The No.1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes moved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten after an impressive showing under the lights in Columbus — a 42-3 takedown of the Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-2, 1-1).
It was a nearly perfect game all around for the Buckeyes. Here is who earned those top grades in this contest.
A+: Julian Sayin
I think Julian Sayin is going to win the Heisman next season. He might honestly win it this season, but I am very confident in his chances next season.
Sayin throws a beautifully catchable football,
and obviously having Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate (see below) helps, but the first-year starter is beginning to stand out on his own as Ryan Day and Brian Hartline open up the playbook more and more.
Sayin was 23-for-27 for 326 yards and three touchdowns against the Gophers.
A+: Carnell Tate
At this point, there is a case to be made that Carnell Tate is the second best receiver in the country. Tate had his best game of the season and likely of his career with nine catches, 183 yards and a touchdown.
Tate seems to get better each week, and tonight was a showcase that will start the national conversation around just how good the junior wideout is.
A+: Primetime games
As all Buckeyes fans know, Ohio State plays at noon way more than they play under the lights. While personally, I don’t really care what time the games are played, it is a nice reminder sometimes that the games under the lights are always special and they feel different.
More of those please.
A: Bo Jackson
Last week, I wrote that Bo Jackson needed to be RB1 and get the majority of the carries moving forward. It is clear that he is that, as James Peoples got seven carries — mostly in garbage time — and CJ Donaldson only got three carries, even though he did score.
Jackson needs to be the workhorse from here on out. Peoples and Donaldson should still get some carries so that you don’t run Jackson into the ground as a freshman, but if you run the ball 25 times a game, Jackson should get 15-18 of them.
A: Defense as a whole
Some games, it is impossible to really single out one or two players on the defense, and this was one of those games. Whether it was Caleb Downs, Davidson Igbinosun, Lorenzo Styles, Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese or someone else, the Buckeye defense made play after play, especially after giving up the field goal on the first possession.
Minnesota was held to 162 yards and was 1-for-11 on third downs. They only had 68 rushing yards, and Darius Taylor’s return was spoiled by holding him to just 12 yards. Drake Lindsey has played well this season and he was held to just 15 completions and 94 passing yards.
A: Ryan Day
A lot of people have said this so I don’t want this to seem like an original thought, but ever since the Michigan loss last year, Ryan Day has been a different person and different coach. He still needs to beat Michigan this year, but he is now a national championship winner and he is acting like one.
It is great to see. And that special teams trick play was sick. More of that too.
