Replay: How did Ohio State football do in its spring game? Here's what happened

Apr 15, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, United States; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord (6) looks for a play during the first quarter of the Ohio State Buckeyes spring game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday morning. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football is back in Ohio Stadium.

The Buckeyes return to their home field Saturday for their annual spring game, moving one step closer to the start of the 2023 season Sept. 2 against Indiana.

The spring game will be the first opportunity to see a new quarterback behind center with C.J. Stroud entering the 2023 NFL draft after back-to-back seasons as a Heisman Trophy finalist. The Buckeyes will also be without players like wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, center Luke Wypler, offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr., offensive tackle Dawand Jones and defensive end Zach Harrison, among others.

Who will take the spots of those departing from the program? How much different will Ohio State look ahead of the 2023 season?

OSU QB battle on hold: Quarterback battle on hold, offensive line unsettled heading into Ohio State's spring game

Who to watch on OSU defense: What to watch for on defense in Ohio State's spring game

Follow the action live as the Buckeyes wrap up spring ball.

Who won the Ohio State spring game?

Despite two touchdown passes to Carnell Tate and Noah Rogers late in the fourth quarter, Ohio State's defense prevailed with a 40-31 win against the offense in the Buckeyes' 2023 spring game.

Gray held a 26-10 halftime lead, receiving points for three-and-outs, sacks, turnovers and forced punts.

Noah Rogers follows Carnell Tate's lead, scores Ohio State touchdown

Carnell Tate was not the only Ohio State freshman to score Saturday.

Wide receiver Noah Rogers took a pass from Oregon State transfer quarterback Tristan Gebbia, breaking multiple tackles for a 57-yard touchdown score.

Rogers was a top-100 prospect and a consensus four-star receiver on the 2023 class.

Kyle McCord throws 37-yard touchdown pass to WR Carnell Tate

Kyle McCord opened the fourth quarter of the spring game with a bang.

The Ohio State quarterback found freshman wide receiver Carnell Tate for a 37-yard touchdown — his second reception of the game.

Tate is one of four wide receivers in Ohio State's 2023 class along with Bryson Rodgers, Noah Rogers and Brandon Inniss.

McCord has completed 17 of his 32 pass attempts for 182 passing yards.

Ohio Stadium sees 75,422 for Ohio State football spring game

Ohio State football saw its most-attended spring game since 2017 Saturday afternoon. Ohio Stadium had 75,122 fans at Ohio State football's 2023 spring game

Archie Griffin takes the field, scores a touchdown during Oho State's spring game

A two-time Heisman Trophy winner returned to the field at Ohio Stadium Saturday.

Ohio State running back Archie Griffin took a ceremonial handoff from quarterback Kyle McCord and scored a 25 touchdown.

Griffin was the first back-to-back Heisman Trophy winner in college football history, while recording 5,939 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns in four years with the Buckeyes.

"It felt great because nobody touched me," Griffin said on Big Ten Network after his score. "It makes it feel real good."

How did Kyle McCord do in the first half of Ohio State spring game?

Both Kyle McCord and Tristan Gebbia had slow starts to Ohio State's spring game Saturday.

McCord completed 11 of 22 pass attempts for 114 yards, while Gebbia had eight completions on 13 pass attempts for 40 yards. Each quarterback was sacked twice.

Chip Trayanum led the Buckeyes with 85 rushing yards on six carries, including a 65-yard touchdown. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. brought in three receptions for 62 yards.

Halftime: Ohio State defense leads offense 26-10

The first half of Ohio State's spring game was mostly dominated by the Buckeyes' defense.

Ohio State's defense recorded 24 points, including sacks by Hero Kanu, Kenyatta Jackson, Tyleik Williams, five three-and-outs and two forced punts.

Chip Trayanum recorded Ohio State's only touchdown of the first half with a 65-yard run late in the second quarter.

Chip Trayanum finds end zone for Ohio State offense

Ohio State's offense is on the board.

Running back Chip Trayanym took a carry from quarterback Tristan Gebbia, finding the edge after a block by tight end Patrick Gurd and taking it 65 yards for the score.

Ohio State's defense leads the offense 23-10 with 1:39 left in the second quarter.

Ohio State defense continues dominance in second quarter

Tyleik Williams wreaked havoc on Ohio State's offensive line to start the second quarter.

The Ohio State defensive tackle recorded a sack as the Buckeyes recorded a three-and-out, adding to the defense's 13-3 lead against the offense.

End of Q1: Ohio State football defense leads offense 7-3

Ohio State's defense has shined early in the spring game.

With two forced punts, a Kenyatta Jackson sack and a three-and-out, the Ohio State defense leads the offense 7-3 after the first quarter of the 2023 spring game. The Buckeyes offense's only points of the quarter came from a 38-yard Parker Lewis field goal.

Kenyatta Jackson records sack, adds to Ohio State defensive success

Ohio State has been able to shut down Kyle McCord and Tristan Gebbia early in the spring game.

Ohio State sophomore defensive end Kenyatta Jackson recorded the Buckeyes' first sack of the day, giving the defense a seven-point lead against the offense in the spring game.

In the first four drives, Ohio State's defense has forced two punts and two field-goal tries, including a 38-yard make by Parker Lewis. Defense leads 7-3

Denzel Burke records pass breakup, squashes Ohio State offense drive

Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr. seemed to be getting some momentum together.

McCord connected with Harrison multiple times on his second drive of the game, moving into the redzone. But Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke squashed the offense's chance at its first touchdown of the day, recording a pass breakup to force a 40-yard field goal try.

Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding missed the 40-yard attempt.

Ohio State's defense leads the offense 5-0 after a three-and-out and two forced punts.

Former Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson returns to Ohio Stadium

Ohio State saw a familiar face on the sideline at the 2023 spring game Saturday.

Former Ohio State wide receiver and 2022 NFL draft first-round pick of the New York Jets Garrett Wilson returned to Ohio Stadium Saturday and spoke with head coach Ryan Day before kickoff.

Ohio State QB Kyle McCord starts spring game with three-and-out

Kyle McCord and the Ohio State had a slow start against the Buckeyes' defense Saturday afternoon.

McCord led Ohio State to a three-and-out on the first offensive drive, including a near interception by linebacker linebacker C.J. Hicks on third down.

On the first drive, Josh Fryar and Zen Michalski started at each of Ohio State's offensive tackle spots, while Carson Hinzman started at center.

Ohio State adds 2024 TE Max LeBlanc to recruiting class

Right before the spring game started, 2024 four-star tight end Max LeBlanc announced his commitment to the Buckeyes.

LeBlanc is the No. 13 tight end in the 2024 class per 247Sports' composite rankings. The Chattanooga, Tennessee native is also the No. 270 player in the class.

What numbers are Ohio State’s newest transfers wearing?

Here’s a look at what number each of Ohio State’s newest transfers are wearing Saturday during the spring game.

Ohio State QB Devin Brown's pinky wrapped during spring game warm-ups

Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown will not play in the spring game Saturday. But Brown was on the field prior to warm ups.

Brown's pinky finger on his right throwing hand was wrapped in tape during warm-ups. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Wednesday Brown underwent a medical procedure on his throwing hand that would keep him out of the final spring scrimmage.

Per 97.1 The Fan's Jim Lachey, Brown has a fractured finger that is keeping him out of the Ohio State spring game.

What numbers are Ohio State football 2023 early enrollees wearing?

Twelve members of Ohio State’s 2023 recruiting class will suit up and play for the Buckeyes for the first time Saturday afternoon.

WR Brandon Inniss, CB Calvin Simpson-Hunt, DL Jason Moore, DE Joshua Mickens, QB Lincoln Kienholz, LB Arvell Reese, DL Kayden McDonald, SAF Jayden Bonsu and SAF Cedrick Hawkins will each enroll in the summer.

What happened in Ohio State 2022 spring game?

Ohio State’s 2022 spring game was headlined by the program honoring quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who died a week prior to the Buckeyes’ annual scrimmage. The team held a moment of silence before the start of the game and had a video tribute after the first half.

In the 2022 spring game, tight end Joe Royer brought in a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle McCord after C.J. Stroud opened the game with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Stroud finished with 120 passing yards and a touchdown, completing 14 of his 22 pass attempts.

Before missing the 2022 season with a hamstring injury, running back Evan Pryor added a 22-yard touchdown.

Ohio State football recruiting: Big recruiting day ahead at spring game

Ohio State football has a big recruiting day ahead at the 2023 spring game.

2024 five-star wide receiver commit Jeremiah Smith is back in Columbus. And he’s already posing for pictures with offensive coordinator Brian Hartline.

2024 four-star quarterback Air Noland is also at Ohio State’s spring game. It will be Noland’s first visit as a Buckeye commit.

Ohio State will also host the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 2 player in the 2025 class in David Sanders Jr. along with 2025 Findlay quarterback Ryan Montgomery, whose brother is Ohio State 2023 offensive lineman Luke Montgomery.

2024 Glenville four-star tight end Damarion Witten will be at Ohio State's spring game Saturday.

2024 Ohio State running back target Sam Williams-Dixon will also be at the Buckeyes' spring game before announcing his commitment at 5:30 p.m. between Ohio State, Kentucky and Penn State.

Who will miss the 2023 Ohio State football spring game?

Here are the players Ohio State has listed as unavailable ahead of the 2023 spring game.

Who will call plays for Ohio State during the 2023 spring game?

Ahead of the 2023 season, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline was promoted to offensive coordinator. And while head coach Ryan Day served as Ohio State's primary offensive play-caller in the past, he's experimenting with Hartline taking some of that responsibility.

“We’ll come up for air at the end of spring,” Day said in February, “and figure out what that dynamic looks like going into the preseason and the season. We won’t decide any of that now, but will certainly give him an opportunity to call it this spring.”

Hartline has no experience as a primary play-caller, but Day hopes that the spring can give Hartline some needed experience.

“When are you really ready to call plays? I don’t know,” Day said. “When are you ready to be a parent? When are you ready to buy your first house? But you figure it out, you make mistakes and you learn. Now it’s time to really have an opportunity this spring and hopefully in the preseason to do those type of things.”

Is Devin Brown playing at the 2023 Ohio State spring game?

No. Ohio State coach Ryan Day announced Wednesday that redshirt freshman quarterback Devin Brown would not be available for the spring game Saturday after undergoing a medical procedure in his right throwing hand.

Brown’s surgery isn’t expected to keep him sidelined for a long period of time, having been battling for first-team reps with quarterback Kyle McCord to replace two-time Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud.

Brown called the injury “a minor speed bump” and that he’s “more determined than ever.”

How will Ohio State football score the spring game?

Ohio State announced its scoring format for Saturday will be the same as the 2022 game.

Instead of two separate teams, Ohio State will pit its offense against its defense. The offense, wearing scarlet, scored as normal: touchdowns, extra points and field goals. The defense, wearing gray, can score in multiple ways:

  • Touchdown: Six points (along with extra point)

  • Takeaway: Three points

  • Three-and-out: Three points

  • Sack: Two points

  • Forced punt: One point

The first three quarters of the spring game will be 12-15 minutes with clock stoppages, while the fourth quarter will have a 10-minute running clock.

Will the Ohio State spring game be on TV?

Yes. Ohio State's spring game will be televised on Big Ten Network starting at noon.

Will the Ohio State football spring game be streaming?

The Big Ten Network will stream the Ohio State spring game. It can be streamed on any platform that includes the Big Ten Network, such as Hulu Live and YouTube TV.

Will the Ohio State spring game be broadcast on the radio?

Yes. The Ohio State Sports Network from Learfield Sports will broadcast the game locally on 97.1 FM starting at 11:45 a.m.

When does Ohio State football 2023 season start?

Here's what Ohio State's 2023 football schedule looks like.

  • Sept. 2: Ohio State vs. Indiana, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana

  • Sept. 9: Ohio State vs. Youngstown State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Sept. 16: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Sept. 23: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana

  • Oct. 7: Ohio State vs. Maryland, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Oct. 14: Ohio State vs. Purdue, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Oct. 21: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Oct. 28: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Nov. 4: Ohio State vs. Rutgers, SHI Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

  • Nov. 11: Ohio State vs. Michigan State, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Nov. 18: Ohio State vs. Minnesota, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

  • Nov. 25: Ohio State vs. Michigan, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football 2023 spring game: Live OSU updates