Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles led Ohio State to a 70-0 win over Grambling (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
If you were worried the Buckeyes might come out flat against Grambling State after taking down Texas last week, I bet you feel silly! I know I do! Ohio State came out firing every weapon they’ve got. Ryan Day may have had a conservative plan for Texas, but he tossed it in the trash the second that game ended. His Buckeyes did just what they were expected to do against Grambling State, and that was to dominate.
11 Strong
Eleven different Buckeyes were involved in scoring Ohio State’s 10 touchdowns. Julian Sayin tossed five touchdown passes, and Lincoln Kienholz threw his first touchdown pass as a Buckeye. Running backs CJ Donaldson, James Peoples, Bo Jackson, and Isaiah West all scored rushing touchdowns. Of course, receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate had touchdown catches, as did tight ends Jelani Thurman and Will Kacmarek. Last but not least was true freshman sensation and linebacker Riley Pettijohn, who scooped and scored on a Grambling fumble.
The Buckeyes’ young players were thriving again, and it was clear that the guys catching passes from Julian Sayin are the best in the game. They are why Sayin was able to go 18 of 19 (the first 16 straight were a program record set by Will Howard against Indiana last year) for 306 yards with four touchdown passes. His one incompletion was just complete to the wrong team (Sayin made the right read on the play, Tate got open, Sayin just hesitated, double-clutched, and threw it too late).
Caleb Downs: If Randy Orton were a Jedi
Downs keeps doing stuff that he must be using ‘The Force’ to do, and comes out of nowhere like pro-wrestler Randy Orton. Downs snagged an interception, proving this point again. His streak of never allowing a touchdown as a Buckeye is also still alive and well. Downs added a pair of tackles, including a tackle for a loss, to his interception in this game. Overshadowed a little by the offense scoring 63, Downs and the Buckeye defense could’ve won the game without an offensive point. Pitching a shutout is always good and impressive, even over an FCS foe.
THE Ohio (Carnell) Tate
Carnell Tate has been good since he stepped foot on campus. He improved a lot from his freshman year in 2023 to his sophomore year in 2024, where he was a key receiver in winning the national championship. It’s still early, but he’s made an even bigger stride from 2024 to 2025. Ohio State has had a ton of good wide receiver duos, especially lately. You had Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was in there in 2021. In 2022 and 2023, you had Marvin Harisson Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. Last year, you had Jeremiah Smith and Egbuka.
I bring this up to give weight to the following statement. Carnell Tate is the best WR2 Ohio State has had in a long line of great receiver tandems, including a bunch of first-rounders I just mentioned. He’d be the #1 receiver with anybody not named Jeremiah Smith. He just keeps playing better, week in and week out. Tate had five catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in the win over Grambling.
JereHeisman Smith
Saving the best for last, the Buckeyes threw out their conservative game plan they had against Texas and let Smith feast. Jeremiah Smith had five catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns, including a program record, 87-yard touchdown pass and catch. Smith’s Heisman chances (and Ohio State as a team) can’t afford another conservative game plan that slows down Smith. Sayin and Smith showed that they are ready to make all the pass plays work from here on out.
