Ohio State kept the good times rolling Saturday night, scoring 24 straight in the second half to beat visiting Ohio 37-9 and move to 3-0 on the season. With a bye week up next before heading to Washington for their Big Ten opener on Sept. 27, the Buckeyes are riding high. And so is their defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia. One moment in particular, shared at halftime, shows exactly why Patricia may be one of the best hires this season across the league.

It begins with the story of Eddrick Houston. A defensive tackle who came fresh off recovering from a lower-body injury that he sustained on the first day of fall camp. It wasn’t an easy journey. What people remember is a clip of a long hug he shared with Patricia during halftime. It was like a scene straight from a movie. As the two celebrated with joy for Houston’s hard-fought return.

Sports anchor Adam King posted the moment on X. “I don’t know what was said here… but this moment between Matt Patricia and Eddrick Houston tells me all I need to know about him being a players’ coach,” his tweet read. In the clip, Patricia and Houston can be seen joyfully embracing each other. A hug that lasted for multiple seconds. Possibly, Patricia is hyping up Houston on his return.

Getting a player like Houston healthy and back on the field is a big feat for the defense. Last year, he played in 15 games for the 2024 CFP national champions, totaling 141 defensive snaps. The most among the freshmen. His role expanded throughout the season, with double-digit snaps in all four of the Buckeyes’ CFP games.

In the game against the Bobcats, the defense dominated. It’s no wonder Matt Patricia looks that excited. They forced punts consistently, with a stifled run game and a tightly locked-down passing game. Then Kayden McDonald and Caden Curry racked up sacks, and Matt Patricia’s unit was in its best form. The result was a measly 181 total yards for the opponent with just 3.3 yards per carry, and only 3 out 15 third downs converted.

Big injury for Ohio State star

Well, it looks like injuries can’t really leave Ohio State’s side. As they lost their star DB Lorenzo Styles in the second quarter with an upper-body injury against the Bobcats. Styles went down after blocking a pass to Chase Hendricks, and that’s when the misery struck. There was some relief when Styles walked off under his own power to the medical tent, leaving a ray of hope in fans’ hearts.

But what makes him so important for the team? It’s his impressive grit and family history. This guy played in all games last season, totaling 397 defensive and special teams snaps. Football is in his blood. How? His father, Lorenzo Styles Sr., played for OSU from 1992 to 1994, and his brother, Sonny Styles, is a team captain this season. So, now you know why losing a player like that is a major setback.

Ohio State might look for stability in the secondary while monitoring Styles’ recovery. With teams like Wisconsin, Penn State, and Illinois on their schedule, it will be interesting to see how they find a perfect replacement for Lorenzo Styles.