No. 6 Ohio State’s defense dominates Kent State in 59-3 win to wrap up nonconference schedule

Kent State rarely crossed midfield Saturday.

And when it did, Ohio State made sure it went no further. The Buckeyes forced three turnovers, held the Golden Flashes to 134 yards and kept them out of the end zone in a 59-3 win. Ohio State has allowed a touchdown in just one of 12 quarters this season.

“Regardless of the opponent, you want clean execution on offense, and a bunch of running and hitting on defense and energy and passion and violence running around, which I thought we did,” head coach Ryan Day said.??

The Buckeyes’ defense forced an interception and recovered two fumbles. Kent State’s yardage was the least allowed by an Ohio State defense since Sept. 7, 2024, when Western Michigan notched just 99 yards in a 56-0 drubbing.?

Linebacker Riley Pettijohn said that the unit’s selflessness drives their play.?

“None of us are worried about ourselves; I feel like we all care about the team,” Pettijohn said.

Pettijohn, who made his first career interception in the second quarter, said that was one of the best moments of his career.

“To see my teammates after and celebrating with them, it was amazing,” Pettijohn said.?

In the first half, Ohio State broke up four passes, including one by cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. on a fourth-down throw to the end zone, which kept Kent State off the scoreboard.

The Buckeyes took a 35-0 lead into half and extended that margin in the second half. Linebacker Payton Pierce recovered a Kent State fumble on the second play of the half, leading to a seven-play, 43-yard drive finished with a rushing touchdown by running back Ja’Kobi Jackson.?

Ohio State freshman wide receiver Chris Henry Jr.’s 75-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter nearly doubled Kent State’s 39 total yards in the second half.

Ohio State continued its dominance in the fourth quarter as defensive tackle Jamir Perez scooped up a fumble and returned it for a touchdown, sending the sideline into celebration as the Buckeyes took a 56-0 lead.

Day said the play’s impact was bigger than what showed on the scoreboard.

“What I’m looking for is the whole sideline just going out on the field and celebrating as a team; I think you saw some of that today,” Day said. “We have to do that, we have to celebrate as brothers, and when you get excited for someone else’s accomplishments almost more than yourself, then we’ve got something going.”

Kent State’s lone offensive flash came with the clock winding down in the fourth quarter, when Sean Leonard nailed a 30-yard field goal after an interception. The Buckeyes scored eight touchdowns, while the Golden Flashes ran eight plays in Ohio State’s territory.

Under Day, the Buckeyes are now 8-0 against Mid-American Conference opponents, winning by an average of over 52 points per game.?

After finishing its nonconference slate, Ohio State will enter Big Ten play and face nine opponents in 10 weeks.

“This is what we work for; this is what we come here for as a recruit,” safety Jaylen McClain said.