Over the past couple of weeks, several people have commented on the topic of OSU's usage of 12 personnel. So much so, that I figured I would start working on a film study for how this offense is operating. While 12 personnel definitely has its perks in today's game, which I will touch on, the scheme itself is simply a part of OSU's very apparent goal this season. Diversity. In this thread we will discuss how OSU is being diverse, what their bread-and-butter scheme is, how OSU has been able to execute, and the problems this scheme presents to modern era defenses. 

To start, I need to make a statement regarding modern day defense. If anyone is interested in a film study on what defenses have changed over the past ~5 years, comment and I will work on it. But to keep this thread shorter, I will just make the following comments:

1. It is harder than ever to run a zone-blocking scheme. Especially mid-zone and outside zone
2. 4-2-5 and 3-3-5 defenses often mislead people to think they are worse against the run. While this can be true, there are changes that can be made to a defensive line scheme that actually make these defenses better against the run. As a note, the usage of 5 DB base schemes has been increasing over the past 2 decades. All while, the average rushing yards per game have been decreasing. 

Again, if anyone wants a more in-depth look at the defensive changes, make a comment below. But for now, let's get rolling on the 2025 Buckeyes offensive attack 

Gap Rushing Team

We have seen Ohio State in recent years start putting more gap style rushing attacks into their playbook. But in 2025 it is no secret. We are a full-blown gap style rushing attack. While several gap schemes have been present, the OSU "bread-and-butter" play has been Counter. The beauty of this play is that it attacks the flaws that Ryan Day's offenses had in recent years. For one, it doesn't allow a defense to slant their line, which was a major reason for Outside zone becoming a curse word/phrase in the state of Ohio. In addition, it solves the problem of sealing the edge. This is really where a full blown defensive study would help explain. But in essence, outside zone works by the strongside tackle either sealing off the DE (opening up the edge) or by shoving him further outside to open up the C gap (area between Guard and tackle). Defenses figured out that if they just tell their DE to always let the tackle shove him to the sideline, they can use a LB/Safety to fill the C-gap, and render OZ useless. 

In this play, you see the strongside DE slant in the opposite way of the play, as he is following the movement of the O-line. This makes it very easy for the pulling linemen to open up the edge for Donaldson. 

In the next play, you will see a play design that made me smile as I watched it. This is 11 personnel, but because of the blocking abilities by Carnell Tate, they run this out of a 12 personnel style of set, with Tate acting as a LB. However, this puts the defense in peril because now OSU has their 2 best WR's to the boundary. Texas compensates by loading the boundary side of the field, leaving a ton of open grass to the "field side". This forces the defense to react very quickly to try and take away a run to the field side. OSU hits them with counter straight into the boundary. But watch how open this play gets, with all of Texas's front-7 worried about defending the field side. 

This play probably breaks for an even bigger game, but Tegra slows the play up because the play design was so good that he didn't even have a body to block. 

In addition to the run game, having the defense fear pulling guards opens up options for pass protection. Watch in this play below. OSU is able to pull Tegra to add extra protection to Sayin's blind side. Giving him ample time to make this throw. 

Also don't overlook Will K absolutely dominating the "best pass rusher in the country". More on my man Will in a bit. I mean this legit might be the best pass pro rep I've seen from a TE being 1-on-1 with a stud DE. 

Diversity

In a round about way, I touched on some of the diversity tricks above, but more is coming in this section. With the combination of 4 very good Tight Ends, and 2 WR's (Tate and Inniss) that can hold their own being used as blockers, Ryan Day and Brian Hartline have Pandora's box wide open to them. Earlier I showed Carnell Tate being used as a TE to make 11 personnel look like 12 personnel. How about making 12 personnel look like 10 personnel?

In this play, which Kyle Jones featured on his most recent film study, OSU has 12 personnel on the field; however, they align in 10 personnel causing OU to stretch their defense. OSU shifts late back into a more traditional look. OU doesn't have time to change their assignments, giving OSU a stupid advantage in the middle of the field. 

Now I will show my favorite sequence of the season so far, which really emphasizes the diverse options this offense has. Winning 30-9 vs. Ohio, OSU needed one more statement drive to officially end the game. The following plays are all in sequence. 

This is a pin and pull with Carnell Tate being used to help pin down a LB, allowing the pullers to get downfield. 

In the next play, Ohio State runs GT Counter to the boundary with the same personnel grouping. But once again, notice the late shift by the TE. When he shifts, OU's defense goes from having 5 guys to the boundary side, to only having 4. This creates a huge numbers advantage to the short side of the field. 

In the following play, Ohio State gets even heavier, and goes into 13 personnel. Easy pitch and catch to the RB, but just adds to the diverse looks. Nothing special, but just showing the defense more and more looks. 

The next play might make you barf. Are my eyes deceiving me, or is this truly Outside Zone to the boundary. However, Ryan Day and staff have greatly improved how the run it. You can see just the tail end of the first motion. In summary, OSU lines up in a 3x1 set to the field (3 eligible WR's to the field side). However, once again we get 2 late motions. First Will K motions to the boundary to make it a 2x2 set. Then Inniss motions in to the TE position to give them a de facto 12 personnel set with a numbers advantage to the boundary. But most intriguing. Watch the LB's. Their feet are in the mud. With how much they've been burnt on Counter, they are slow to react to the outside zone, allowing OSU to beat them to the edge. 

The capper to the drive was quite simply rude. Hartline had Ohio guessing all drive, then just decides to hit them with this. Game over. 

In essence, this drive looked like a drive you'd see as a scripted 1st quarter drive, but in fact, it was the game sealing drive. Outside of all the great diversity shown, this really speaks to this offensive staff being able to make adjustments and make a gameplan on the fly, after seeing what the defense is doing. 

Execution

Now remember, I've only shown the good plays here. There have definitely been bad plays throughout the season so far. The run game isn't perfect yet. But this is a taste of the potential for Ohio State this season. Gap style schemes aren't perfect. If the gap gets blown up, the play is going nowhere. This is why Zone running has been the preferred choice since the mid-2000s. Most of the "issues" with OSU's ground game this season can be attributed to 1 of 2 things. Firstly, a puller missing his assignment. This you would expect to get better and better as the season goes along. Secondly, the defense winning the numbers advantage. Remember the clips above where I showed the late motions by OSU? Those were ALL in the 2nd half. OSU was struggling to run the ball in the 1st half because OU was making a late adjustment to get an extra guy in the box. OSU countered at halftime, and figured out a way to get the numbers advantage back in their favor. 

But from a strictly "how can OSU be effective in this scheme" it really boils down to these few facts. 

1. This is the most athletic OL Ryan Day has maybe ever had. 2019 is the only comparison. These guys can move. 
2. Will K is absolutely a problem. Stop calling Max Klare overrated. He is a good player. But Will K is absolutely fantastic. He won't, but he should, without a doubt, be in New York as a Mackey finalist. Being able to pair him 1-on-1 with Colin Simmons? Are you serious? 
3. Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. One thing that we have seen more of is OSU putting Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate on the same side of the field, to the "field side". This is similar to Olave and Wilson in 2020. This puts the defense in a precarious spot if they don't add more bodies to that side, opening up the boundary side of the field. 
4. Julian Sayin. While I only showed 1 passing clip, which ironically may be one of his worst 3 throws of the season, and that is no joke, his ability to throw the deep ball on the dot means defenses can't move people closer to the LOS. OU tried, and well, it didn't work out. 

Summary:

I personally have been bullish on this team from the moment I saw 2 things. Julian Sayin being able to throw it deep, and the blocking of the WR's. I knew the line was going to be good. I knew the TE's were great. With all of this combined, folks, there is literally not a single scheme, formation, or personnel grouping this team can't use. Long gone are the days of only running stretch from pistol. 

Hope you guys find this insightful, and once again, if anyone is interested in a look at how defenses have essentially shutdown Ryan Day's old schemes, comment on it and I'll get to work.