Another Ohio State win, another Three Stars of the Game.
This week, the Eleven Warriors staff selected Ohio State defensive end Caden Curry, tight end Max Klare and running back Bo Jackson as the Buckeyes' top performers in the team's 42-9 win over Rutgers.
First Star: Caden Curry
You could make the argument for Klare here, but consider this: Curry should have been awarded a touchdown when he stripped Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and recovered the fumble near the goal line. Because the referees — we think — incorrectly ruled Curry down at the 1-yard line, Klare ended up being the one to score on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Julian Sayin.
BANG! CURRY!
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 22, 2025
Once again, the @OhioStateFB defense makes a big-time play pic.twitter.com/6gzMt1kkGd
Curry’s do-it-all effort headlined Ohio State’s defensive performance. He finished with a team-high six tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
This season, Curry has been stuffing the stat sheet. He now has 49 tackles and leads the Buckeyes in both tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (nine). He’s also added a pass breakup, another forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a punt block.
Second Star: Max Klare
As mentioned above, Klare hauled in the 11-yard touchdown that Curry probably deserved. But that was only part of his impact on Sunday, as the tight end led all Ohio State pass catchers with seven receptions (on eight targets) for 105 yards and a score.
Sayin finds Klare WIDE OPEN for the TD @OhioStateFB adds on another pic.twitter.com/EHliABqAmM
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 22, 2025
With Carnell Tate, Jeremiah Smith and Quincy Porter sidelined by injuries, Klare’s performance wasn’t just welcome — it was needed. His 100-yard outing marked just the sixth by an Ohio State tight end since 1960 and the first since Jeff Heuerman’s 116-yard day against Purdue in 2013.
Since Tate went down before the Purdue game, Klare has stepped up in a major way. He’s tallied 17 catches for 190 yards over that span — nearly six receptions for 63 yards per game — plus his touchdown against Rutgers. Through 11 appearances this season, Klare has 38 catches for 400 yards and two touchdowns.
Third Star: Bo Jackson
Bo knows 100-yard games.
Jackson has hit the century mark five times this season (Grambling State, Ohio, Penn State, UCLA and Rutgers) and three times in the last four contests. On Saturday, the freshman posted a season-high 19 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
Reminder:, Bo knows the end zone
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 22, 2025
The @OhioStateFB RB punches it in for the second time today pic.twitter.com/IUFHo1spTg
Jackson powered an Ohio State rushing attack that rolled up 254 yards on one of the worst run defenses in the FBS. Behind him, Isaiah West added eight carries for 48 yards, James Peoples broke loose for a 49-yard touchdown as part of a three-carry, 55-yard performance, and backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz chipped in three carries for 37 yards.
| OPPONENT | FIRST STAR / ★ | SECOND STAR / ★★ | THIRD STAR / ★★★ |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEXAS |
ARVELL REESE, LB 9 tackles (4 solo),1 sack |
JERMAINE MATHEWS JR., CB 3 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU |
CARNELL TATE, WR 2 catches, 49 yards, 1 TD |
| GRAMBLING STATE |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 18-19, 306 yards, 4 TD |
RILEY PETTIJOHN, LB 1 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 5 catches, 119 yards, 2 TD |
| OHIO |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 9 catches, 153 yards, 2 total TD |
ARVELL REESE, LB 9 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack |
CADEN CURRY, DE 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PBU |
| @ WASHINGTON |
CADEN CURRY, DE 11 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks |
KAYDEN MCDONALD, DT 7 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 22-28, 208 yards, 2 TD |
| MINNESOTA |
CARNELL TATE, WR 9 catches, 183 yards, 1 TD |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 23-27, 326 yards, 3 TD |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 7 catches, 67 yards, 2 TD |
| @ ILLINOIS |
JERMAINE MATHEWS JR., CB 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 PBU |
CALEB DOWNS, S 9 tackles, 7 solo |
ARVELL REESE, LB 9 tackles, 8 solo, 1.5 sacks |
| @ WISCONSIN |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 36-42, 393 yards, 4 TD |
CARNELL TATE, WR 6 catches, 111 yards, 2 TD |
ARVELL REESE, LB 4 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack |
| PENN STATE |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 20-23, 316 yards, 4 TD |
ARVELL REESE, LB 12 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 6 catches, 123 yards, 2 TD |
| @ PURDUE |
JEREMIAH SMITH, WR 10 catches, 137 yards, 1 TD |
JULIAN SAYIN, QB 27-33, 303 yards, 1 TD |
JAYDEN FIELDING, K 49-YARD FG, 45-YARD FG |
| UCLA |
LORENZO STYLES JR., S 5 tackles, 100-yard KR TD |
BO JACKSON, RB 15 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD |
JAMES PEOPLES, RB 8 carries, 42 yards, 2 TD |
| RUTGERS |
CADEN CURRY, DE 6 tackles, 2 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR |
MAX KLARE, TE 7 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD |
BO JACKSON, RB 19 carries, 110 yards, 2 TD |
As the season continues, we’ll track the stars (or points) each Ohio State player receives in 2025. Here’s how we’ll do it: Each time a Buckeye earns the First Star of the Game, that Buckeye adds three points to their season total. Then, the Second Star and Third Star each add two points and one point to their totals.
| RANK | PLAYER | FIRST STAR / ★ | SECOND STAR / ★★ | THIRD STAR / ★★★ | POINTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JULIAN SAYIN | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| T2 | ARVELL REESE | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| T2 | JEREMIAH SMITH | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| 4 | CADEN CURRY | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 5 | CARNELL TATE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 6 | JERMAINE MATHEWS JR. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| T7 | LORENZO STYLES JR. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| T7 | BO JACKSON | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| T9 | RILEY PETTIJOHN | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T9 | KAYDEN MCDONALD | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T9 | CALEB DOWNS | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T9 | MAX KLARE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| T13 | JAYDEN FIELDING | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| T13 | JAMES PEOPLES | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
