Ohio State starting quarterback C.J. Stroud will rest against Akron

COLUMBUS — C.J. Stroud is getting a week off at Ohio State.

After working through a shoulder injury for the first three games of his starting career, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day confirmed on his radio show that Stroud will not play on Saturday against Akron in an attempt to get him healthy for Big Ten action.

Stroud has shown flashes of why he was the pick to lead the four-time defending conference champions with big throws, some eye-popping statistics and unquestionable toughness. But Stroud also been a bit inconsistent, has had limited practice reps dating back to training camp and has visibly struggled with the pain in his throwing shoulder.

Ohio State had been hesitant to make a move considering the need to get a first-time starting quarterback like Stroud as many reps as possible. But as massive favorites against Akron and with backups Kyle McCord and Jack Miller also lacking game experience, the Buckeyes have adjusted the plan ahead of Saturday night in the Horseshoe.

“If it works out, we’ll [play other quarterbacks],” Day said earlier in the week. “But when C.J. Stroud gets in there, we also want him to find a rhythm as well and get that execution of the offense. That’s the No. 1 goal is to make sure that we’re executing at a high level and finding that rhythm. I don’t think we’ve found that quite yet, and we’re going to get that done here this week with some things we’re going to address in practice, how we’re teaching and all those things.

“At the end of the day, that’s what we’re trying to find. If something presents itself where we can get other guys in the game, we certainly want to do that.”

The situation changed thanks to the injured shoulder of C.J. Stroud.

Now the Buckeyes will have another first-time starter, at least for one week.