The #1-ranked Ohio State football team (5-0) excelled in all three phases of the game Saturday in defeating Minnesota (3-2) at Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes finished the contest with 476 yards of total offense and held Minnesota to 162 yards. After giving up a field goal on the first drive of the game, the Bucks went on to win, 42-3.

The Gophers won the coin toss before the game and elected to take the ball. They moved down the field efficiently in their best drive of the game, but stalled at the Ohio State nine-yard line. Brady Denaburg made a 27-yard field goal to put Minnesota on top, 3-0, with 8:05 remaining in the first quarter.

After that, it was all Buckeyes. After missing a 40-yard field goal on their first possession, the Bucks scored touchdowns on their next three drives to take a 21-3 lead to the locker room at the half. 

The first score came on a C.J. Donaldson one-yard run after quarterback Julian Sayin hit on three passes to move Ohio State down the field, two of them to Carnell Tate for a total of 55 yards. The next score came on a Jeremiah Smith six-yard reception. The third touchdown was the result of a one-play drive, a 44-yard throw to Tate.

The Buckeyes made it 28-3 in the third quarter on a  5-yard run by Bo Jackson. Ohio State had excellent field position because of a 38-yard punt return. Brandon Innis received the kick, then made a backward pass across the field to Lorenzo Styles, Jr., who raced down the left sideline to the Minnesota 20-yard line.

OSU scored twice in the fourth quarter, one on Smith’s second touchdown reception and one on a one-yard run by quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, who came on in relief of Sayin. Jayden Fielding was good on all six extra-point attempts.

Sayin went 23-27 for 326 yards and three touchdowns. Tate reeled in nine passes for 183 yards and a score. Smith caught seven balls for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Max Klare had 63 yards on five receptions. 

Bo Jackson ran for 63 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown, while James Peoples rushed for 59 yards on seven attempts. The Buckeyes ran for 135 yards total.

Linebacker Sonny Styles paced the Buckeye defense with eight tackles, while linebacker Payton Pierce recorded seven tackles. Linebacker Arvel Reese had the only sack of Gopher quarterback Drake Lindsey on the evening.

Ohio State travels to Urbana-Champaign, Ill. to take on Illinois (5-1) in another Big Ten contest next Saturday. The kickoff is slated for noon. The Illini won at Purdue, 43-27, Saturday.