COLUMBUS — Ohio State is expected to have one of its starting offensive linemen and leaders of the unit in action for the first time this season.

Three-year starting left guard Donovan Jackson is slated to make his season debut Saturday when the Buckeyes take on Marshall (Noon, FOX). Jackson has missed the first two games of the year and then had the idle week to make sure he’s ready to go.

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day clarified that Jackson should be good to go for the nonconference finale before Big Ten play starts next weekend — as long as he has no setbacks.

“He’s ready to roll,” Day said of Jackson. “He’ll be ready to go for Saturday.”

Jackson, a former five-star prospect from the 2021 recruiting class, first started for the Buckeyes during his second year. He has been starting at left guard since then.

But when a preseason injury popped up, Day and the Buckeyes turned to second-year lineman Austin Siereveld to make his first two starts in the first two games of this season. Siereveld performed well in place of Jackson, but Ohio State will certainly enjoy having its most veteran lineman back in action on Saturday.

And as Siereveld heads to the bench, he has assured Ohio State that he will be a key depth piece for the offensive line moving forward — and a potential future star on the interior of the line.

Jackson returned to Ohio State this offseason rather than heading to the NFL Draft. He would have been a draft selection if he did choose that direction. Instead, he’s back with the Buckeyes.

And he’s expected to finally make his season debut Saturday against Marshall after missing the first two games of the year — as long as he has no setbacks.

ICYMI: Buckeyes stay put in latest AP Poll after early idle week

Ohio State had the weekend to rest and recover after just two games. The Buckeyes have two idle weeks this season, and Saturday was the first of the two.

Of course, AP Poll voters didn’t penalize the Buckeyes for not playing. They kept them near the top of the latest poll, keeping them at No. 3 behind top-ranked Texas and No. 2 Georgia. The Longhorns took over as the top team.

While the Buckeyes were off, the Bulldogs had their first scare of the season, scoring just one touchdown in a one-point nail-biting win over Kentucky in Lexington. Texas, for its part, destroyed UTSA to remain undefeated. So the top three remained the same.

So did most of the top 25. The Buckeyes are followed by Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Missouri, Miami (FL), Oregon and Penn State to round out the top 10.

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