Ohio State vs. Purdue: No. 1 Buckeyes Control Road Test Behind Explosive Second Quarter

Top-ranked Ohio State handled business in West Lafayette on Saturday, methodically pulling away from Purdue for a 34–10 victory that kept the Buckeyes perfect and on course for a high-stakes stretch run. A burst of scoring before halftime, clean special teams, and a defense that throttled explosive plays proved decisive.

How Ohio State built the lead

After a cagey opening, Ohio State cracked the game open with a pair of late second-quarter strikes. A 35-yard touchdown pass from Julian Sayin to Jayden Smith finished a 10-play, 89-yard march and set the tone. Moments later, a short field off field position flipped into points when Lincoln Kienholz capped a red-zone series with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. As the half bled out, Jayden Fielding drilled a 49-yard field goal, sending the Buckeyes into the locker room firmly in control.

Fielding’s range mattered throughout; he also connected from 45 yards, punishing stalled Purdue drives with field-position payoffs on the other end. The complementary script—defense, special teams, then finishing drives—fit the road brief perfectly.

Buckeyes’ defense travels

Ohio State’s defense did what elite units do away from home: compress space and erase explosives. Purdue found intermittent success on underneath throws and perimeter runs, but chunk gains were rare, and third-down leverage consistently tilted scarlet and gray. Edge discipline limited quarterback escapes, the interior held up against inside zone, and bracket looks removed the Boilermakers’ preferred vertical shots.

Key themes:

• Explosive prevention: Purdue had to stack 8–12-play drives; mistakes and penalties eventually bit.

• Red-zone resistance: Field goals instead of touchdowns kept the margin comfortable.

• Tackling efficiency: First contact often ended plays, cutting off yards after catch.

Offense: not flashy, ruthlessly efficient

Ohio State mixed tempo pockets with a measured run-pass blend, leaning on quick-game timing and selective shots. Sayin’s command at the line kept Purdue off balance—checking into favorable looks, using motion to diagnose coverage, and taking the layups that turn second-and-8 into third-and-2. The Buckeyes didn’t need a track meet; they needed control, and they got it.

What stood out:

• Drive starters: Slants, hitches, and RPO glances steadied early downs.

• Situational answers: Tight red-zone spacing unlocked QB keepers and high-leverage crossers.

• Protection plans: Slides and chips handled Purdue’s best pressure looks, particularly on long fields.

Purdue’s effort and where it fell short

Purdue’s defense flashed resilience—winning a handful of early downs and forcing Ohio State into tough third-and-mediums. But short fields and late-half sequences proved costly. Offensively, the Boilermakers needed either a special-teams spark or a deep shot to tilt variance; neither arrived with enough frequency. Settling for three in premium spots and failing to cash sudden-change chances kept the upset window narrow.

Turning points and hidden yardage

• Middle eight dominance: Ohio State’s 14-3 surge across the last four minutes of the first half and the first minutes after the break effectively settled the contest.

• Special teams edge: Long field goals and consistent coverage flipped the geometry, nudging average starting field position in Ohio State’s favor.

• Penalties: Purdue’s drive-killing flags undercut the few sustained marches it assembled.

What this result means

For Ohio State, it’s another professional road win: clean operation, minimal giveaways, and a defense calibrated for November’s margins. The Buckeyes remain on schedule for a season that will be defined by the closing gauntlet, but days like this—where efficiency trumps style points—are how title contenders stack certainty.

For Purdue, the effort on defense offers usable film, especially in how it muddied early downs. The path forward is about finishing drives and manufacturing explosives without exposing the protection—small edges that can flip similar games down the stretch.

Box-score style highlights

• Final: Ohio State 34, Purdue 10

• Notable plays: 35-yard Sayin-to-Smith TD; Kienholz 3-yard TD run; Fielding FGs from 49 and 45

• Defensive theme: Ohio State limits explosives, wins third down, and holds in the red zone

The Buckeyes did exactly what the nation’s No. 1 should on the road—win the middle eight, own hidden yardage, and shut down big plays. The scoreline reflects it, and the season’s bigger objectives remain squarely in sight.