendency to rush himself in the pocket, even when not under pressure. While these issues were manageable against Penn State, they need to be rectified for upcoming challenges, especially against teams like Michigan.
Earlier in the season, some Buckeye fans called for Devin Brown to be the starter, but with Brown’s recent injury, it seems unlikely that a mid-season switch will occur. The coaching staff appears firmly committed to McCord, recognizing his ability to lead the team to significant victories, even if they differ from the styles of Stroud and Fields.
It’s challenging not to compare McCord to other quarterbacks across the country. Some, like LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., have more impressive statistics. Although McCord’s stats are solid, some fans expected more from him by this point in the season.
Perhaps this assessment is overly critical, but it’s important to remember that the Buckeyes are currently 7-0, indicating that McCord is doing something right.
The hope is that he continues to improve with each passing week so that he peaks at the right time and embodies the dominant, playmaking quarterback Ohio State fans have grown accustomed to, especially given the strength of the defense this season, which could make this a truly special year.
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