Carnell Tate’s catch for the game’s first score was, in a word…jaw-dropping. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Scott Stuart)
Julian Sayin has a career day, Carnell Tate makes great catches, the running game is still wonky, and the defense is as good as ever in a shutout over the Wisconsin Badgers.
Madison, WI – Throw, Julian, throw. Catch, everyone (especially you, sticky-fingered Carnell Tate), catch.
No. 1 Ohio State stuck to its passing game because it’s especially good at it. And because Ryan Day wants to keep getting better at it.
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“We wanted to come out and throw the ball more in this game and try to get a feel for where we really are in the passing game,” Day said.
Well, Game 7 was better than any of the first six. Maybe not perfect, but maybe better than anyone else’s.
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On a sumptuous Saturday afternoon in the upper Midwest, Day and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline made a business decision based on Wisconsin’s strengths and weaknesses.
Run sparingly – the old keep-em-honest approach – against a rapacious run defense (19th in the nation) and pass at will against a porous pass defense (110th in yards allowed per pass). The return on investment was a methodical, sometimes exhilarating, 34-0 Big Ten victory over struggling Wisconsin at a subdued Camp Randall Stadium.
The Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) started fast with a touchdown drive and a 17-point first quarter. They built the lead to an insurmountable 27-0 in the third quarter. And Sayin and all his pass catchers were responsible for most of it.
Sayin reached career highs in all the counting stats: 36 for 42, 393 yards and he tied the four touchdown passes he threw against Grambling State. His 86% completion percentage was his second-best day. In seven starts, he has four 300-yard passing games.
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“It’s what the game called for,” Sayin said. “They were very stout in the box, and we saw the ability to take advantage of plays outside with the RPO game. The receivers did a good job of spacing out and catching, and they made some great plays, making guys miss.”
Ten different players caught passes. While the run game only had 28 attempts and 98 yards, Sayin took what was there and kept the running backs involved with nine catches, including five for 57 yards to Bo Jackson.
Jeremiah Smith hauls in a Julian Sayin pass over a Wisconsin defender in Saturday’s 34-0 shutout.
But the big dogs on the outside – Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith – ate the most. Smith caught nine for 97 yards. Tate was the highlight maker and touchdown maker with two spectacular catches in the end zone, six in all and 111 yards.
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The passing game was so lethal that it sparked Heisman Trophy, Biletnikoff Award and All-American talk among Sayin, Tate and Day.
“He’s the Heisman winner,” Tate said of Sayin while sitting next to him in the postgame interview room. “Ain’t no questions, ifs, ands or doubts. Each and every week he goes out there and proves to us why he’s the Heisman winner.”
Sayin was asked whether Smith or Tate should win the Biletnikoff. He had to be diplomatic.
“It’s really tough,” Sayin said. “When it’s one on one and you’re looking both sides, I have full confidence that both these guys are going to go score a touchdown for us. We have great receivers.”
Day said Tate’s play speaks for itself.
“He is playing himself to be a first-rounder, an All-American,” Day said. “He’s just a different style of player than Jeremiah but just as dangerous and just as good.”
While Smith moved the chains with his catches, Tate moved the needle for what he can become on his two touchdowns and a couple of sideline catches. His hands pluck the ball out of the air, and he doesn’t bobble it while tucking it away.
Tight end Max Klare was a recipient of Saturday’s Julian Sayin passing barrage.
“I’ve always been learning to catch the ball with my hands and continue to do that,” Tate said. “We work on it in practice to always catch the ball with your hands, never with your body.”
The fast start came because of Tate’s strong and sticky hands.
Sayin, who was 6-for-6 on the opening drive, threw a 33-yard touchdown to Tate in the back of the end zone. Tate outjumped two defenders, twisted in the air, snatched the ball and didn’t let it go as he went to the ground.
“It was just a great ball from Julian giving me a chance to go up there and make the play,” Tate said.
The play happened that way because Brandon Inniss had just left the field for an injury from which he later returned. Day said Inniss was supposed to be in the slot on that play, but Tate moved there for the play. He hadn’t run the play in practice but did catch a pass against Purdue on that play two years ago. Tate had to stutter-step one of the defensive backs to get past him.
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“Julian got pushed off his mark and had to slide, so he was a little late getting it to him,” Day said. “He threw a good ball, but it was a little bit late, and Carnell had to come back and make a contested catch. That’s an All-American catch.”
Buckeye linebacker Payton Pierce braces for contact in Saturday’s win over Wisconsin.
Sayin and Tate had more to show. They connected on a 10-yard touchdown with four seconds left in the first quarter for a 17-0 lead. Tate adjusted to a back shoulder throw in the left side of the end zone and the ball stuck in his Herculean hands.
Sayin’s accuracy kept the chains moving. Even his misses – except an underthrown pass to Tate toward the sideline – were catchable. Three times he threw down field to Smith, who tracked the football as he expertly does, but a defensive hand got in the way each time to prevent the catch.
“I sit in those meetings, and the amount of information that he’s processing, those guys go through in those meetings, is well done,” Day said of Sayin. “And when you see it translate to the field, that’s winning football.”
Sayin’s other touchdowns were a two-yard toss to tight end Will Kacmarek when the Badgers expected a run and a 13-yarder to Inniss in the back of the end zone on a catch that resembled Tate’s touchdown catches.
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The running game, however, remains a concern from missed blocks to inexperienced backs taking full advantage of what they have. Jackson, who started his third straight game, was bottled up for 26 yards on 10 carries. Freshman Isaiah West got all but one of his chances in the second half and finished with 55 yards on nine carries, forcing his way into a crowded group competing for touches.
Defensive end Caden Curry wraps up a Badger running back in the backfield.
“There was one run with two guys in the hole that he made miss,” Day said. “That’s a good sign for a young back. We’ll see what it looks like and see where we’re going from here.”
And by the way, the defense recorded its second shutout. They are giving up 5.9 points per game. Day answered the final question after the game about the offense, but before he stood to leave the room he made sure to talk about the defense.
A defense that held the Badgers (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) to 144 total yards (95 rushing, 49 passing), nine first downs, 2 of 11 on third down and forced punts five times after three plays. And Sonny Styles made his first interception to set up a field goal for an early 10-0 lead.
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“We’ve seen Wisconsin against some really good defenses just run the ball, and we knew we had to stop the run in this game,” Day said. “We put a lot of time into that. Then to get the turnover early was good on the road because we want to be consistent.”
The shutout was important to defensive end Caden Curry and everyone on the defense.
“Every week we’re going for a shutout,” he said. “Obviously, we want to be the best defense in college football. So we definitely don’t want to let them get anything. That is part of our goals.”
In the final minutes, Wisconsin was driving against Ohio State’s backups in hopes of avoiding the shutout. But a fourth-and-two pass was stopped for a five-yard loss by cornerback Aaron Scott to preserve the shutout.
Day loved seeing the starters on the sideline rooting hard for the backups to keep the shutout and to finish the game well. Curry was in the middle of the pep rally.
“Seeing the young guys get out there and just seeing how hard they work throughout the week and getting that moment and getting that chance to go out there and prove themselves …,” Curry said. “Seeing the way that they wanted it to go, and going out there and making those plays, it’s definitely nice to see.”
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