Trouble in paradise?

Easy win, but Buckeyes have another distraction

Two major things happened at Ohio Stadium on Saturday night.

Ohio State rolled over overmatched Akron 59-7. And in what might be a first, an OSU player quit the team in a rage during the game.

The question for the Buckeyes: Which is more relevant?

If linebacker K’vaughan Pope’s tantrum, which included a quickly deleted expletive directed at Ohio State on Twitter, is reflective of deeper issues on the team, that’s a serious problem. Earlier in the week, fellow senior linebacker Dallas Gant quietly entered the transfer portal.

Pope and Gant were considered potentially integral players on a revamped Buckeyes defense. Perhaps their departures are merely the result of veterans unhappy with their playing time.

JOSHUA A. BICKEL/COLUMBUS DISPATCH K'vaughan Pope's mid-game tantrum and departure Saturday was just the latest unexpected issue coach Ryan Day has had to manage this season. He also has had to deal with a slow start, a loss to Oregon and the shuffling of defensive coaching responsibilities among others.

ADAM CARNS/COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ohio State linebacker K'vaughan Pope left the team in the second quarter of Saturday's win over Akron.