Columbus, OH (Sept. 6, 2025) — In their first game as the nation’s top-ranked team since 2015, the Ohio State Buckeyes left little doubt about why they belong at No. 1. Behind a near-flawless performance from quarterback Julian Sayin, Ohio State dismantled Grambling State 70-0 at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, posting its ninth win in school history by at least 70 points and sixth shutout victory of that margin.

The Buckeyes (2-0) scored on eight of their first nine possessions, didn’t punt until the fourth quarter, and outgained the Tigers (1-1) in almost every imaginable category. For Grambling, the trip north came with a silver lining: the program collected a $1 million payout for its first-ever visit to the Horseshoe.

Sayin’s Historic Day

Sayin, the sophomore starter, delivered a clinic in efficiency and explosiveness. He completed his first 16 passes, setting a new school record for most completions to start a game, and finished the first half 18 of 19 for 306 yards and four touchdowns. He fell just one short of C.J. Stroud’s program record of 17 consecutive completions, with his only blemish coming on an interception at the Grambling 1-yard line by Tyrell Raby.

“I don’t think I’ve done that before,” Sayin said. “When you get those completions racking up, it builds confidence. The energy from the other players grows when they see us moving the ball like that.”

Sayin connected on five completions of at least 40 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown to tight end Will Kacmarek on the game’s opening drive and an 87-yard strike to freshman standout Jeremiah Smith, the second-longest touchdown pass in Ohio State history. Smith finished with five catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

Balanced Attack

The Buckeyes spread the wealth across the roster. Carnell Tate provided another highlight-reel catch, outmuscling Raby in the north end zone for a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter — his second spectacular grab in as many weeks. Running back Bo Jackson handled much of the workload in the second half, rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown, while backup quarterbacks Lincoln Kienholz and Tavien St. Clair saw extended action once the game was out of reach.

Head coach Ryan Day praised the tempo and execution from his offense, a sharp contrast from last week’s grind-it-out 14-7 win over Texas. “We talked about being more explosive and playing with tempo. That was good,” Day said. “Julian really had some accurate throws, the ball came out on time, and the protection was strong.”

Grambling’s Lone Chance

For Grambling, the highlight came late in the first quarter during a 12-play drive that briefly showed offensive rhythm. Running back Andre Crews ripped off a 19-yard gain on fourth-and-1 to push the Tigers into the red zone. But kicker Theodore Caballero missed a 36-yard field goal, ending the drive and effectively Grambling’s best chance to score.

Head coach Mickey Joseph acknowledged the steep talent gap between the teams but took pride in his players’ effort. “Some people thought we was going to walk in here and go toe-to-toe with them,” Joseph said. “Not with 63 scholarships. They’ve got a $35 million roster. I don’t have a $35 million roster. But our guys played hard for four quarters, and that’s what matters.”

Clean Play, Costly Mistakes

While Joseph hoped for a mistake-free game, the Tigers ultimately committed three turnovers, including a fumble by Byron Eaton Jr. on the opening play of the second half that was returned 23 yards for a touchdown by linebacker Riley Pettijohn.

Meanwhile, Ohio State’s offense piled up 208 yards in its first nine plays, eclipsing the total yardage they mustered for the entire game against Texas the week before. By halftime, the Buckeyes had already built an insurmountable lead, and the second half served as little more than a showcase for their depth.

Looking Ahead

For Ohio State, the lopsided victory was exactly what the program needed to validate its No. 1 ranking and build momentum heading deeper into September. The Buckeyes will look to continue their dominance next week when they return to Big Ten play.

For Grambling, the result was humbling but expected. The Tigers return to SWAC competition knowing that the lessons from facing the nation’s best could pay dividends against conference rivals.

Final Score: Ohio State 70, Grambling State 0