Ohio State and Northwestern

Ohio State showcased its dominance on Saturday, pulling away from Northwestern for a commanding 31-7 victory in a unique road game at Wrigley Field. Backed by a sea of Buckeye fans in the stands, Ohio State improved to 9-1, setting the stage for a pivotal stretch to close the season.

The Buckeyes overcame an early deficit thanks to standout performances from Carnell Tate and Quinshon Judkins, who each scored two touchdowns. Ohio State turned a sluggish start into a blowout by scoring on five consecutive possessions, racking up 31 unanswered points.

Early Struggles and Defensive Adjustments

The game began with challenges for Ohio State’s defense, as Northwestern mounted long drives on its first two possessions. However, the Buckeyes’ resilience shone through. On Northwestern’s opening drive, Jack Sawyer forced a fumble, recovered by Davison Igbinosun, to halt a scoring opportunity. Despite a 92-yard Northwestern drive capped by quarterback Jack Lausch’s 8-yard touchdown run, Ohio State regrouped and dominated from that point onward.

Offensive Firepower Ignites

Ohio State’s first scoring drive came midway through the second quarter. A 12-play, 85-yard effort ended with Judkins powering into the end zone from the 1-yard line, set up by a diving 14-yard catch from Tate. Moments later, a botched snap by Northwestern led to a Buckeyes punt block, and Judkins capitalized with another 1-yard touchdown to give Ohio State the lead.

Tate, a Chicago native, delivered a highlight-reel performance in front of family and friends. Just before halftime, he made a diving catch for a 25-yard touchdown, thrilling the crowd in his hometown. Tate struck again early in the third quarter, turning an 8-yard catch-and-run into his second score of the game.

Freshman standout Jeremiah Smith also played a pivotal role, logging his third 100-yard game of the season. His 68-yard catch-and-run set up Tate’s second touchdown. Meanwhile, TreVeyon Henderson and Judkins added explosive runs to set up a 28-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding, extending the lead to 31-7 late in the third quarter.

Defense Holds Strong

Ohio State’s defense stiffened in the red zone, denying Northwestern on three trips inside the 20-yard line. Igbinosun’s pass breakup on a fourth-down attempt and relentless pressure on Lausch helped seal the victory. Sonny Styles led the defensive charge with two sacks and two pass breakups, while Sawyer and Arvell Reese each recorded a career-high seven tackles.

Key Performances and Milestones

  • Carnell Tate: The Chicago native had the first two-touchdown game of his career, showcasing his talent with acrobatic catches and critical plays.
  • Jeremiah Smith: Continued his stellar freshman season with another 100-yard game.
  • Jack Sawyer and Arvell Reese: Anchored the defense with career-high (7) tackling performances.
  • Sonny Styles: Dominated with two sacks and key pass breakups.

Ohio State’s offense failed to score in the first quarter for the first time this season, but the team quickly found its rhythm. Despite an injury to Gee Scott Jr. in the third quarter, the Buckeyes kept him sidelined out of caution.

Looking Ahead

With the victory, Ohio State returns to Columbus to prepare for its third top-five matchup of the season. The Buckeyes will host undefeated Indiana next Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon, with FOX broadcasting the game.

Ohio State’s balanced attack and lockdown defense make it a formidable contender as the postseason looms.