The Scarlet and Gray

[toysoldier00]

Game Preview: No. 1 Ohio State vs. Grambling State — Buckeyes Look to Tune Up Under the Lights
By Zachary Anderson on September 5, 2025





Ohio State returns to Ohio Stadium on Saturday night for what should be a far calmer outing than last weekend’s top-three showdown. Fresh off a confident 31–13 win over Texas, the newly crowned No. 1 Buckeyes host FCS Grambling State at 8 p.m. on Peacock in a game meant to sharpen depth, build rhythm, and avoid letdowns. Ohio State enters as a 49.5-point favorite, and if they take care of business, nothing about the national narrative shifts. But for Grambling State, which beat NAIA opponent Langston 55–7 last week, the jump from hosting a small-school opponent to playing under the lights in front of 105,000 is seismic.

The Buckeyes arrive with strong momentum, though not without setbacks. Ohio State lost two significant contributors in the win over Texas: starting right guard Tegra Tshabola suffered a torn pectoral, ending his season and Ohio State career, while defensive tackle Eddrick Houston dislocated his knee, sidelining him for months. Those losses forced early adjustments, and Ryan Day confirmed this week that Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa will start at right guard moving forward.

“Ethan’s earned this opportunity,” Day said. “He came here to compete, and we trust him to step in and play well for us.” On the defensive line, Ohio State plans to rotate heavily to compensate for Houston’s absence, a luxury made possible by the Buckeyes’ depth.

Despite the injuries, Ohio State’s performance against Texas showed that the team remains balanced, disciplined, and hard to rattle, particularly sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin, who handled his first start against an elite defense with remarkable poise. Sayin finished 29-of-41 for 229 yards and a touchdown, overcoming an early interception and managing the game with a calm that belied his age. The Buckeyes kept the game plan conservative last week, leaning on safe throws and a steady rhythm. Against Grambling State, the expectations shift. Sayin should have more freedom to push the ball vertically and build chemistry with Ohio State’s deep receiver room, particularly stars Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, both of whom could find themselves open frequently against an overmatched secondary.

Grambling State enters with its own identity, but the Tigers know this is a different kind of assignment. Senior quarterback Davon Wingate-Wilson (Pictured Right), a mobile 5-foot-11 dual threat, pilots an offense built around physicality and a run-first philosophy. Running back Blue Redmond is Grambling’s most dynamic weapon and will test the Buckeyes’ interior depth early. Senior tight end Ladarius Peterson, who caught nine passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns last week, gives Wingate-Wilson a reliable outlet over the middle. Still, facing Ohio State’s defensive speed, disguises, and depth is a test no FCS offense truly simulates. Grambling State head coach Mickey Joseph acknowledged that reality with both humility and optimism.

“We know what we’re walking into,” he said. “But these are opportunities our guys embrace. We’re going to compete, play our brand of football, and take what we learn back into our season.”

The intrigue for Ohio State lies not in the scoreboard but in the second half, when the Buckeyes will turn to their younger contributors. Saturday is an important evaluation window for the staff, particularly in the secondary and at linebacker. Freshman cornerback Devin Sanchez, already pushing for snaps, is expected to play extensively. Fellow freshman safety Faheem Delane and sophomore linebacker Riley Pettijohn should also get meaningful work behind starters Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. On offense, eyes will be on freshman running back Bo Jackson, who touched the ball once against Texas and immediately delivered a game-changing first down. If Ohio State builds the expected cushion, Jackson and backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz should be among the biggest beneficiaries. But who else has impressed the Buckeye staff enough to earn playing time?

Ultimately, this game is about execution, development, and staying healthy. Ohio State doesn’t need style points, but it does need clarity as it moves deeper into September. The weather will be ideal, the atmosphere electric, and the stage perfectly suited for a team looking to fine-tune after a statement victory. With a massive point spread and significant talent gap, anything short of dominance will raise questions. Anything more simply reinforces what Week 1 already suggested: Ohio State still looks every bit like the nation’s best team.

[redsox907]

put a hundo on em

also - I would get St. Claire in the game to make sure he gets some PT to make sure he doesn't transfer

[Agent]

Should be an easy dub. Don’t get upset

[ShireNiner]

This will be ugly

[Captain Canada]

Get the night vision ready, this one might get a lil' pornographic.

[toysoldier00]

Ohio State 46, Grambling State 6: Ohio State Rolls as Buckeyes Settle In, Stars Shine, and Young Talent Emerges
By Zachary Anderson on September 6, 2025


True Freshman Bo Jackson was one of six running backs to get carries in this game, which included three true freshman.



Ohio State returned to the Horseshoe on Saturday night for what was expected to be a tune-up game after last week’s heavyweight win over Texas. And after a sluggish opening quarter, the Buckeyes delivered exactly that, overwhelming Grambling State 46–6 behind a dominant defensive effort, a near-flawless night from quarterback Julian Sayin, and another superstar performance from wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

What began as a mildly awkward first quarter, and a briefly tense second, soon turned into the rout most anticipated. The game’s early minutes featured a Grambling defense that held surprisingly firm, twice forcing Ohio State into short field goals after promising Buckeye drives stalled inside the 20. “We just weren’t clean early,” Ryan Day said afterward. “Execution, timing, some details, but we settled in quickly.”

Through those early possessions, Grambling State showed commendable fight. After falling behind 6–0, the Tigers responded with their best offensive drive of the night, pushing the ball to the Ohio State 36 before senior kicker Tommy Gaines drilled a 53-yard field goal with 11:34 remaining in the second quarter. For the smallest moment, the crowd quieted. At 6–3, the idea, however fleeting, that this might stay interesting hung in the air.

Then Ohio State crushed that notion with a three-minute avalanche that reminded everyone why they are the nation’s No. 1 team.


Under less pressure than in Ohio State's game against Texas, Julian Sayin threw for a cool 294 yards and three touchdowns.

With 9:27 left in the second quarter, Sayin uncorked a deep ball to Jeremiah Smith, who glided past the Grambling secondary for a 59-yard touchdown. It was the spark Ohio State had been waiting for. Three plays later, defensive tackle Tywone Malone Jr. sacked Grambling quarterback Davon Wingate-Wilson in the end zone, forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Tigers for a safety. On the ensuing drive, Sayin connected with Smith again, this time on a five-yard slant, and suddenly Ohio State led 22–3 with 4:38 still remaining in the half.

“They trust me to make those plays,” Smith said postgame. “Julian put the ball exactly where it needed to be. Once we hit that first deep one, we felt the whole offense click.”

Ohio State then closed the half with a career-long 50-yard field goal from Jayden Fielding, sending the Buckeyes into halftime with a 25–3 lead and complete control.

The second half played out like a program handling business against an overmatched opponent. Grambling opened the third quarter with steady offense and converted a field goal at the 8:10 mark to cut it to 25–6, but the Buckeyes responded with the knockout punch. Sayin and Smith linked up for a third touchdown, a six-yard strike with 2:33 left in the quarter, pushing the lead to 32–6 and ending the night for the starting offense.

Sayin’s final line reflected his growing comfort as the Buckeyes’ new QB1: 26-of-32 passing for 294 yards, three touchdowns, and 31 rushing yards. Where Week 1 demanded composure, Week 2 showcased command. “He looked sharp,” Day said. “Accurate, decisive, efficient: exactly what we hoped to see in a game like this.”

Backing him was a run game that shared touches widely. With CJ Donaldson and James Peoples splitting carries last week, Peoples handled the majority of early work, finishing with 13 carries for 50 yards. Freshman Bo Jackson, who made a key play last week against Texas, got early snaps and finished with five carries for 12 yards. The fourth quarter was handed to the depth backs, with Sam Williams-Dixon (26 yards), Isaiah West (22 yards), and Anthony Rogers also seeing action.

Of course, the biggest star of the night was Smith, who finished with a staggering 13 catches for 171 yards and all three of Sayin’s touchdowns. Two weeks into the season, the sophomore phenom already has 22 receptions for 259 yards and four scores. Carnell Tate (3 catches for 43 yards), Max Klare (3 for 21), and Brandon Inniss (3 for 28 and a touchdown) rounded out the receiving production, with Inniss scoring his second touchdown in as many weeks, one on a punt return versus Texas and now one through the air.

The offense hummed, but the defense was arguably even more impressive. Malone Jr. was relentless, posting two sacks and forcing the strip-sack safety that broke the game open. “I just saw an opportunity to make a big play,” Malone said. “Coach [Matt] Patricia always talks about finishing, that’s all I was trying to do.”

He wasn’t the only standout. Senior defensive end Caden Curry added a sack and three TFLs, while safety Caleb Downs again looked like the best defensive player on the field, finishing with nine tackles and three TFLs. Linebacker Arvell Reese, perhaps the most eye-popping new starter, had another strong game, recording 10 tackles and three tackles for loss.

The fourth quarter showcased Ohio State’s future. Freshman linebacker Riley Pettijohn flashed all over the field, piling up nine tackles (two on special teams) and showing the burst and instincts that made him a prized recruit. True freshman running back Isaiah West ran hard in limited snaps. And in the final minutes, freshman quarterback Tavien St. Clair earned his first collegiate highlight, keeping a read-option and powering in for a 13-yard touchdown.


5-Star True Freshman Tavien St. Clair got his first career action, and scored a touchdown on a 13-yard read option in the 4th Quarter.

“He’s got a bright future,” Day said of St. Clair. “We wanted to get him on the field in front of the home crowd, and he made the most of it.”

Not everything went smoothly for the backups, as Lincoln Kienholz threw an interception in the end zone to safety Quan Boozer, but he rebounded with a touchdown pass to Inniss on the next drive and finished 3-of-5 for 14 yards and a score.

Grambling State, to its credit, continued to compete all night. Wingate-Wilson finished 9-of-13 for 82 yards but was sacked multiple times and lost two fumbles. Star running back Blue Redmond worked for every yard, finishing with 70 yards on 23 carries. Linebacker Alvin Spencer recorded an impressive 15 tackles, and Boozer made the highlight defensive play with his interception.

“We knew what we were walking into,” Grambling head coach Mickey Joseph said. “But our guys fought. We’ll take what we learned tonight and get back to work for our conference schedule.”

By the time the clock ran out, the stats told the story: Ohio State outgained Grambling 469–180, held the Tigers to 98 rushing yards on 44 attempts, and converted 9-of-12 third downs while allowing Grambling to go just 5-of-14. The Buckeyes scored 40 unanswered points between the mid-second quarter and the fourth.

For Ohio State, the night was everything it needed to be. A win without drama. A chance to grow young talent. A confirmation that Sayin continues to progress. Another reminder that Jeremiah Smith is, indeed, that player. And a small glimpse of the deeper layers of a roster that expects to still be playing when winter arrives.

“We handled business,” Day said. “That’s what great teams do.”

The Buckeyes move to 2–0 and shift their attention to the coming stretch of September, with bigger tests ahead and the foundation of a championship defense now taking shape.

Qtr	Time	Team	Result	Play	OHST	GRAM
1st	8:48		FG	Jayden Fielding, 26 Yd FG	3	0
1st	3:03		FG	Jayden Fielding, 32 Yd FG	6	0
2nd	11:29		FG	Tommy Gaines, 52 Yd FG	6	3
2nd	9:18		TD	Jeremiah Smith, 59 Yd pass from Julian Sayin	13	3
2nd	8:37		SAF	Davon Wingate-Wilson sacked for 9 Yd loss	15	3
2nd	4:35		TD	Jeremiah Smith, 5 Yd pass from Julian Sayin	22	3
2nd	0:00		FG	Jayden Fielding, 50 Yd FG	25	3
3rd	8:05		FG	Tommy Gaines, 48 Yd FG	25	6
3rd	2:28		TD	Jeremiah Smith, 6 Yd pass from Julian Sayin	32	6
4th	5:52		TD	Brandon Inniss, 5 Yd pass from Lincoln Kienholz	39	6
4th	3:06		TD	Tavien St. Clair, 13 Yd run	46	6

[Count]

I’m just impressed Grambling was able to score 6. Of course Jeremiah was able to ball out with 3 TDs

[ShireNiner]

Good win as expected. If you want to get nitpicky, too many field goals. Against good teams you need to finish drives.

[Captain Canada]

Letting them get two field goals was mighty gracious of you.

Giving the FCS opponents added depth by going into TeamBuilder and making them their actual schools?

You really one-of-one.

[The JZA]

Charity points for Grambling, how kind of you