Sometimes the seemingly obvious thing needs to be stated.
A 19-of-30, 218-yard, one-touchdown, one-interception day that happened to finish with a game-winning drive shouldn't place Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza ahead of Julian Sayin in the Heisman Trophy conversation. Not when Sayin's dominance is consistently above everyone else's in the country.
Ohio State's quarterback finished yet another game above 80% completions at Purdue on Saturday, going 27-of-33 (82%) for 303 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Last week, against the same Penn State team Mendoza needed a game-winning drive to beat after struggling throughout the day, Sayin went 20-of-23 for 316 yards and four touchdowns with no picks.
Sayin's near-telepathic connection with Jeremiah Smith remained as strong as ever vs. the Boilermakers, as Smith hauled in all 10 of his targets for a career-high 10 receptions with 137 yards and a touchdown. The Buckeyes' passing game and defense continue to look like the best at their craft in college football.
Jayden Fielding was another strength for Ohio State at Purdue as he made a pair of 45-yard-plus field goals, including a career-long 49-yarder, in what should be a confidence- and momentum-building game for him.
Ohio State’s biggest concern remains its running game and offensive line, as the Buckeyes managed just four yards per carry against Purdue, whose defense entered Saturday ranked 92nd nationally in run defense. That's with freshmen Bo Jackson and Isaiah West generating ample yards after contact.
Right guard Tegra Tshabola continues to fall short of expectations for a player with 25 starts of experience. Joshua Padilla, who typically rotates with him, was out on Saturday. So too was starting right tackle Phillip Daniels, with Ian Moore filling in.
Even with those issues, however, Ohio State continued to make the case that it’s the best team in college football on a day when Indiana was nearly upset.
Eleven Warriors' Andy Anders and Dan Hope break down Ohio State's latest dominant win on After Carmen, which you can watch at the top of the page.
