CHICAGO – After a sluggish start that saw them caught napping, Ohio State turned Wrigley Field into a home away from home on Saturday.
Before an enthusiastic crowd of 38,147, with an overwhelming majority donning scarlet, the No. 2 Buckeyes came alive late in the second quarter, cruising to a commanding 31-7 triumph over the struggling “host” Northwestern Wildcats.
The game was held at Wrigley Field because the Wildcats’ traditional home, Ryan Field, is undergoing significant renovations. Northwestern sought a larger stage than its temporary home, which has a mere 12,000-seat capacity.
“It was awesome,” OSU quarterback Will Howard reflected on playing in the iconic Wrigley Field. “I felt like I had to just take it in for a little bit before the game. It’s a historic place. The 8-year-old kid in me would be giddy because I was a baseball kid growing up.”
As expected, the venue drew attention to what was otherwise a lackluster matchup against the Wildcats, who have not tasted victory against the Buckeyes since 2004. Despite Northwestern’s (4-6, 2-5 Big Ten) strong start, leading 7-0 after the first quarter, Ohio State (9-1, 6-1) surged back with three touchdowns in a span of just over six minutes, regaining control before halftime and extending their lead early in the third quarter to render the remainder of the game largely academic.
“They had a bye week coming into this, so they had a week (extra) to game plan us,” OSU coach Ryan Day acknowledged regarding the Wildcats’ preparation. “We knew we were going to get their best shot, and that’s the way we want it.”
Sophomore wide receiver Carnell Tate excelled, scoring the third and fourth touchdowns during his return to his hometown, adding to the excitement of the occasion.
Howard demonstrated impressive poise, completing 15 of 24 passes for 247 yards in a performance that showcased more than just numerical success. He deftly managed pressure by wisely throwing the ball away when necessary and not hesitating to thread the needle for critical completions.
“They, like so many teams in the Big Ten, do such a great job against the run,” Day emphasized, acknowledging Northwestern, which ranks 16th nationally in run defense. “They’re going to put a bunch of guys in the box, and that’s why you saw us push the ball down the field.”
As the game progressed, Ohio State’s running game found its rhythm, with Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson combining for an impressive 150 yards on 26 carries, a notable contribution that helped solidify their offensive output.
And yes, the iconic “Take Me Out To the Ball Game” was melodically delivered, with former Northwestern standout Corey Wootton handling the honors between the third and fourth quarters. In a humorous twist, given the throngs of Buckeye supporters in attendance, it was surprising that they didn’t spontaneously launch into their rendition of “Hang On Sloopy” following the seventh-inning stretch.
This victory positions Ohio State for a highly anticipated showdown next week against the unbeaten No. 5 Indiana in Columbus, leading into the crucial final regular-season game against their historic rival, Michigan.
“It was kind of a business-like win, and now it’s time to move on,” Day remarked, embodying the team’s focus on the future.
The turning point came midway through the second quarter
Down by a touchdown, Ohio State had been severely outgained 151-30 when they regained possession with 6:59 left before halftime. Facing third-and-8, Howard, under duress, delivered a perfectly placed pass just over a defender to Emeka Egbuka for a vital 20-yard completion.
That moment ignited the Buckeyes’ offense. A subsequent fourth-and-3 pass to Jeremiah Smith for 14 yards kept the drive alive. Tate then snagged a 14-yard pass that set up Judkins’ impressive 1-yard touchdown run, leveling the score.
A critical special teams miscue by Northwestern allowed Ohio State to seize the lead. After a quick three-and-out, a high snap by long-snapper Will Halkyard sailed past punter Hunter Renner. In a scramble, Renner attempted to punt but it was blocked by Dave Adolph, the ball careening out of bounds at the 1-yard line and setting up another score by Judkins.
Following a swift three-and-out by Northwestern’s offense, the Buckeyes marched 77 yards down the field for their next score, capped off by a 25-yard pass from Howard to Tate, extending the lead to 21-7 at the halftime break.
Howard then connected with Smith on a stunning 68-yard completion, paving the way for Tate’s 7-yard touchdown catch that pushed the score to 28-7 early in the third quarter.
So much for the fast start
Whether it was the early 11 a.m. start time local or other circumstances, the Buckeyes appeared to snooze through the first quarter of play.
“They really controlled the first quarter of the game,” Day admitted, assessing Northwestern’s strong start.
Northwestern took the opening kickoff and orchestrated a meticulous 57-yard drive to the OSU 18-yard line before defensive end Jack Sawyer dislodged the ball from Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch, and cornerback Davison Igbinosun smartly recovered it.
The Buckeyes thought they had scored on a stunning 38-yard touchdown throw from Howard to a diving Smith, but video review overturned the call, revealing the ball had made contact with the ground.
Northwestern then executed a methodical 92-yard drive across 13 plays to take the lead, featuring impressive gains of 21 and 23 yards, culminating in an 8-yard touchdown run by Lausch with 6:59 remaining in the first half.
However, following that initial surge, it was all Buckeyes. Ohio State’s defense settled in admirably.
Defense settles in
These early missteps notwithstanding, Ohio State’s defense regained its form, stifling Northwestern’s offense remarkably. The Buckeyes held the Wildcats without a first down on four of their next five drives while their own offense began to fire on all cylinders.
“We felt like we weren’t playing with enough juice and energy,” linebacker Sonny Styles expressed candidly, noting his key contributions with two sacks and two pass breakups. “We were emphasizing on the sideline, ‘Let’s fly around. Let’s fly around,’ and guys started flying around.”
Ohio State entered the game boasting one of the nation’s premier defenses, yielding only 250.8 yards per game. Northwestern barely surpassed this mark, managing 251 yards for the contest.
Lausch’s efficiency dipped dramatically; he completed six of his first seven passes but then faltered to convert 15 of his next 28 attempts, finishing with 201 passing yards overall.
Remarkably, Northwestern had zero rushing yards during their first three possessions of the second half, averaging a mere 3.3 yards, excluding the four sacks inflicted by OSU.
The Wildcats had only one sustained drive throughout the last three quarters, which concluded when Davison Igbinosun, who had encountered a pass interference penalty moments earlier, deflected a fourth-down pass at the OSU 21.
In the closing moments of the game, Northwestern sought to threaten the Buckeye backups, but a critical third-down sack and a fourth-down incompletion from the 16 put an end to their ambitions.
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How do you keep the team motivated and focused when preparing for high-stakes matchups like the one against Indiana?
**Interview with Will Howard, Ohio State Quarterback**
**Editor:** Thanks for joining us today, Will! Let’s dive right into the game at Wrigley Field. How did it feel to play in such an iconic venue?
**Will Howard:** Thanks for having me! It was awesome. Wrigley Field has so much history, and as a kid who grew up loving baseball, I really took a moment to soak it all in before the game. It definitely added to the excitement!
**Editor:** You started the game a bit slow, being down 7-0 after the first quarter. What changed for the team as the game progressed?
**Will Howard:** Yeah, the start wasn’t ideal. Northwestern came out strong and controlled the first quarter. But we regrouped, went back to basics, and executed our game plan more effectively. The turning point was that crucial third-down conversion late in the second quarter. It really lit a fire under our offense.
**Editor:** Your connection with Carnell Tate was impressive, especially with him scoring two touchdowns. What was it like to see him shine in his hometown?
**Will Howard:** It was great! Carnell is a talented player, and having him step up like that made a big difference. We all knew he’d be excited to play in front of family and friends, and he delivered. It’s always great when a teammate can rise to the occasion.
**Editor:** The team’s running game seemed to come alive during the matchup. How important was the contribution from Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson?
**Will Howard:** Their performance was huge. Northwestern has a solid run defense, and for them to combine for 150 yards really helped balance our offense. When the run game is working, it opens up opportunities for the pass, and we were able to take advantage of that.
**Editor:** Looking ahead, you have a big game against No. 5 Indiana next week. What’s the mindset going into that matchup?
**Will Howard:** It’s definitely a business-like approach for us. We’re focused on improving and taking it one game at a time. Indiana will be a tough opponent, and we need to maintain our intensity and execution if we want to keep this momentum going into the final stretch of the season.
**Editor:** Thanks for your insights, Will. Best of luck in the upcoming games!
**Will Howard:** Thank you! Looking forward to it!
