Bottom line: How did Ohio State football grade out vs. Akron?

No. 1 Georgia blew out a good Clemson team .

No. 2 Ohio State struggled for a half against a bad Akron team .

Edge, No. 1 in Week 1 of the college football season.

The Buckeyes ' second half Saturday was the blowout many expected in the first, but a 52-6 win left some concerned.

For now, though, how did the Buckeyes grade in their win over Akron? Leaves are awarded on a zero-to-five basis.

Ohio State offense (3 leaves)

New quarterback Will Howard (17 for 28, 228 yards, 3 TDs) was solid except for what coach Ryan Day called a "crazy decision" in the first half on a panicked backward flip that almost resulted in a turnover. But the run game and offensive line took more than two quarters to take control of a Mid-American Conference team that has gone 7-47 over the past five seasons. The Buckeyes averaged 5.2 yards per carry, but even coach Ryan Day said the first half felt much worse that the stats indicated.

The offensive line featured three new starters in the middle with left guard Donovan Jackson out injured. According to Day, the new-look line "a little uptight early on."

Freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith was shaky on the first drive, with a drop and a false start, then showed why he will quickly be a star. Smith finished with a game-high six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

Where is the tight end? No Ohio State tight end made a catch, though Gee Scott Jr. made a couple of nice blocks on long run plays.

Ohio State defense (4 leaves)

The Zips managed just 177 yards (47 rushing) and 2.8 yards per play. The Buckeyes, playing without middle linebacker Cody Simon, forced three turnovers, with Denzel Burke and Gabe Powers intercepting passes and Lanthan Ransom returning a fumble for a TD. Ransom's play happened after Caden Curry knocked loose a fumble on a hustle play.

Ransom had a game-leading nine tackles, and OSU sacked Akron quarterbacks five times. The Buckeyes had 10 tackles for loss, led by Ransom's two.

Ohio State special teams (4 leaves)

Brandon Innis looks like he'll be a weapon as a punt returner, as he returned four for 60 yards. He had two excellent plays in particular, retreating to scoop up a bouncing punt and changing direction, and then later swerving for a 36-yard return.

Maybe the best thing about Innis' emergence is that the Buckeyes don't have to put starters Emeka Egbuka and Caleb Downs back there, risking injury.

Joe McGuire punted three times for a 44.7-yard average, getting the starting nod over fellow Australian Nick McClarty. The latter was expected to start, but Day said after the game that he didn't have a good week of practice.

Akron had no kickoff or punt returns.

Ohio State coaching (3 leaves)

The heavily favored Buckeyes were tight for a half but seemed to relax as the game went on. Slow starts were an issue last year, and this was no different.

The offensive line continues to be a shuffle, without a set five in place.

Fun quotient (4 leaves)

Opening day with warm weather, and Archie Griffin dotting the "i." That halftime show alone made up for an up-and-down performance against a weak team.

Akron Zips(3 leaves)

The Zips were creative in their use of two quarterbacks, mostly with both on the field at the same time. But that strategy was weakened after starter Ben Finley took some hard hits in the first half and was wincing in pain. He did not play in the fourth quarter after seeming to suffer an injury somewhere in the rib/shoulder area.

Officiating (3 leaves)

Mostly solid, though a no-catch review decision on a possible Egbuka touchdown in the first quarter was puzzling. Egbuka caught the ball while airborne, and his hand, wrist and forearm hit the ground before his legs touched out of bounds. The replay official ruled Egbuka didn't have control of the ball when he landed. CBS replays showed full possession, causing the network's rules analyst, Gene Steratore to disagree with the call.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bottom line: How did Ohio State football grade out vs. Akron?