The Ohio State football team came into Saturday night's game feeling good after beating Washington on the road. It was their first road test of the year, and they passed with flying colors. Against Minnesota, they were hoping for more of an offensive explosion.
That is exactly what happened. Julian Sayin was fantastic in the game, only throwing four incompletions. The main target for Sayin was Carnell Tate in this game. Tate had a career-high when it came to receiving yards in this game, dominating the game.
Tate finished the game with nine catches for 183 yards and one touchdown. He caught most of the downfield passes that Sayin launched, showing that he has the opportunity to be a number-one wide receiver when he gets to the next level. He'll be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Ohio State football team let Carnell Tate shine against Minnesota
Tate has looked like the best receiver that the Buckeyes have had this season, even though he isn't. His catches have been more impressive than Jeremiah Smith's, even though Smith is the best player in college football. That just shows how good Tate in tandem with Smith.
Smith is the best player that the Buckeyes have, which is why Tate has been getting more opportunities. With Smith garnering so much attention, Tate faces less coverage from defensive backs. Smith gets the double-teams, while Tate gets easier coverages.
When Sayin is this good, it's almost impossible for teams to stop the Buckeyes. A 42-3 win against the Golden Gophers is just the tip of the iceberg for them. They can still be so much better on the offensive end of the field, which is scary for the rest of college football.
The defense was once again very good for the Buckeyes. This team is going to be very hard to beat.