Another week, another victory for the College Football Playoff defending national champions. The Ohio State offense didn’t look like a well-oiled machine during the first half, with the Buckeyes’ offense failing to cash in inside the red zone a few times, but some big plays in the second half broke this one open.
At the end of the day, OSU got the win to run its record to 3-0, and will now look to open up Big Ten play on the road against a formidable opponent, the Washington Huskies. There’s no doubt the Buckeyes will be favored, but it’s never easy to make that long trip out West and play up to the potential we’ve been accustomed to.
We kept track of things with some live updates throughout this one, and we’ve got all of it memorialized here for you. If you missed any of it, you can scroll to the bottom and get some notes and highlights of how this one unfolded Saturday night on the banks of the Olentangy.
The game is a wrap
And that’s all she wrote. Ohio moves the ball a little to end the game, but neither team is interested in doing much else. The game ends with a 37-9 victory for the Buckeyes. There were some issues in the red zone and with turnovers, but the big plays won the day. OSU is now 3-0 on the season and will prepare to make the long trip out to Seattle to take on Washington next week.
Jeremiah Smith makes it look easy
He can catch it, but he can also run it out of the backfield. The coaching staff dials up a reverse to Jeremiah Smith, and he glides behind blockers into the end zone for another touchdown, this time the way Fred Flintstone would get it done, driving with his legs. It’s Smith’s third touchdown of the game, and Ohio State now leads 37-9. The score is starting to look closer to what we thought at the start. There’s 6:36 left in this one.
Ohio State defense bows its back again
Ohio fails to capitalize on the turnover. The Ohio State defense covers things up on the back end while also getting pressure up front on fourth down, and the Bobcats turn it over on downs. OSU has the ball on its own 41-yard line with 9:29 left in the game. The score still sits at 30-9, advantage scarlet and gray.
Julian Sayin throws a bizarre interception
Pressure comes off the edge from the Bobcats, and they get to Julian Sayin, who gets hit as he’s throwing. The ball ricochets and lands right into the arms of an Ohio defensive lineman, and it’s a turnover going the other way. The Ohio State defense will look to lock things down again.
North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson gets to the quarterback
UNC transfer Beau Atkinson got around the edge and launched his long frame to the quarterback for a sack and forced punt. Celebrations all around for the former Tar Heel and Ohio State will get the ball back, coming out from its own 37-yard line.
It’s Carnell Tate’s turn to catch a long laser from Julian Sayin
Quarterback Julian Sayin continues to show off his deep ball touch with a 49-yard bomb to Carnell Tate. The throw had plenty of air under it for Tate to run underneath it in stride for another long touchdown. Ohio State is starting to run away now with a 30-9 lead with 13:14 left in the game.
The third quarter comes to an end
And that’s the end of the third quarter. Ohio State is on the move again and still leads 23-9. The Buckeyes will have the ball on the Ohio 48-yard line and will be working on a first and ten.
Caden Curry bats down a third-down pass to force the punt
Defensive lineman Caden Curry is having himself a game. He generates some pressure on the inside and bats down a third-down pass to force another punt from the Bobcats. OSU will take over from its own 15-yard line with 3:03 left in the 3rd period, the score is still 23-9, good guys.
Jeremiah Smith finally gets loose deep for a touchdown
Finally, Ohio State gets a one-on-one matchup against Jeremiah Smith, and Julian Sayin lays it in his bread basket for a 47-yard touchdown pass. It was a great throw, and a fantastic job shielding the defender by Smith. Ohio State extends the lead to 23-9 with 6:16 left in the 3rd quarter.
The Buckeyes dial up the pressure and force an incomplete pass on third down
Ohio State will get the ball back after Arvell Reese pressures the quarterback and bats down a pass from point-blank range. The play is originally ruled a fumble return for a touchdown, but it was clearly an incomplete pass. OSU gets the ball back, still up 16-9 with 8:14 left in the 3rd period.
Injury to nickelback Lorenzo Styles Jr.
Ohio State legacy nickelback Lorenzo Styles Jr walks off the field with an upper-body injury after diving to make a play on the ball. We’ll keep you updated if any news on his injury is made available.
And Ohio State has to settle for another field goal
The Buckeyes fail to punch it in again and have to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding after C.J. Donaldson appears to catch a pass and carry a couple of defenders into the end zone. The play was overturned after review because the West Virginia transfer stepped out at the four-yard line. The score is now 16-9 with 11:19 left in the 3rd period.
Bo Jackson rips off a long run
Ohio State quickly looks to answer the score from Ohio. Bo Jackson scampers 64 yards, and OSU is back inside the red zone. Let’s see if the Buckeyes can cash it in this time.
The Bobcats connect on a long pass play for a touchdown
Ohio State plays horrible defense on the back end. Lorenzo Styles Jr fails to turn his head, then fails to make a tackle that should have been made, and it was off to the races. Ohio State now only leads 13-9 after Ohio misses the extra point.
Navarro back in under center for OU
Starting quarterback Peter Navarro is back in the game despite it looking like he might not come back. Here we go.
Second half it underway
Here we go with the second half. Ohio will receive the kick and look to close the ten point gap by going on a drive. The Bobcats will start from the 25-yard line.
Ohio State only leads by ten points at the half
It’s not been a banner first half for Ohio State. The Buckeyes have gobbled up plenty of yards but only have 13 points to show for it. The lead is just 13-3 at halftime, and now it’s time to make adjustments and come out with more purpose in the red zone.
Jaylen McClain lays the wood
What a hit by defensive back Jaylen McClain, a complete decleater that breaks up a pass and keeps Ohio from continuing the drive. A massive hit. It was reviewed for targeting, but ruled a clean it, and rightfully so.
Julian Sayin tosses an interception
The offense continues to look out of sorts. Julian Sayin looks to throw the ball underneath, but it’s deflected and intercepted by Ohio. The Bobcats will have it on the OSU 40-yard line with plenty of time to do something before halftime. Time for the defense to show up again.
Caden Curry bull rushes two guys to notch a sack
In a showing of force and aggression, Ohio State defensive lineman blasts through two defenders on the way to a sack on 3rd and 18, forcing the Bobcats to punt the ball. Look for the Buckeyes to try and score one more time before the half as they start from the OSU 22, with under two minutes in the half.
A significant injury note
Of note, it looks like Ohio starting quarterback Parker Navarro is going to be out for the rest of the game after taking a big hit and injury his left hand. Any attempt to shock the college football world tonight just got that much harder with backup quarterback Nick Poulos.
Ohio State finally finds the end zone
The Buckeyes finally get into the end zone, and it came on a bit of a broken play. The receivers seemed to be bottled up on the zone scheme the Bobcats are running, but quarterback Julian Sayin keeps things alive by rolling out of the pocket and finding tight end Max Klare in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown pass, the Purdue transfer’s first in a Buckeye uniform. OSU now leads 13-0 with 2:29 left in the half.
The Ohio State defense holds again after allowing a fourth-down conversion
The Ohio Bobcats rolled the dice and converted on 4th and 1 with a pass on the outside, but then the Ohio State defense again stiffened to force a punt again. The Buckeyes will again queue up an offense that has yet to take advantage of the opportunities it has had.
The Buckeyes continue to sputter inside the red zone
Ohio State can’t cash in from inside the 5-yard line and has to settle for another field goal, this time a chip shot from Jayden Fielding, and the Buckeyes lead 6-0 with about 9:50 left in the second quarter. The offense is putting up yards but failing to pay it off. Seems like only a matter of time before the dam breaks, but so far, it’s a good effort from the Ohio defense to keep this one within a one score game.
We have a Lincoln Kienholz siting already
For the first time I can remember this season, Ohio State breaks out a package for backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz early in a game on short yardage. The athletic Idahoan takes the ball and runs off tackle for a first down before Ohio State is flagged for a late hit on offense. The first down stands, and then the ball is moved back. OSU still pretty deep in Bobcats territory.
End of the first quarter
It’s been a ho-hum first quarter here, and the first 15 minutes come to an end with the Buckeyes up just 3-0, but driving with the ball as the second half begins.
Ohio State defense is cookin’ early
It looks like Ohio’s offense could play about 20 quarters of football against the Buckeye defense and not score a point. The OSU defense is setting the tone early, forcing another punt at the end of the first quarter. Now, OSU just needs its offense to get going.
Ohio State finally gets on the board, scoring first with a field goal
It has been a pretty subpar start for Ohio State so far, with drive on offense stalling out against the overmatched Bobcats, but the Buckeyes finally get on the board with a 38-yard field goal with 1:54 remaining in the first quarter.
What channel is Ohio State vs. Ohio on today?
Ohio State-Ohio will not be on national television Saturday, which is very unusual for the big brand the program is. Instead, you’ll have to dial up NBC’s steaming service, Peacock to catch all of the action.
Ohio State vs. Ohio time today
The Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Ohio Bobcats game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET from Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio State vs Ohio predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Aug. 30
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Ohio instant reaction with analysis, commentary, and highlights
Reporting by Phil Harrison, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
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