CHICAGO (WCMH) — In the final road game of the regular season, the second-ranked Buckeyes defeated Northwestern 31-7 in their Wrigley Field debut.
Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins and wide receiver Carnell Tate each scored two touchdowns while the Buckeyes defense came up with four sacks of quarterback Jack Lausch despite allowing its first touchdown in weeks.
Judkins tied the game at seven with a one-yard rush in the second quarter. He scored again after the Buckeyes recovered a blocked Northwestern punt to put them at first and goal. Tate caught a 25-yard pass from quarterback Will Howard in the final minute of the first half. The Chicago native made a second touchdown haul with an eight yard catch in the third quarter.
The performance marked an emotional homecoming for Tate, who lost his mom in a drive-by shooting in Chicago in July 2023.
“He does not show that everyday when he’s here. We say it all the time. The game doesn’t care what you’ve been through,” head coach Ryan Day said. “But we do. His teammates do. His coaches do. The people that know Carnell care a lot about him. The way that he’s handled himself is just an example to everybody.”
The Wildcats controlled possession for much of the opening 15 minutes. Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer forced a fumble on NU’s opening drive with Davison Igbinosun on the recovery. But what looked like a deep throw to Jeremiah Smith in the endzone was ruled incomplete, forcing OSU to punt in its only drive of the quarter.
Wildcats quarterback Jack Lausch scored the first points of the game with an eight yard rush up the middle in what ended up being the only Wildcat points scored in the afternoon.
Howard went 15-for-24 for 247 yards and two touchdowns. While Smith didn’t score a touchdown for only the second time this season, the freshman led the receiving corps with 100 yards on four catches.
Ohio State earned its 11th straight win over the Wildcats, who last beat OSU in an overtime game in 2004. The matchup took place at the home of the Chicago Cubs while Northwestern continues building a new stadium on its campus.
Since falling to Oregon, the Buckeyes have rattled off four straight victories. Now attention turns to a pivotal matchup against No. 5 Indiana at home next Saturday.
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Final: Ohio State 31, Northwestern 7
After some first quarter struggles, the Buckeyes score 31 unanswered points to improve to 9-1 on the season. Now, OSU takes a four-game win streak back home for a pair of pivotal matchups against undefeated Indiana followed by Michigan.
Turnover on downs
Jack Lausch’s throw to Bryce Kirtz falls incomplete and Ohio State can run this clock out, leading 31-7.
Devin Brown will get a few snaps in at quarterback.
Lausch sacked again
The Northwestern quarterback goes down for a fourth time. This time a loss of ten yards as CJ Hicks and Arvell Reese are credited with the sack. Northwestern faces fourth and goal from the 16 yard line on the other side of the two minute timeout.
Turnover on downs
A fourth down conversion does not go Ohio State’s way for the first time this afternoon. Josh Fussell with the pass breakup intended for Carnell Tate. Northwestern gets the ball from their own 36-yard line, trailing 31-7 with 6:26 to go.
Lausch sacked!
Sonny Styles comes up with the stop on third down by bringing down Jack Lausch. It’s the second sack of the day for the Ohio State defense. Buckeyes get the ball back with 9:14 to go.
Headed to the fourth
One quarter to go. Ohio State with a 31-7 lead over Northwestern.
Field goal Ohio State
Jayden Fielding with the 28-yard field goal to extend the Buckeyes lead to 31-7 with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.
O-H-I-O in Chicago
@nbc4i pic.twitter.com/5fupXdSqej
— Joe Nugent (@joenuge) November 16, 2024
Turnover on downs
The defense standing strong with big play after big play on that last Northwestern drive. Davison Igbinosun breaks up the fourth down pass intended for Bryce Kirtz.
Buckeyes will get the ball back from their own 21 yard line. 4:28 left in the third.
TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES
Will Howard pulls the trigger at the last possible second, connecting with Carnell Tate for his second touchdown of the day.
Ohio State extends its lead to 28-7 with 12:11 to go.
Second half underway
Buckeyes with the ball to begin the second half and the fireworks continue for Jeremiah Smith. He makes a 68 yard gain to put OSU at the 17 yard line.
Halftime: Ohio State 21, Northwestern 7
After a somewhat frustrating start for Ohio State, the Buckeyes scored 21 points in the second quarter to take a 21-7 lead at the half.
Emotional journey for Carnell Tate
This game is a bit of a somber homecoming for the Ohio State wide receiver. In the summer of 2023, Tate’s mother died in a shooting in Chicago.
“It was it was pretty tough. The team was there for me. They were my backbone. They they helped me get through everything and stuff like that,” Tate said. “They showed their support when I needed them the most. So I’m definitely stronger since it happened. I’m still coping with it, but I’ve definitely become a better person since the thing happened.”
Read more about how Tate pushed through the grief here.
Touchdown Buckeyes
Will Howard to Carnell Tate in the corner of the endzone for the touchdown. The 25-yard haul puts Ohio State up 21-7 with 47 seconds to go in the first half.
2:00 timeout
Will Howard connects with Gee Scott, Jr. for a 34-yard gain. Ohio State looking to add to its lead when we return from the two-minute timeout.
TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES
Quinshon Judkins with the finish once again. His second touchdown score of the day puts Ohio State in the lead for the first time today.
It’s 14-7 Ohio State with 4:19 to go in the half.
Blocked Punt
A disaster for Northwestern after a fumble forced the Wildcats to punt. The kick is blocked and nearly ends up in a safety.
It’s first and goal for the Buckeyes from the one yard line.
TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES
A strong response from the Buckeyes that featured 12 plays for 85 yards finishes with a one-yard run by Quinshon Judkins. Ohio State ties the game 7-7 with 6:59 to go in the half.
Howard launches in the nick of time
Facing pressure from behind, Will Howard is able to connect with Emeka Egbuka for the first down. Another nano second in Howard’s hands and that would’ve been disastrous for the Buckeyes.
Touchdown Northwestern
Jack Lausch scores the opening points of the afternoon at Wrigley Field with an eight yard rush to the endzone. Completes a 13-play, 92 yard drive that ate up 5:30 of clock.
It’s 7-0 Northwestern with 12:34 to go.
End of the first
We’re still scoreless after 15 minutes at Wrigley. Northwestern driving thanks to a few big plays by Jack Lausch. The Chicago native will try to orchestrate a scoring drive when the Wildcats resume from the Ohio State 33 yard line.
What a catch
Bryce Kirtz with a pretty remarkable catch on the sidelines going one on one with Denzel Burke. We’ll see if the Wildcats can capitalize on that after turning the ball over on the first drive.
Call overturned
After review, it’s ruled an incomplete pass. Too bad but it’s fourth down and the Buckeyes are forced to punt.
We’re still scoreless with 3:04 to go in the opening quarter.
TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES — or is it?
Back to back catches by Jeremiah Smith and the latter was a 37 yard haul to put Ohio State on the board first.
But the play is under review.
TURNOVER – Ohio State ball
And so much for that Northwestern opening drive. Jack Sawyer forces the fumble and the Buckeyes have the ball on the 33 yard line. Davison Igbinosun with the recovery and return for 17 yards.
Draining the clock
Wildcats have eaten up much of the first quarter on their opening drive. We have 8:30 left in the opening period and the Buckeyes have not been on the field yet.
Home game at Wrigley?
@nbc4i pic.twitter.com/fmBVjHprkk
— Joe Nugent (@joenuge) November 16, 2024
Underway in Chicago
Northwestern with the ball first and already the Ohio State defense is flexing its muscle. Sonny Styles with the sack of QB Jack Lausch.