It's not how you start, but how you finish, right?
Call it cope if you want to, but that mentality explains how Ohio State overcame a slow start last night to earn a 37-9 win over Parker Navarro and the Ohio Bobcats. The Buckeyes didn't have their offense rolling out of the gate as they did the previous week against Grambling State, but Matt Patricia and the Silver Bullets kept Ohio at bay long enough to give OSU the time it needed to figure things out and pull away late.
The Bobcats can take some pride in the fact that they outscored Ohio State's first two opponents combined. That said, it could be a while before Buckeye fans see an opponent break double digits on this defense.
It will be even longer before Ohio State finally loses to an in-state opponent for the first time in over a century.
Of course, nothing will feel longer than the bye week that looms after this weekend, as the Buckeyes will not take the field again until traveling to Washington for OSU's first road game of the season on September 27th.
In the meantime, let's get a sense of how social media took in last night's performance and the day in college football.
RING THAT BELL, CLARK
Your bell ringer for today's game, none other than the .@ClarkKelloggCBS x @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/aCgkUw6wVU
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) September 13, 2025
FINEBAUM, COME GET YOUR MANS
Arch Manning runs around and hucks a pick pic.twitter.com/i56RmMmgir
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) September 13, 2025
Arch breaks the incompletion streak at 10, then runs in for a TD just before the half to go up 14-3 on UTEP.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) September 13, 2025
YOU CAN'T DUCK THE NERDS
NO WAY
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 13, 2025
Northwesterns mascot trolls the Oregon Duck for losing its head a few weeks back pic.twitter.com/2c6NAGvawi
NO, NO ROCKY TOP
I AM HOLLERING https://t.co/grRzO8Gt84 pic.twitter.com/augxVZwHYv
— Ryan Phillips (@JournoRyan) September 13, 2025
KEEP IT TOGETHER, KELLY
Brian Kelly is hot tonight.
— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) September 14, 2025
Testy with reporters. @Cauble asked what the issue is with the offenses inability to have a consistent rushing attack and then struggles on third down.
Kelly was not having it. pic.twitter.com/pvbgmjnBC0
SOME OF THE BEST CFB MOMENTS FROM YESTERDAY
GEORGIA TECH HITS THE 55-YARD FIELD GOAL AS TIME EXPIRES TO SNAP ITS NINE-GAME LOSING STREAK VS. CLEMSON pic.twitter.com/14ywZCrWW3
— ESPN (@espn) September 13, 2025
INSANE GRAB IN THE ENDZONE
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) September 13, 2025
by WVUs punter to boot it 46 yds pic.twitter.com/TWgHSnoshW
West Virginia winning the Backyard Brawl in OT and immediately blasting Take Me Home, Country Roads is so INCREDIBLY AWESOME.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) September 13, 2025
THIS is college football. pic.twitter.com/ULw22kG4x3
This long snapper being the first to the ball for Tennessee genuinely could be the pound-for-pound largest athletic feat on a football field ever. pic.twitter.com/J34PouhT9V
— Gino Fornaro (@ginoliciousboss) September 13, 2025
Ryan Williams takes the Flea-Flicker screen pass TO THE HOUSE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2025
(via @AlabamaFTBL)
pic.twitter.com/KPrlPXdydW
RYAN WILLIAMS SNATCHED HIS ANKLES ENROUTE TO THE ENDZONE
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 13, 2025
(via @AlabamaFTBL)
pic.twitter.com/1aR7mEhrC8
"Oh, Mario. Magic. Touchdown."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 14, 2025
Noah Eagle calls an electric 86-yard catch-and-run by Texas A&M's Mario Craver to tie things up against Notre Dame. pic.twitter.com/mY9KyF6FRv
INSANITY! TEXAS A&M SCORES THE WINNER ON 4TH AND GOAL! pic.twitter.com/iHtgqqkKwq
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) September 14, 2025
THIS IS WHY YOU DON'T BET SPREADS ABOVE THREE TOUCHDOWNS
.@oregonfootball (-26.5) was the most bet team to cover on Saturday at @BetMGM
— John Ewing (@johnewing) September 13, 2025
Northwestern with the backdoor cover.
pic.twitter.com/fXPF7US0Oi
This is the greatest cover of all time pic.twitter.com/OqjKIn11hj
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 13, 2025
AND NOW WE COME TO THE MAIN EVENT
Game on. pic.twitter.com/Bzg8hAIYSy
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 13, 2025
GRAY OR NO GRAY, HELMET STRIPE ACHIEVED
#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/KlKYc7MZEy
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 14, 2025
RUFUS NEVER HAD DRIP LIKE THIS
Brutus is all business pic.twitter.com/zJfiFavADo
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 13, 2025
OHIO's favorite mascot is ready pic.twitter.com/ysPiLHFdmf
— Brutus Buckeye (@Brutus_Buckeye) September 13, 2025
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE BOBCAT APOCALYPSE
Here come the captains. pic.twitter.com/BeXwfnHSMR
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 13, 2025
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
= Full#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/nG0YjNTquN
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 14, 2025
O-H-I-O pic.twitter.com/tWNXkxtxSZ
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 14, 2025
THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG
Jeremiah Smith is the fastest Ohio State wide receiver ever to reach 1,500 career receiving yards, reaching that milestone in 19 games. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was previously the fastest, hitting that number in 20 games.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) September 13, 2025
1/1.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 13, 2025
Jeremiah Smith becomes the fastest player in Ohio State history to reach 1500 receiving yards pic.twitter.com/PnMRGb84wk
IT AIN'T NO FUN IF THE BAND CAN'T HAVE NONE
Play That Funky Music Ohio State Marching Band and Ohio Us Marching 110 come together for a special halftime show | WATCH: https://t.co/mTh4Qh5D1j pic.twitter.com/QrzIkABhLQ
— 10TV (@10TV) September 14, 2025
TBDBITL and the Marching 110 performing together tonight. pic.twitter.com/TcoEFkOCZx
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) September 14, 2025
LET'S GO TO THE HIGHLIGHTS
The one and only @Jermiah_Smith1
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 14, 2025
Defend The 'Shoe #GoBucks | @anduriltech pic.twitter.com/bfhUqo2PzG
Max Klare's first touchdown as a Buckeye couldn't have come at a better time pic.twitter.com/XCmHGXjbS4
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 14, 2025
YOU GOT BBQ BACK THEREpic.twitter.com/pDe3Dmuox1
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 14, 2025
Never a doubt that Brutus would win that tug of war
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 13, 2025
: Peacock pic.twitter.com/OassUJ3CAJ
Bo can go
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 14, 2025
Bo Jackson breaks free for a big @OhioStateFB run.
: Peacock pic.twitter.com/layC5RLlyT
Julian Sayin Jeremiah Smith pic.twitter.com/u2MiJzu65B
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 14, 2025
Another week, another Jeremiah Smith TD
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 14, 2025
The @OhioStateFB star WR just scored the 7th 40+ yard TD of his career pic.twitter.com/uPgY8G8Qiw
Julian Sayin Carnell Tate pic.twitter.com/4Geav6NRYu
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 14, 2025
Might as well give Jeremiah Smith a TD run, right?
— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) September 14, 2025
: Peacock pic.twitter.com/gjdA1kLObQ
Jeremiah Smith recorded his second-ever rushing TD in @OhioStateFBs 37-9 win over Ohio
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 14, 2025
@TIAA #WinWithAPurpose pic.twitter.com/ErUBuFzVj9
Final.https://t.co/8y7hTfeqs3 pic.twitter.com/PRSyBvXBuj
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 14, 2025
We have a scorigami. Ohio State's 37-9 victory over Ohio is the first time the Buckeyes have ever won a game by this final score. pic.twitter.com/a0JlKkUd36
— Matt Gutridge (@RemyBuckeye) September 14, 2025
Call him Slingin' Sayin. pic.twitter.com/Xbm6td4qZl
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 14, 2025
Just another day for Jeremiah @Jermiah_Smith1 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/wblCi0Bma5
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 14, 2025
Got it done under the lights #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/5HviPUPow5
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) September 14, 2025
"Big dub in The Shoe man"
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 14, 2025
Tywone Malone Jr. was feeling good after @OhioStateFBs 37-9 win over Ohio pic.twitter.com/tQDxVBBh3U
3-0 Vibes pic.twitter.com/SywCFQfgi8
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 14, 2025
AAAAAND...
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) September 13, 2025
Enjoy the bye week. Huskies, the bell tolls for thee.
