After Ohio State dispatched Rutgers, 42-9, we share the game’s grades from Pro Football Focus, which 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 11th game of the season and highlight the three highest-graded players who played at least 10 snaps against the Scarlet Knights. A familiar name is back in the top spot, along with two players from positions that hadn't made the top three since the first two weeks of 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 (92.8)
For the third time this season, and first time since the Washington game, Caden Curry was Ohio State's highest-rated player. His overall grade of 92.8 was the best in the nation in Week 13 for any defensive end who played at least 21 snaps. Curry also led all players in the Big Ten in pass rushing (91.7).
For the season, Curry's overall defensive grade of 92.8 and his score of 85.7 in run defense are tops among defensive ends in the conference.
Highest Graded Defensive Lineman from Week 13:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 24, 2025
Caden Curry, Ohio State: 92.7
Use Code BLACKFRIDAY to get 40% off PFF+
https://t.co/qntuFWVjLu pic.twitter.com/GyPXOe1Am9
2. CB Davison Igbinosun (90.6)
Like Curry, Davison Igbinosun was the highest-rated Big Ten player at his position in Week 13. Igbinosun led all Big Ten cornerbacks in overall defense (90.6) and coverage (90.4).
Unlike Curry, this is the first time for Igbinosun to be rated among Ohio State's top three players for a game by PFF. He's the first cornerback to make this list since Jermaine Mathews Jr. did against Texas in Week 1.
Highest Graded Big Ten CB from Week 13:
— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 25, 2025
Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State: 90.6@OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/e8qIUIL1I9
3. TE Jelani Thurman (90.6)
With an offensive grade of 90.6, Jelani Thurman was the highest-rated receiving tight end in the nation in Week 13. His 80.9 in run blocking was also the best among tight ends in the Big Ten. This is Thurman's second time making the top three; his first appearance was after the Grambling State game.
Extra Points
- Phillip Daniels was Ohio State's highest-rated pass blocker with a grade of 81.8.
- Bryce West was the best Buckeye tackler (80.9) against Rutgers.
- Caleb Downs graded out with an 82.8 in pass rushing after recording a sack vs. Rutgers.
- Jermaine Mathews Jr. (39.8) had the lowest grade of any Buckeye with at least five snaps, with Bennett Christian (52.6) earning the lowest offensive grade of any Ohio State player against Rutgers.
- Julian Sayin leads all quarterbacks for the season with an overall grade of 93.3 and a passing grade of 93.2.
- Sonny Styles bumped his tackling grade up 0.2 points and still has the best tackling grade in the nation (92.0). His 54 tackles are the most of any player without a missed tackle this season.
- Carnell Tate leads the nation with a receiving grade of 99.9 on deep passes.
- Lorenzo Styles Jr. led all Big Ten safeties in Week 13 with an overall defensive grade of 79.1 against Rutgers, though he played just 18 snaps before leaving the game with an injury.
| GAME | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas |
DT Kayden McDonald (82.4) |
DT Will Smith Jr. (80.7) |
CB Jermaine Mathews Jr. (78.0) |
| Grambling |
DT Kayden McDonald (93.6) |
TE Jelani Thurman (93.0) |
QB Lincoln Kienholz (88.1) |
| Ohio | DE Caden Curry (92.5) | LB Sonny Styles (89.2) | QB Julian Sayin (85.4) |
| Washington | DE Caden Curry (80.3)* | OL Carson Hinzman (80.3)* | OL Austin Siereveld (75.8) |
| Minnesota | QB Julian Sayin (91.9) | WR Carnell Tate (86.9) | S Lorenzo Styles Jr. (84.8) |
| Illinois | QB Julian Sayin (86.0) | DT Kayden McDonald (85.5) | DE Caden Curry (79.0) |
| Wisconsin | QB Julian Sayin (91.4) | WR Carnell Tate (82.5) | LB Payton Pierce (80.8) |
| Penn State |
QB Julian Sayin (92.7) |
DT Eddrick Houston (92.2) | WR Jeremiah Smith (90.1) |
| Purdue | QB Julian Sayin (89.2) | DT Kayden McDonald (88.3) | WR Jeremiah Smith (87.2) |
| UCLA | RT Phillip Daniels (90.1) | TE Nate Roberts (87.9) | RB James Peoples (86.7) |
| Rutgers | DE Caden Curry (92.8) | CB Davison Igbinosun (90.6)# | Jelani Thurman (90.6)# |
*Curry and Hinzman tied for first against Washington.
#Igbinosun and Thurman tied for second against Rutgers
Offensive Ratings By Position
Quarterback
Julian Sayin: 71.1 (52 snaps)
Lincoln Kienholz: 55.2 (12 snaps)
Running Backs
James Peoples: 73.4 (12 snaps)
Bo Jackson: 67.0 (27 snaps)
Isaiah West: 62.4 (14 snaps)
CJ Donaldson: 61.3 (15 snaps)
Wide Receivers
David Adolph: 62.4 (48 snaps)
Brandon Inniss: 61.7 (53 snaps)
Mylan Graham: 55.7 (12 snaps)
Bryson Rodgers: 53.9 (23 snaps)
Tight Ends
Jelani Thurman: 90.6 (11 snaps)
Max Klare: 75.8 (40 snaps)
Will Kacmarek: 64.8 (7 snaps)
Nate Roberts: 52.7 (23 snaps)
Bennett Christian: 52.6 (32 snaps)
Offensive Line
Phillip Daniels: 65.9 (58 snaps)
Austin Siereveld: 65.1 (58 snaps)
Luke Montgomery: 62.1 (57 snaps)
Tegra Tshabola: 61.1 (48 snaps)
Ian Moore: 61.1 (6 snaps)
Isaiah Kema: 58.3 (6 snaps)
Justin Terry: 57.3 (9 snaps)
Carson Hinzman: 54.6 (58 snaps)
Ethan Onianwa: 54.1 (7 snaps)
Gabe Vansickle: 54.0 (16 snaps)
| QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DE | DT | LB | CB | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Sayin | James Peoples | David Adolph | Jelani Thurman | Phillip Daniels | Caden Curry | Kayden McDonald | Sonny Styles | Davison Igbinosun | Lorenzo Styles Jr. |
| 71.1 | 73.4 | 62.4 | 90.6 | 65.9 | 92.8 | 79.2 | 77.9 | 90.6 | 79.1 |
Defensive Ratings by Position
Defensive Ends
Caden Curry: 92.8 (42 snaps)
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 69.6 (40 snaps)
Joshua Mickens: 67.7 (4 snaps)
Beau Atkinson: 64.2 (12 snaps)
Zian Grady: 60.6 (16 snaps)
Defensive Tackles
Kayden McDonald: 79.2 (30 snaps)
Tywone Malone Jr.: 78.6 (22 snaps)
Will Smith Jr.: 75.0 (27)
Eddrick Houston: 66.1 (34 snaps)
Jason Moore: 64.0 (9 snaps)
Linebackers
Sonny Styles: 77.9 (44 snaps)
TJ Alford: 60.6 (9 snaps)
Riley Pettijohn: 58.3 (8 snaps)
Arvell Reese: 55.1 (44 snaps)
Payton Pierce: 48.3 (22 snaps)
Cornerbacks
Davison Igbinosun: 90.6 (44 snaps)
Devin Sanchez: 73.4 (25 snaps)
Bryce West: 73.2 (27 snaps)
Aaron Scott Jr.: 60.8 (6 snaps)
Jermaine Mathews Jr.: 39.8 (54 snaps)
Safeties
Lorenzo Styles Jr.: 79.1 (18 snaps)
Caleb Downs: 74.7 (44 snaps)
Leroy Roker III: 71.9 (19 snaps)
Faheem Delane: 71.9 (6 snaps)
Jaylen McClain: 64.7 (6 snaps)
