Jeremiah Smith

Ohio State delivered a resounding 56-0 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday night, ensuring there would be no upset as other MAC teams made headlines. While Northern Illinois stunned Notre Dame and Bowling Green came close to toppling Penn State, the Buckeyes dominated from start to finish in their first night game of the season at Ohio Stadium.

From the opening whistle, Ohio State set the tone. TreVeyon Henderson powered in for a 3-yard touchdown to cap off a 55-yard drive on the Buckeyes’ opening possession, giving them an early lead. Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith added to the momentum, outrunning the Broncos’ defense for a 70-yard touchdown on the next drive, making it 14-0. Quinshon Judkins, following a convoy of blockers, added two more rushing touchdowns in the first half, while quarterback Will Howard contributed with a 6-yard score, pushing the lead to 35-0 by halftime.

The second half saw more of the same dominance. Henderson’s second touchdown and a late score from freshman James Peoples extended the Buckeyes’ lead to 49-0 by the end of the third quarter. Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin connected with Bennett Christian for a 55-yard touchdown in the fourth, capping Ohio State’s eighth and final touchdown of the night.

The Buckeye defense was equally dominant, registering their first shutout since 2019. Western Michigan was held to just 99 yards of total offense, including a meager five yards in the second half. The Broncos managed only 48 plays and punted 11 times, struggling to move the ball against a stifling Ohio State defense.

Offensively, the Buckeyes racked up 683 yards, showcasing a balanced attack with 410 passing yards and 273 on the ground. Judkins led the rushing effort with 108 yards and two touchdowns, while Henderson added 66 yards and two scores. Howard finished with 292 passing yards and two total touchdowns.

After the game, Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor praised Ohio State’s discipline and talent. “They’re a really well-coached team with playmakers at all three levels,” Taylor said. “The environment at Ohio Stadium is something special, and the energy tonight was unbelievable.”

With the win, Ohio State improved to 2-0 and heads into a bye week before hosting Marshall. The Buckeyes’ all-around performance sent a strong message that they are ready for the challenges ahead.