Brandon Noel

Ohio State had eight long days to regroup after the heartbreak at Pitt, and the Buckeyes used that time wisely. In their Big Ten opener at Northwestern, Ohio State showed the toughness and resolve every fan hopes to see after a difficult loss. The Buckeyes rallied from nine down in the second half to secure an 86-82 victory in Evanston, a much-needed response that reestablished momentum heading into a brutal stretch of games.

The story of the afternoon was the emergence of Brandon Noel, who delivered a career-defining performance when Ohio State needed him most. After being held scoreless in the loss at Pitt, Noel erupted for 29 points on an incredible 13-of-15 shooting, adding six rebounds and repeatedly bailing the Buckeyes out with big plays in the paint. It was the version of Noel Ohio State fans knew he could be—a physical, confident finisher who changes the entire complexion of the offense.

Bruce Thornton once again showed why he is the heartbeat of this team, contributing 17 points, 10 assists, four rebounds, and two steals. His command of the game in the final minutes, particularly his connection with Noel and Devin Royal, was crucial. Freshman forward Amare Bynum gave the Buckeyes valuable scoring with 11 points off the bench, while John Mobley Jr. chipped in eight during his continued development as a young playmaker.

Ohio State needed every contribution because Northwestern’s Nick Martinelli put on a show of his own, dropping 32 points and carrying the Wildcats for long stretches. But while Northwestern built momentum with a barrage of first-half threes and held a nine-point lead early in the second half, the Buckeyes’ poise ultimately won out.

Ohio State’s response came with force. Thornton and Noel repeatedly attacked the lane, trimming the deficit possession by possession. A strong defensive sequence leading to a Bynum layup off a Colin White steal swung the momentum, and Noel’s aggressive drives lifted the Buckeyes into the lead for good with just over 10 minutes left. From there, the offense continued to function through Noel, Thornton, and Royal, who found his rhythm late and delivered several critical baskets.

Royal’s corner three in front of the Ohio State bench gave the Buckeyes an 81-73 cushion with just over two minutes remaining, a shot made possible by Thornton’s unselfish play and Northwestern’s scramble to contain the drive. The Wildcats threatened late—crashing the offensive glass and forcing a turnover—but Ohio State’s late free throws and Tilly’s key rebounds held the line.

The win was significant beyond the box score. It showed this team can respond on the road, handle pressure in the second half, and lean on depth when needed. It also demonstrated how central Noel may become to the Buckeyes’ success as the schedule tightens.

Now the challenge intensifies. Ohio State returns home for a marquee matchup with No. 14 Illinois, followed by West Virginia in Cleveland and No. 16 North Carolina in Atlanta. Saturday’s comeback win at Northwestern was a strong first step into Big Ten play—but it also made clear that the Buckeyes, at 7-1 and 1-0 in the league, plan to compete.

And after the sting of the Pitt loss, there was no better way to respond.