Ohio State’s Passing Game Had a YAC Problem in 2025 – And Fixing It Could Define the Buckeyes’ Offense in 2026

Part of that was due to the attrition that happens in today's college football landscape, but Brian Hartline taking his talents to South Florida also played a part. However, another reason is that Ohio State needs to have a more explosive passing attack, one that generates more yards after the catch.

In 2025, Ohio State had 3,755 receiving yards as a team. Only 1,595 of those yards came after the catch (5.1 YAC/reception), per Pro Football Focus. The Buckeyes were the 15th-worst Power Four team in that category. After averaging 5.2 YAC/REC during an undefeated regular season, OSU averaged only 4.7 YAC/REC in its two postseason losses (4.0 vs. Indiana and 5.3 vs. Miami).

It's the worst OSU has been in that category throughout an entire season since 2020, when it averaged 4.5 yards after catch per reception.

Only five Buckeyes had more than 100 yards after catch last season, led by Jeremiah Smith, whose 378 YAC were tied for the 50th-most in the country. While 10 Ohio State players averaged more than 5.0 YAC/REC, only two of those players had more than 100 yards after catch, and none were a wide receiver who had more than six receptions.

The Buckeyes had two of the best receivers in the country (a top-four pick in the 2025 NFL draft and arguably the best player in college football in both 2025 and 2026), yet Ohio State’s pass-catchers didn’t make many game-changing plays after the catch.

For comparison's sake, Indiana and Miami – the only two teams to beat Ohio State last season and the national championship matchup – had 1,712 yards after catch (5.9 YAC/REC) and 2,384 yards after catch (6.7 YAC/REC), respectively. Malachi Toney led the country in the statistic, with 841 (7.7 YAC/REC).

"It's something that's definitely an emphasis point," Day said. "I think we've been solid at it, but I certainly think we can get better."

Smith agreed. After he had 491 yards after catch (6.5 YAC/REC) as a freshman in 2024, those numbers dropped to 378 and 4.3 in 2025. However, it was a problem for the entire group, not just for the star wide receiver.

"We really had no guys that had juice when they had the ball in their hands," Smith said in the spring. “I am always trying to find ways to get better. This offseason to really try to advance my IQ of the game, be better at yards after the catch. That really is the biggest emphasis in our wide receiver room this year, especially a goal for us.”

Given its importance for Ohio State’s passing attack to take another step and reach its full potential, the Buckeyes have been focused on improving in making plays after the catch since the beginning of the offseason. Hiring Cortez Hankton to replace Hartline was the first step in doing so. A college wide receivers coach since 2012, Hankton has a proven track record of developing receivers who gain yards after the catch.

"It's a part of my personality, just in terms of who I am and what I've coached over a number of years," Hankton said in March. "And it was something I felt like we could improve on. And so when I came in, Coach ironically said, 'Hey, this is an area where I could feel like we can improve.' And so I felt like it was right in my wheelhouse."

Ohio State's wide receivers have taken notice since Hankton came to Columbus in January.

"Just making guys miss. That's really it. Running through a soft shoulder," Smith said of how Hankton has coached him to gain more yards after catch. "Coach Hankton does a good job of showing me clips and stuff like that about how to run through a soft shoulder and making guys miss. I feel like that's something y'all gonna see from me a lot this year."

Entering his fourth season at Ohio State, Inniss also said during the spring that improving yards after catch has been a focus of OSU's passing game this offseason.

"We've been doing yards after catch drills a lot. Even with the practice, outside the facility, just trying to do anything I can to make guys miss," he said. "And I've already been seeing the difference in the few practices that we've had already."

Along with Hankton, the Buckeyes' transfer additions at wide receiver and tight end, particularly Devin McCuin and Kyle Parker, could help Ohio State's passing attack become more explosive.

Known for his speed, quick burst and his twitchiness, Parker can make plays after the catch as a 5-10, 195-pound wide receiver. Meanwhile, McCuin showcased his ability to be an X-factor with his speed during his three years at UTSA, where he racked up 152 catches for 1,696 yards and 16 touchdowns.

"(Parker) brings a mindset of physicality, really tough with the football, high football IQ, very versatile," Hankton said. "And Devin – one, a great kid, man. Extremely coachable, wants to be great, but he has elite speed. And if you watch his tape, when he gets the ball, he is truly exceptional in terms of accelerating after the catch."

Freshmen Chris Henry Jr., Brock Boyd and Jerquaden Guilford could also help Ohio State's passing attack be more explosive this season, though their contributions are tougher to predict given that they are entering their first collegiate season.

Running backs coach Carlos Locklyn has made yards after the catch a priority, whether it's when his guys have the ball or not – especially the latter.

"That's why I tell the backs, 'Okay, we don't have the ball. What are you doing when you don't have the ball?’ You should be sprinting to go throw a block, because we're asking receivers to do the same thing on the perimeter," he said. "How do receivers get yards after the catch? Running backs come and clean the guys up so they can have it. It takes a whole unit."

Improvement from Julian Sayin – even though he was already the most accurate passer in college football in 2025 – could also help unlock more yards after the catch. He's stronger and more experienced, which could enable him to get the ball to his receivers in better positions to gain yards after the catch.

But Hankton knows, no matter where receivers catch the ball, they have to be able to make a play.

"There have to be more opportunities to catch and carry the football. And so we have to be able to be explosive on all levels, first, second and third," he said. "So we catch a six-yard hitch, we have to be able to take it to the house. We catch a dig, we have to be able to take it to the house. And that has to be our mindset and mentality. That every time that we touch the football, we're going to score."

Another way the Buckeyes could improve in yards after catch is with first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, a former NFL head coach and OC, calling plays. Smith wants his quarterback to get the ball out quickly to allow the playmakers on the outside to make plays with the ball in their hands.

If Ohio State wants to win a national championship at season's end for the second time in three years, becoming a more explosive passing attack is a must, especially considering the caliber of talent it has at wide receiver.

With the additions both on the coaching staff and on the roster, it's clear Day and Co. made gaining yards after catch a priority this offseason. Now, Ohio State must prove it on the field.