Game Preview: Ohio State vs Minnesota
After grinding out a physical 24-6 win at Washington, Ohio State returns home for its first Big Ten game in Ohio Stadium this season. The Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) enter as the nation’s top-ranked team, boasting the best scoring defense in college football (5.5 points per game) and an offense that continues to evolve behind freshman quarterback Julian Sayin.
Minnesota (3-1, 1-0) arrives in Columbus on the heels of a 31-28 emotional win over Rutgers, buoyed by the breakout of redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey. P.J. Fleck’s squad brings toughness on both lines and one of the nation’s stingiest defenses (No. 9 nationally in total defense), but faces its biggest test yet in the Horseshoe.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day made it clear his team is taking the matchup seriously: “They’re well-coached and play really, really hard. You don’t play Minnesota and think you’re just going to run the ball without a lot of hard work. We know it’ll be a challenge.”
Saturday also marks Ohio State’s annual Homecoming game and the only home night kickoff in October. With NBC on hand and over 100,000 fans expected, the Shoe should be rocking under the lights.
Know The Opponent:
Head Coach: PJ Fleck (9 Season)
2025 Record: 3-1
Conference: Big Ten
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Ohio State Preview
Ohio State returns home after a grind-it-out win at Washington, and this team is beginning to look every bit like the No. 1 squad in the country. The story still starts with quarterback Julian Sayin, who continues to grow with each game. The freshman is completing nearly 79% of his passes on the year, showing poise and accuracy even in hostile environments. His ability to stay calm against pressure in Seattle was a huge sign of maturity. Now, back in the Shoe under the lights, the offense could open things up vertically in a way it hasn’t since Grambling State.
At receiver, Jeremiah Smith is living up to the five-star hype — 28 catches, 396 yards, 4 touchdowns — but he isn’t doing it alone. Carnell Tate has become a consistent chain-mover, Brandon Inniss gives Ohio State another playmaker in the slot, and tight ends Max Klare and Jelani Thurman are factors in the red zone. With multiple weapons, Ryan Day can stress defenses in every layer of the field.
On the ground, Ohio State has been rotating CJ Donaldson, Bo Jackson, and James Peoples, all of whom bring different styles — Donaldson’s power, Jackson’s burst, and Peoples’ balance. None has fully emerged as the guy yet, but collectively, they give defenses no chance to breathe. Behind them, the offensive line led by Carson Hinzman at center and Austin Siereveld at left tackle is still developing cohesion but held its own against Washington’s front.
Defensively, coordinator Matt Patricia has turned the Silver Bullets into the nation’s most suffocating unit. Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald anchor a front that collapses pockets and disrupts blocking schemes, while Kenyatta Jackson Jr. and Tywone Malone Jr. provide depth and versatility. Linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese are flying around making plays, and in the secondary, Caleb Downs, Davison Igbinosun, and Jermaine Mathews Jr. make up one of the best coverage units in the country.
Bottom line: this is a balanced Ohio State team, with a defense good enough to win games on its own and an offense loaded with emerging weapons.
Minnesota Preview
Minnesota is a tricky opponent — not flashy, but disciplined and physical, the type of team that forces you to earn everything. Head coach P.J. Fleck has one of the better defenses in the conference, ranking top-10 nationally in total defense at 230 yards allowed per game. The Golden Gophers’ identity is built in the trenches. Defensive end Anthony Smith (4.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss) has been a force, while tackles Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding bring size and strength to clog running lanes. In the secondary, Koi Perich is the name to know — an All-Big Ten safety as a freshman, Perich is a playmaker who lines up all over the field and already has multiple tackles for loss and a sack this season.
On offense, the Gophers are led by freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey, who is coming off a breakout performance against Rutgers (324 yards, 3 touchdowns). He’s not the most mobile quarterback, but he’s accurate in the pocket and developing chemistry with wideouts Javon Tracy and Le’Meke Brockington, as well as UCLA transfer Logan Loya. Lindsey’s poise has surprised many, but he hasn’t yet faced a defense with the speed and disguises that Ohio State brings.
Minnesota’s rushing attack depends heavily on the health of Darius Taylor, who’s been limited by injury. In his absence, the ground game has struggled to generate consistency, which puts even more pressure on Lindsey. If Taylor plays, Minnesota has a dynamic back who can keep defenses honest. If not, the Gophers will need to rely on short passes and ball control to move the chains.
This is a team that thrives on playing disciplined football — limit mistakes, lean on defense, and hope to grind opponents down. But against a roster as deep as Ohio State’s, that formula is going to be tested.
Buckeye Spotlight
Julian Sayin. The freshman quarterback keeps checking boxes. He passed his first true road test at Washington, settling in after early jitters to finish 22-of-28 for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Now back at home, Sayin faces a different kind of challenge: sustaining consistency against a disciplined Minnesota defense that ranks ninth nationally in total defense. If Sayin gets into rhythm early and avoids turnovers, Ohio State’s offense could explode under the lights in the Shoe.
Gopher Spotlight
Koi Perch. A former Ohio State recruiting target, Perich has quickly become one of the Big Ten’s most dynamic safeties. First-team All-Big Ten as a freshman in 2024, he’s a tone-setter for P.J. Fleck’s defense. With 21 tackles, two TFLs, and a sack already this year, Perich plays everywhere — deep safety, in the box, and even in the slot. He’ll be tasked with slowing down Jeremiah Smith and providing over-the-top help against Ohio State’s loaded receiving corps.
Water Cooler Stat of the Game
2000. Ohio State is 48-7 all-time against Minnesota and hasn’t lost to the Gophers since 2000. The Buckeyes have won 13 straight in the series, including a 45-31 season-opening win in Minneapolis in 2021.
Prediction
Ohio State enters this matchup as a heavy favorite, and for good reason. The Buckeyes have the most balanced team in the country — a defense that’s allowing just 5.5 points per game and an offense that’s finding its identity behind a freshman quarterback who seems to get more comfortable each week. That combination gives Ryan Day the flexibility to control tempo and adjust to whatever Minnesota throws at them.
The Golden Gophers, though, aren’t a pushover. Drake Lindsey has given P.J. Fleck’s offense a legitimate passing threat, and Minnesota’s defense is one of the most physical units Ohio State will see before November. Expect them to try to shorten the game by leaning on their front seven, playing tight in the red zone, and forcing Sayin into long drives rather than quick strikes. If they can do that — and maybe steal a possession with a turnover or special teams play — the Gophers could keep things close early.
The problem is sustaining that over four quarters. Minnesota hasn’t seen an offense with this much speed and depth at receiver, and the Buckeyes’ three-headed running back rotation of CJ Donaldson, James Peoples, and Bo Jackson has the ability to wear defenses down. Jeremiah Smith has already shown he can take over games, and the protection should be better at home than it was in Seattle.
On the other side of the ball, the Silver Bullets are built to frustrate a young quarterback like Lindsey. Caden Curry and Kayden McDonald headline a defensive front that’s collapsing pockets weekly, while Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs make the back end one of the best in the nation. Minnesota’s offensive line has size, but it hasn’t seen this level of disruption yet. Unless the Gophers can consistently run the football — which few teams have done against Ohio State this year — Lindsey will be forced into obvious passing situations, a dangerous place to be.
Look for Minnesota to hang around for a quarter and maybe even land a punch with an early scoring drive, but Ohio State’s depth and defensive dominance will take over. By halftime, the Buckeyes should have control, and the second half will be about sharpening execution and avoiding mistakes.
Ohio State 38 – Minnesota 7
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