Columbus, Ohio — Any concerns about Ohio State’s defense returning to form under former coordinator Jim Knowles quickly took a backseat to the Buckeyes’ surging offense on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns, and Jeremiah Smith found the end zone twice as top-ranked Ohio State rolled to a 38–14 victory over Penn State at Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes (8–0, 5–0 Big Ten) led by just three points at halftime but dominated the final two quarters, scoring on three of their first four drives after the break to stay perfect on the season.
“We came in at halftime up by three — and you would’ve thought we were down by three touchdowns,” coach Ryan Day said. “But we settled in, adjusted to how they were playing us, and Julian made some great deep throws when we needed them.”
Sayin Stays Sharp
Sayin was nearly flawless, completing 20 of 23 passes while becoming only the second FBS quarterback since 1985 — along with Geno Smith (West Virginia, 2012) — to record three games in a season with at least 300 passing yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a completion rate above 85 percent.
He connected with Carnell Tate on several explosive plays, including a 45-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter and a 57-yard strike that set up a short scoring run by CJ Donaldson to open the second half. Tate finished with five catches for 124 yards.
Smith, who had six receptions for 123 yards, opened the scoring with a 14-yard slant and later sealed the win with a dazzling one-handed 11-yard grab in the fourth quarter that made it 38–14.
“I just wanted to make a play for my quarterback,” Smith said of the acrobatic catch. “I saw the ball in the air, went up, and didn’t want him to get an interception on that one.”
Penn State Shows Early Fight
Penn State (3–5, 0–5 Big Ten) became the first team all season to score a first-half touchdown against Ohio State, finding the end zone twice before halftime.
Running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen each scored short rushing touchdowns, the latter set up by a fumble recovery deep in Buckeye territory. But the Nittany Lions’ offense stalled after the break, producing just 67 yards in the second half.
“We played well in stretches, but the third quarter got away from us,” interim coach Terry Smith said. “They came out, scored 14 quick points, and we couldn’t recover.”
Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, a Columbus-area native, completed 19 of 28 passes for 148 yards and an interception in his second career start.
Welcome Back, Coach Knowles
Ohio State fans didn’t forget former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, now with Penn State. With the Buckeyes comfortably ahead in the fourth quarter, the scoreboard briefly showed Knowles in the press box — prompting a chorus of boos — followed by a shot of current coordinator Matt Patricia, which drew loud cheers from the home crowd.
The Takeaway
Ohio State: The Buckeyes continue to show balance and composure, pairing a lethal passing attack with a defense that adjusts well under pressure.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions have now lost five straight for the first time since 2003 (excluding the 2020 COVID season) and remain winless in Big Ten play under interim leadership.
Up Next:
Penn State: Returns home to host No. 2 Indiana next Saturday.
Ohio State: Travels to Purdue to continue Big Ten play.
