Ohio State's Caleb Downs (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
Even without Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State won, 42-9. Now it’s time to see if the Buckeyes can exorcise some demons.
Ohio State 42, Rutgers 9
The Buckeye defense forced a quick three-and-out, and Ohio State had a nice, long drive, handing it to Bo Jackson often. Jackson got them to the one-yard line, but then he coughed up the football, and Rutgers recovered. The defense stopped Rutgers again on three straight plays, but the Scarlet Knights didn’t count on Jaylen McClain. McClain stopped them on 3rd and 1, and again on 4th and 1. Pardon my nerding out, but McClain is the apprentice to Jedi Master Caleb Downs. Downs is an all-American, and McClain is following in his footsteps.
The Buckeye offense struggled, but Rutgers’ penalties kept them alive, and Bo Jackson made them pay. His 16-yard touchdown run was a great bounce back from his fumble, and Ohio State led 7-0. The Buckeyes would lead by that score at the break
Second Quarter
A long Rutgers drive would yield a field goal. Ohio State’s receivers would struggle, and the offense would go three-and-out. Ohio State would return the favor, and a Rutgers punt would give the ball at their own two-yard line. A big 39-yard catch by Max Klare would get the Buckeyes offense into Rutgers territory. A 4th and 2 play with Lincoln Kienholz in would fail, but a Rutgers penalty would save the Buckeyes again. A couple of plays later, Julian Sayin would find Brandon Inniss in the end zone for a touchdown. Ohio State would lead 14-3 at the half.
Second Half
Ohio State opened the second half with a sloppy drive that ended in a Joe McGuire punt. The punt was decent and pinned Rutgers at their own one-yard line. Caden Curry strip-sacked Rutgers there, and recovered the fumble for a touchdown, but was called down at the one-inch line, and the play wasn’t reviewed. A few plays later, Julian Sayin hit Max Klare for a touchdown off a rub route, and the Buckeyes led 21-3.
Ohio State got the ball right back after the defense forced a three-and-out. After more from Max Klare and Rutgers mugging Bryson Rodgers, the Bucks would find the end zone. Bo Jackson would dash for his second touchdown of the game, a 10-yard run this time, and the Buckeyes would lead 28-3, going into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Big runs from Lincoln Kienholz and Isaiah West got Ohio State first and goal to go. A few plays later, CJ Donaldson would finish off the drive with a touchdown. The Buckeyes’ lead would climb to 35-3. A Rutgers garbage-time touchdown would make it 35-9. James Peoples would get a 49-yard touchdown run for the final score of 42-9.
For the second game in a row, the Buckeyes would get more from their rushing attack than the passing game. It had usually been the opposite of that most of the season. I like that the team was able to adapt accordingly in the situation they found themselves in. They blocked well in the running game, and they let Bo Jackson have the lion’s share of the carries, and that got them some traction.
We’re Sayin Heisman
Julian Sayin had his most inaccurate game of the season without Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. Sayin was 13 of 19 for 68.4%. Sayin had 157 yards passing, his fewest since his low of 127 in the opener against Texas. He had two touchdown passes and got his 11th win as a starter. Sayin’s Heisman chances will live or die in Ann Arbor next week. Sayin is 239 of 301 (79.4%) for 2,832 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Max Klare had his best game as a Buckeye, becoming Julian Sayin’s favorite target without Smith and Tate in the game. Klare had seven catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. I credit Ryan Day, Brian Hartline, and Keenan Bailey for knowing they’d be without Smith and Tate and making a game plan that would utilize Klare and the tight ends. Klare now has 38 catches for 400 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Bo Knows Run the Darn Ball
Bo Jackson had his 5th 100-yard rushing game this season, the most since JK Dobbins did it in 2017. Jackson had a bad fumble early at the goal line, but he bounced back big with 19 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns. This season, he has 129 carries for 835 yards and five touchdowns, along with 13 catches for 138 yards and one touchdown. He is 27 yards away from having over 1,000 yards of total offense this season.
The Game
Well, it’s that time of year again. As the old joke goes, “Congrats, Ohio State, you’re 11-0 in the warmups, now it’s time for the one that matters.” While that team up north has had to cheat and be led by cheaters for the past five years, voiding their ill-gotten gains, Ohio State still hasn’t had a victory since 2019. The cheaters escaping punishment has allowed them to build a strong foundation (no matter how much it stinks), so it will be a tall order for Ohio State to restore things to how they should be in 2025.
This is it. It’s the moment the entire state of Ohio has been waiting for since January 21st. Ohio State knows who the foe is and how they will try to beat them. They will try to stay on schedule when they have the ball, slow the game down, and wear out this elite Buckeye defense by keeping them on the field all day. On defense, their plan of attack will be designed to get to Julian Sayin. Use their methodical offense to keep him on the sideline and out of rhythm, and when he is on the field, disrupt him until he makes a critical mistake.
Ohio State, on the other hand, needs to spread the michigan defense out and attack them with their speed. In both the passing game and running game, utilize their speed and make michigan defend the entire field. On defense, be prepared for their running that has been good all year, and when Underwood has to throw, bring the pressure. Go Buckeyes! Beat that team up north!
