Following Ohio State's 37-9 win over Ohio University, we share the scores from Pro Football Focus, who grades every player after every game based on how they perform on a snap-to-snap basis.
We compiled the PFF grades for every Buckeye who played on either offense or defense in the second game of the season and highlighted the three highest-graded players who played at least 10 snaps against the Bobcats. A defensive lineman is at the top of the list for the third straight week to start the season.
| ELITE | GOOD | ABOVE AVG. | AVG. | BELOW AVG. | POOR | VERY POOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90-100 | 80-89 | 70-79 | 60-69 | 50-59 | 40-49 | Below 40 |
1. DE Caden Curry (92.5)
For the first time this season, a player not named Kayden McDonald is the top-ranked Buckeye by PFF. Not only was Curry the best Ohio State player, but he graded out as the Big Ten's highest-rated defensive end in overall defense and pass rushing (91.8) in Week 3.
Curry's overall grade is the best for any Buckeye defensive end over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. It eclipses Jack Sawyer's 91.8 against Northwestern at Wrigley Field last season.
Ohio State EDGE Caden Curry in Week 3:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 14, 2025
1.0 Sacks
7 QB Pressures
91.8 Pass Rush Grade
35% Win Rate@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/zi5hArOvBK
2. LB Sonny Styles (89.2)
For the first time this season, a linebacker is among the Buckeyes’ three highest-graded players. Styles' play against Ohio University earned him a couple of individual milestones from PFF. Styles’ grade against the Bobcats was the highest of his Ohio State career.
PFF also determined the Pickerington native was Ohio State's best coverage defender with a grade of 86.7 and Styles was the highest-graded Big Ten linebacker (89.2) who played at least 10 snaps in Week 3.
3. QB Julian Sayin (85.4)
Sayin completed 25 of his 32 passes against the Bobcats for 347 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first Ohio State quarterback to throw for more than 340 yards since C.J. Stroud threw for 348 yards against Georgia in the 2022 Peach Bowl.
Extra Points
- Jeremiah Smith's run blocking grade of 89.7 was the best of any FBS wide receiver in Week 3.
- Bo Jackson was the highest-rated true freshman running back in the nation (83.0) and had 92 yards after contact, which was tops in the Big Ten.
Highest Graded True Freshman RB from Week 3:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 15, 2025
Bo Jackson, Ohio State: 83.0@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/Ps8AB7ZgyN
- Lorenzo Styles Jr. (47.0) had the lowest grade of any Buckeye with at least 10 snaps.
- Brandon Inniss' 28-yard punt return put him fourth in the nation among Week 3 punt returners with a grade of 73.3.
PFFT
Sometimes the numbers and rankings from PFF don't match the performances we see on the field. For example, Julian Sayin earned "above average" status against Grambling State after completing 18 of 19 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns. Yes, he threw an interception, but his grade of 79.0 seemed a little off. Especially when Lincoln Kienholz went six of seven for 71 yards and a score, he earned "good" status with a grade of 88.1.
This week, PFF gave Sayin his highest grade to date (85.4) after completing 25 of 32 passes for 347 yards, three TDs and two interceptions. Yes, Sayin's yards went up, but his completion percentage and touchdowns were down and he threw one more interception. Did Sayin have a good game against Ohio? Yes. Was it better than his near-perfect performance against Grambling State?
| GAME | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas |
DT Kayden McDonald (82.4) |
DT Will Smith Jr. (80.7) |
CB Jermaine Mathews Jr. (78.0) |
| GSU |
DT Kayden McDonald (93.6) |
TE Jelani Thurman (93.0) |
QB Lincoln Kienholz (88.1) |
| OU | DE Caden Curry (92.5) | LB Sonny Styles (89.2) | QB Julian Sayin (85.4) |
Offensive Ratings By Position
Quarterback
Julian Sayin: 85.4 (62 snaps)
Lincoln Kienholz: 66.1 (1 snaps)
Running Backs
Bo Jackson: 83.0 (16 snaps)
James Peoples: 65.9 (20 snaps)
C.J. Donaldson: 56.3 (28 snaps)
Wide Receivers
Jeremiah Smith: 83.6 (57 snaps)
Carnell Tate: 81.1 (54 snaps)
David Adolph: 58.1 (2 snaps)
Mylan Graham: 56.4 (2 snaps)
Brandon Inniss: 50.1 (32 snaps)
Tight Ends
Will Kacmarek: 63.3 (50 snaps)
Max Klare: 63.1 (41 snaps)
Jelani Thurman: 58.6 (5 snaps)
Nate Roberts: 58.2 (8 snaps)
Offensive Line
Phillip Daniels: 72.2 (62 snaps)
Austin Siereveld: 70.7 (63 snaps)
Carson Hinzman: 69.8 (63 snaps)
Luke Montgomery: 66.2 (63 snaps)
Ethan Onianwa: 65.5 (14 snaps)
Ian Moore: 60.0 (1 snap)
Tegra Tshabola: 58.3 (49 snaps)
| QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DE | DT | LB | CB | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Sayin | Bo Jackson | Jeremiah Smith | Will Kacmarek | Phillip Daniels | Caden Curry | Tywone Malone Jr. | Sonny Styles | Aaron Scott Jr. | Caleb Downs |
| 85.4 | 83.0 | 83.6 | 63.3 | 72.2 | 92.5 | 78.5 | 89.2 | 65.4 | 77.7 |
Defensive Ratings by Position
Defensive Ends
Caden Curry: 92.5 (30 snaps)
C.J. Hicks: 78.4 (18 snaps)
Zion Grady: 74.9 (6 snaps)
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 74.5 (32 snaps)
Beau Atkinson: 66.0 (22 snaps)
Logan George: 60.7 (8 snaps)
Joshua Mickens: 60.0 (3 snaps)
Dominic Kirks: 50.2 (14 snaps)
Epi Sitanilei: 41.9 (4 snaps)
Defensive Tackles
Tywone Malone Jr.: 78.5 (18 snaps)
Will Smith Jr.: 77.4 (22 snaps)
Kayden McDonald: 66.5 (18 snaps)
Jarquez Carter: 52.7 (9 snaps)
Eddrick Houston: 51.8 (18 snaps)
Linebackers
Sonny Styles: 89.2 (48 snaps)
Arvell Reese: 83.5 (41 snaps)
Payton Pierce: 76.2 (20 snaps)
Tarvos Alford: 66.6 (6 snaps)
Riley Pettijohn: 50.7 (13 snaps)
Garrett Stover: 40.4 (2 snaps)
Cornerbacks
Aaron Scott Jr.: 65.4 (13 snaps)
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 64.8 (43 snaps)
Bryce West: 63.3 (7 snaps)
Davison Igbinosun: 61.2 (43 snaps)
Devin Sanchez: 60.4 (27 snaps)
Safeties
Caleb Downs: 77.7 (46 snaps)
Jaylen McClain: 66.4 (48 snaps)
Faheem Delane: 65.6 (8 snaps)
Malik Hartford: 59.5 (16 snaps)
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 47.0 (24 snaps)
