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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Under the midday sun at The Horseshoe, the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes left little doubt about their Big Ten dominance, rolling past Penn State 38–14 on Saturday. Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin led a balanced Buckeye attack, while their defense clamped down in the second half to turn a competitive first half into a convincing win before over 100,000 roaring fans.
Buckeyes Strike First
Ohio State wasted no time setting the tone. On their opening drive, Sayin orchestrated a quick, efficient series capped by a 14-yard strike to Jeremiah Smith for the game’s first touchdown. The duo connected again before mid-first quarter when Smith slipped behind coverage for another score, giving Ohio State a 14-0 lead and immediate momentum.
Penn State Fights Back
Down two scores, Penn State responded early in the second quarter. Running back Kaytron Allen finished off a 15-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 14-7. Later, the Nittany Lions took advantage of an Ohio State fumble deep in Buckeye territory and scored again from the 1-yard line to pull within 17-14 heading into halftime.
Halftime Adjustments Spark Buckeye Run
Ohio State came out of the locker room firing. On the second play of the third quarter, wide receiver Carnell Tate hauled in a 57-yard catch to the Penn State 4-yard line. Three plays later, C.J. Donaldson powered in from the 1-yard line for a TD, pushing the lead to 24-14. From that moment, Ohio State controlled the game, with Sayin’s precision passing and the Buckeye defense forcing consecutive three-and-outs.
Smith Steals the Show
Early in the fourth quarter, with Ohio State leading 31-14, Sayin lofted a pass into tight coverage. Jeremiah Smith made a one-handed grab among three defenders in the end zone—his second TD of the game and a highlight-reel play that stretched the lead to 38-14 and effectively sealed it.
Buckeye Defense Closes the Door
After allowing 14 points in the first half, the Buckeye defense slammed the door in the second. Ohio State held Penn State to just one yard on its first 17 plays of the third quarter. The Nittany Lions finished the game with only about 200 total yards of offense and struggled to get anything going as the Buckeyes’ front seven dominated the trenches.
Stat Leaders
- Julian Sayin (OSU): 22-of-28 passing, 316 yards, 4 TDs. ESPN.com+2ESPN.com+2
- Jeremiah Smith (OSU): 6 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TDs. ESPN.com+1
- C.J. Donaldson (OSU): Rushed for 1-yard TD on the big drive. ESPN.com+1
- Kaytron Allen (PSU): Rushed for two TDs including the second-quarter score. ESPN.com+1
What’s Next
With the win, Ohio State improved to 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten), reinforcing their grip atop the conference and strengthening their playoff résumé. For Penn State (3-5, 0-5 Big Ten), the loss marked another tough day. The program is now being led by interim head coach Terry Smith following the dismissal of former coach James Franklin earlier this month.
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