Presented by HOMAGE
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Ohio State | 21 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 70 |
| GRAMBLING STATE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SEPT. 6, 2025 • Ohio STADIUM • COLUMBUS, OHIO | |||||
After struggling offensively in its season-opening win over Texas, Ohio State had no such struggles in its second game of the season against Grambling State.
The Buckeyes routed their visitors from the FCS in their second game of non-conference play, scoring touchdowns on nine of their 11 possessions. The Ohio State defense also outscored Grambling State’s offense as the Buckeyes put up 70 points on their opponents without giving up one.
Julian Sayin was spectacular in his second career start, completing 18 of 19 passing attempts for 306 yards and four touchdowns in just one half, breaking the school record for most consecutive completions to start a game in the process. Jeremiah Smith caught five of those passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Nine different Buckeyes scored touchdowns including three true freshmen: Bo Jackson, Isaiah West and Riley Pettijohn, who scored the year’s first defensive touchdown for the Buckeyes on a 23-yard scoop-and-score.
| Qtr | Time | Team | Result | Play Details | OSU | GSU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12:39 | OSU | TD | 47-Yard PASS, JULIAN SAYIN TO WILL KACMAREK | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | 8:54 | OSU | TD | 87-YARD PASS, JULIAN SAYIN TO JEREMIAH SMITH | 14 | 0 |
| 1 | 4:10 | OSU | TD | 13-YARD PASS, JULIAN SAYIN TO CARNELL TATE | 21 | 0 |
| 2 | 11:38 | OSU | TD | 9-YARD PASS, JULIAN SAYIN TO JEREMIAH SMITH | 28 | 0 |
| 2 | 0:57 | OSU | TD | 2-YARD RUN, CJ DONALDSON | 35 | 0 |
| 3 | 14:50 | OSU | TD | 23-YARD FUMBLE RETURN, RILEY PETTIJOHN | 42 | 0 |
| 3 | 8:24 | OSU | TD | 11-YARD RUN, BO JACKSON | 49 | 0 |
| 3 | 6:16 | OSU | TD | 12-YARD Run, ISAIAH WEST | 56 | 0 |
| 4 | 14:55 | OSU | TD | 4-YARD PASS, LINCOLN KIENHOLZ TO JELANI THURMAN | 63 | 0 |
| 4 | 0:31 | OSU | TD | 1-YARD RUN, SAM DIXON | 70 | 0 |
Key Moments
Q1, 12:39: Sayin and Kacmarek connect for 47-yard touchdown
It didn’t take long for Ohio State’s offense to make its first big play of the game. On the game’s opening drive, Julian Sayin threw a perfect pass to Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek for a 47-yard touchdown, Kacmarek’s first touchdown since he transferred to Ohio State last year.
That was easy.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 6, 2025
Julian Sayin finds Will Kacmarek to open the scoring for No. 1 @OhioStateFB.
: BTN pic.twitter.com/yXRgJV7q17
Q1, 8:54: Jeremiah goes 87 yards to the house
Ohio State needed just one play to go 87 yards on its second drive of the game as Jeremiah Smith got wide open behind the Grambling State defense and Sayin found him with a deep ball, allowing Ohio State’s superstar sophomore to stroll to the end zone for a touchdown and the longest play of his Buckeye career to date.
JEREMIAH SMITH TO THE HOUSE @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/QpZjBoxZNL
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2025
Q1, 4:10: Tate makes a spectacular snag
For the second time in as many weeks to start the season, Carnell Tate made a spectacular touchdown catch, leaping up for an acrobatic grab in the left front corner of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown to make it 21-0 less than 11 minutes into the game.
TATE HAULS IT IN
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2025
Julian Sayin is now 10 for 10 with 3 TDs for @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/bfBa0uly1T
Q2, 11:38: Julian and Jeremiah connect for another score
Sayin completed his 15th consecutive pass to start the game – an Ohio State record for the most consecutive completions to start a game – on a 9-yard pass to Smith for Smith’s second touchdown catch of the game and season.
That makes TDs for Jeremiah Smith @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/cnGPwVbK0c
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2025
Q3, 14:50: McDonald, Pettijohn combine for defensive touchdown
On the very first play from scrimmage of the second half, Ohio State scored its first defensive touchdown of the season as Kayden McDonald forced a fumble that freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn returned for a 23-yard touchdown, making it a 42-0 game.
Might as well add a defensive TD
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 6, 2025
No. 1 @OhioStateFB makes it a 42-0 game.
: BTN pic.twitter.com/UzJYN008R4
Q3, 8:24: Jackson scores touchdown on first carry as Buckeye
On his very first rushing attempt as a Buckeye, freshman running back Bo Jackson ran for an 11-yard touchdown to extend Ohio State’s lead to 49-0.
The first career TD for Bo Jackson @ohiostatefb pic.twitter.com/wT3tMMFi5f
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 6, 2025
Q3, 6:16: West scores touchdown on second carry as Buckeye
Isaiah West made it two touchdowns in two drives for freshman running back as the St. Joseph’s Prep product scored a 12-yard touchdown on his second rushing attempt as a Buckeye.
Q4, 14:55: Kienholz throws first career TD pass to Thurman
Lincoln Kienholz threw the first touchdown pass of his Ohio State career on the opening play of the fourth quarter, connecting with Jelani Thurman in the end zone for a 4-yard score that made it 63-0.
Thurman TD!
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 6, 2025
Jelani Thurman hauls it in to put No. 1 @OhioStateFB up 63-0.
: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/vmAnr4rkVJ
| Stat | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | JULIAN SAYIN | 306 yards, 4 td, 1 int |
| rushing | BO JACKSON | 9 carries, 109 YARDS, 1 TD |
| receiving | jeremiah smith | 5 catches, 119 yards, 2 TD |
Team Stats
| OHIO STATE | GRAMBLING STATE | |
|---|---|---|
| 651 | TOTAL YARDS | 166 |
| 274 | RUSHING YARDS | 94 |
| 38 | RUSHING ATTEMPTS | 33 |
| 7.2 | AVERAGE PER RUSH | 2.8 |
| 4 | RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS | 0 |
| 377 | PASSING YARDS | 72 |
| 24-28 | COMPLETIONS–ATTEMPTS | 11-22 |
| 15.7 | YARDS PER COMPLETION | 6.5 |
| 5 | PASSING TOUCHDOWNS | 0 |
| 32 | 1st DOWNS | 10 |
| 66 | TOTAL PLAYS | 55 |
| 9.9 | YARDS PER PLAY | 3.0 |
| 5-7 | 3RD DOWNS | 3-14 |
| 3-15 | PENALTIES | 6-40 |
| 30:55 | POSSESSION | 29:05 |
| 1 | TURNOVERS | 3 |
Game Notes
- Ohio State is now 5-0 all-time vs. FCS opponents. It was Ohio State’s first-ever game against Grambling State.
- Former Ohio State coach John Cooper was the pregame Victory Bell ringer.
- The same nine Ohio State players as the Texas game, all backups, were unavailable due to injuries: CB Brenten "Inky" Jones, TE Max LeBlanc, DT Jason Moore, QB Mason Maggs, RB Anthony "Turbo" Rogers, DT Maxwell Roy, S Deshawn Stewart, DT Ahmed Tounkara and WR Preston Wolfe.
- Ohio State’s starters on offense: QB Julian Sayin, RB James Peoples, WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Carnell Tate, WR Brandon Inniss, TE Max Klare, LT Austin Siereveld, LG Luke Montgomery, C Carson Hinzman, RG Tegra Tshabola, RT Phillip Daniels
- Ohio State’s starters on defense: DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr., DE Caden Curry, DT Eddrick Houston, DT Kayden McDonald, LB Sonny Styles, LB Arvell Reese, CB Davison Igbinosun, CB Jermaine Mathews Jr., CB Lorenzo Styles Jr., S Caleb Downs, S Jaylen McClain
- 100,624 people attended the game.
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