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THE PERTINENT INFO

When: Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025

Where: The couch (yours)

TV: None

Announcers: Gus Johnson (in your head), Joel Klatt (breaking down mesh), Tom Rinaldi (on recovery stories)

Ohio State is 3–0 and ranked No. 1 in the AP poll after a 37–9 win over Ohio. The Buckeyes outgained the Bobcats 572–181, scored 24 unanswered in the second half, and left with a laundry list of things to fix — turnovers, red-zone efficiency, and special teams discipline. Next up: at Washington on Sept. 27.

THE LAST TIME…

• …Ohio State gave up a red-zone score in 2025: hasn’t happened. Opponents are 0-for-4 inside the 20 this year.
• …Jeremiah Smith didn’t dominate: never. The freshman had 9 catches, 153 yards, and a TD vs. Ohio and became the fastest Buckeye to 1,500 career receiving yards (19 games).
• …OSU needed a jolt: Ohio’s 67-yard bomb cut it to 13–9 before the Buckeyes rattled off 24 straight.

ON THE HORIZON

• Washington looms after the bye. A road test, a ranked opponent, and the loudest crowd yet for Julian Sayin.
• Julian Sayin (QB): Through 3 games — 56/71 (78.9%) for 779 yards, 8 TD, 3 INT. Needs to clean up red-zone reads and decision-making.
• Bo Jackson (RB): The freshman has 217 yards on just 18 carries (12.1 avg) with 1 TD. Explosive, but sample size is still small.
• Jeremiah Smith (WR): 315 yards, 3 TDs — already playing like WR1.
• Defense: Allowing just 5.3 ppg and 227.7 ypg. The lone blemish is the occasional explosive play (like Ohio’s 67-yarder).
• Ryan Day: Now 73–10 as OSU head coach, including the 2024 national title.

LET’S GO STREAKING

• 11 straight wins overall.
• 8 straight games scoring 30+.
• 9 straight holding opponents to 17 or fewer.

WIN THE RUNNING GAME, WIN THE GAME

Ohio State is 103–5 since 2010 when outrushing its opponent. Against the Bye Week? Safe to say OSU keeps the streak alive.

GET TO KNOW THAT TEAM

Name: The Bye Week
Record: 0-0
Mascot: None
Strengths: No turnovers, no penalties, never gives up a red-zone TD
Weaknesses: Nonexistent roster, no offensive production

TODAY’S TRIVIA

1. What week has Ohio State never lost?
2. Which opponent boasts a perfect red-zone rate without playing a snap?
3. Which team has never committed a penalty against OSU?
4. Who is the Bye Week’s all-time leading rusher?
5. What bowl game has the Bye Week never lost?

(Answers at the bottom.)

2025 PLAYER COMPARISON

MATT GUTRIDGE’S FACTS CORNER

• 0 … opponent red-zone scores allowed this year.
• 5.3 … points per game allowed, 2nd nationally.
• 7.79 … yards per play on offense.
• 24 … unanswered vs Ohio after it was 13–9.
• 1 … AP poll ranking for OSU today.
• 73–10 … Ryan Day’s career record as OSU head coach.

2025 TEAM COMPARISON