There was concern throughout the first half when wide receiver Carnell Tate was dressed but did not take the field. We found out just before halftime that he had some tightness during pregame warm-ups,
and head coach Ryan Day said they held Tate out as a precautionary measure.
Without Tate, the Buckeyes still accumulated 473 yards of offense and held the ball for over 40 minutes in their 34-10 win at Purdue. In today’s Beyond the Box Score, we’ll look at how the Ohio State passing game still had a wealth of success and the balance the running game is creating.
How the passing game found success without Tate
When Batman doesn’t have Robin, that can make what he does more difficult. That wasn’t the case for Jeremiah Smith against Purdue, though. If anything, Smith showed why he is still No. 1.
Smith took over the game for the Buckeyes. Yes, he had some highlight-reel catches, but Smith also had 10 total receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown. That’s what you want to see from your No. 1 wide receiver.
Ohio State has the best wide receiver in the country. That fact is undisputed. However, even as Carnell Tate has broken out this season, Smith has found a way to maintain a firm command in deciding the outcome of games.
In every one of Ohio State’s nine games this season, Smith has at least five receptions. He has four games with at least eight receptions, three games with at least nine receptions, and Saturday was his season-high with 10. In addition, he has four 100-yard receiving games this season, including in each of the Buckeyes’ last two games. Not to mention, he has at least one touchdown in seven of Ohio State’s nine games this season.
It may feel like this offense hasn’t played its best football yet this season, but going through Smith’s game log, he’s even better, statistically, than he was in 2024. That’s saying something.
Smith is putting up these numbers — 65 receptions, 862 yards, 10 touchdowns — despite Carnell Tate’s breakout season and opposing defenses knowing how explosive he is after what he did as a freshman in 2024.
Smith wasn’t the only receiver who helped the Buckeyes’ passing game have a prolific day without Tate. Max Klare, playing in his first game back at Purdue since transferring the past offseason, had five receptions for 59 yards. Brandon Inniss had three receptions for 26 yards, two of them going for first downs.
Finding balance on offense, and in the running game.
Historically, the Buckeyes have been known for their strong running game. Over the last decade, however, Ohio State’s offense has transitioned to making the passing game its strength.
Still, running the football is what makes this offense unstoppable. Defenses know they have to key on Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. If the last two games are any indication, opposing defenses will have to account for the Buckeyes’ ability to run the football.
Against Purdue, Ohio State rushed for 170 yards. That’s 170 net yards, since Julian Sayin lost nine on two sacks. Sayin actually had 10 yards gained on a first-down run towards the end of the first half. In total gained rushing yards, the Buckeyes had 189.
Bo Jackson led the way with 75 rushing yards on 14 carries. Isaiah West had 60 yards on nine carries. James Peoples had 26 yards on eight carries. C.J. Donaldson had 12 rushing yards on five carries, but two of those were for touchdowns.
Not only does running the football allow for a more balanced and prolific offensive attack, but the running game itself is starting to have clear and defined roles for each running back.
Jackson is this team’s lead running back. That much is certain in the running back room. The freshman has a boost, a burst of speed, and the durability to make this Buckeyes’ rushing attack a key factor in every game.
Isaiah West, based on Saturday, can be a good burst to gain chunks of yardage. He doesn’t have to have a lot of touches every game, but if the ones he does have are productive, that will be crucial for the offense.
James Peoples is a good change-of-pace back for short-yardage situations to get those hard-earned yards to move the chains.
C.J. Donaldson is the goal-line back. If fans are concerned about rushing for just 12 yards on five carries, they shouldn’t be. They should be focused on the fact that two of his five carries were for touchdowns. There are only so many yards to be gained in goal-line situations.
The fact that Ohio State can use three or four running backs in various roles is a luxury. There may not be a bell cow running back, but having this luxury on an offense that already has an embarrassment of riches is why the Buckeyes are the No. 1 team in the country.
