Buckeye Rosters

Recap

Columbus, OH — The #4 Ohio State Buckeyes secured a decisive 59-31 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The win improved Ohio State’s record to 9-1 (7-0 Big Ten), keeping them firmly in contention for a College Football Playoff spot.

Ohio State’s offense was dominant from the outset, scoring five touchdowns on their first five possessions, building a 45-17 lead by halftime. The Buckeyes capitalized on explosive plays, executing a well-balanced attack both through the air and on the ground.

Purdue, coming off upset wins over Iowa and Michigan State, struggled to slow down Ohio State’s high-powered offense. Despite this, quarterback Aidan O’Connell delivered a strong performance for the Boilermakers, throwing for 390 yards and four touchdowns. However, Purdue’s inability to establish a running game (only 91 rushing yards total) and key turnovers prevented them from keeping pace.

Key Performances

• C.J. Stroud (QB, Ohio State): The Buckeyes’ redshirt freshman quarterback played one of his best games of the season, completing 31 of 38 passes (81.6%) for 361 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. His precision passing and poise helped Ohio State dictate the game from the start.
• TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State): The freshman running back continued his stellar season, rushing for 98 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries while also contributing in the passing game.
• Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio State): Wilson had a career day, hauling in 10 receptions for 126 yards and three touchdowns while adding a 51-yard rushing touchdown, making him responsible for four total scores.
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR, Ohio State): Building off his historic performance the previous week, Smith-Njigba added 9 receptions for 139 yards.
• Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State): The senior wideout recorded 9 receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown, continuing to climb Ohio State’s all-time receiving records.

Potential Records & Milestones

• Garrett Wilson’s four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) marked a career-high performance.
• C.J. Stroud became the first Ohio State quarterback to throw for five touchdowns three times in a season, demonstrating his efficiency and command of the offense.

Defensive Highlights & Areas for Improvement

Ohio State’s defense had an up-and-down performance. While they forced a key fumble in the third quarter and limited Purdue’s ground game, they allowed O’Connell to pass for nearly 400 yards. The secondary struggled at times against Purdue’s talented receivers, particularly Milton Wright (98 yards, 1 TD) and David Bell (103 yards). However, the Buckeyes’ pass rush created enough disruption to prevent Purdue from making a serious comeback.

Ohio State’s offense was simply too explosive for Purdue, showcasing elite quarterback play, a dynamic running game, and a receiving corps that overwhelmed the Boilermakers’ defense. Despite some defensive lapses, the Buckeyes controlled the game from start to finish, maintaining their position atop the Big Ten East.