Ohio State delivered a commanding 45-0 victory over Purdue at home, boosting their season record to 8-1. The Buckeyes were in control from the outset, with a pivotal play early in the first quarter when they blocked a Purdue punt, setting them up at the Boilermakers’ 8-yard line. Ohio State capitalized quickly, with Will Howard rushing for a touchdown, giving the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead. From there, they never looked back, scoring on their next two drives to take a dominant 21-0 lead into halftime.
Photo Cred: Cleveland.com
Just before the break, Howard connected with standout freshman Jerimiah Smith on a 17-yard crossing route for a touchdown. This was Smith’s ninth receiving touchdown of the season, breaking Ohio State legend Cris Carter’s freshman touchdown record. Smith also set new Ohio State freshman records for receptions, with 45, and receiving yards, with 765. He finished the game with 6 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown, continuing his impressive season.
Howard had an outstanding day at quarterback, completing 21 of 26 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. He also added a rushing score, leading a balanced and efficient offense that saw eight different Buckeyes catch passes. The ground game complemented Howard’s performance, with Ohio State piling up 173 rushing yards as a team. The offense, now firing on all cylinders, appears to be peaking at the right time as the Buckeyes approach the end of the regular season.
Ohio State kept the pressure on in the second half, scoring on their first three drives and adding a defensive touchdown to seal the blowout at 45-0. The Buckeye defense was relentless, recording four sacks, five tackles for loss, and forcing two turnovers, all while pitching a shutout. It was a comprehensive performance of complementary football, with both the offense and defense dominating the game.
Photo Cred: Cleveland.com
Though Purdue entered the game with a 1-7 record, Ohio State’s dominance was still impressive, showing they can handle business against overmatched opponents. The Buckeyes now turn their attention to a road trip to Chicago, where they’ll face Northwestern in another game where they’ll be heavy favorites. However, tougher challenges loom, as Ohio State will finish the regular season with back-to-back games against No. 8 Indiana and bitter rival Michigan. The Indiana matchup will carry significant Big Ten Championship implications, while the Michigan game presents an opportunity for the Buckeyes to break a three-game losing streak against their storied rivals.
