Purdue Shut Out: No Answers for Ohio State

Purdue Boilermakers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on, November 09, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

Columbus, OH– In the iconic setting of “The Horseshoe,” the Purdue Boilermakers faced a familiar challenge: taking down the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes. Despite falling behind early, Purdue aimed to channel their 2018 magic and pull off a stunning upset. 

Purdue leaned heavily on its rushing attack early, with Devin Mockobee leading the way, gaining 67 yards on 9 carries in the first half. Despite the strong start, he would finish with just 73 yards on 13 carries as Ohio State’s defense tightened. 

Purdue Boilermakers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on, November 09, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard wasn’t interested in a repeat of 2018’s upset. Taking control from the start, he used both his arm and legs to keep Purdue in check, amassing three first-half touchdowns.  

Kicking things off in the first quarter, Ohio State’s Will Howard opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown, setting the tone for the Buckeyes’ dominant performance.  

Keeping Purdue’s defense on its heels, Howard struck again in the second quarter, connecting with Gee Scott Jr. for his second touchdown. Just before halftime—and with Purdue searching for momentum—Howard found true freshman Jeremiah Smith in the end zone, crushing any hopes of a comeback. By halftime, Ohio State held a decisive 21-0 lead, showcasing dominance on both sides of the ball. 

Coming out of halftime, Purdue’s defense held strong. The Buckeyes mounted a long, 13-play, 6-minute drive but were limited to a field goal, pushing their lead to 24-0. 

Purdue Boilermakers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on, November 09, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

On Purdue’s opening drive of the half, Jaron Tibbs gave fans a glimmer of hope with a spectacular catch. Initially ruled incomplete, the call was overturned by officials. A fourth-down pass interference penalty on Ohio State extended Purdue’s drive, giving them a chance to score. However, a miscommunication between quarterback Hudson Card and his receiver led to an interception by Lathan Ransom. 

Ransom’s interception quickly translated into points, as TreVeyon Henderson rushed in a touchdown for Ohio State. Moments later, OSU defensive end JT Tuimoloau stripped the ball from Purdue running back Reggie Love III, allowing Jack Sawyer to scoop it up and score. 

The third quarter unraveled quickly for the Boilermakers, who had possession for less than four minutes due to multiple turnovers. Ohio State’s relentless defense turned these mistakes into more points, pushing their lead to 38-0 by the start of the fourth quarter. 

Purdue Boilermakers vs Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on, November 09, 2024. (photo by Andre Hollis / fi360 News)

“I just wish we could have pushed the ball downfield a little more,” said Purdue head coach Ryan Walters, reflecting on the Boilermakers’ struggles. Hudson Card ended the day with just 108 passing yards, completing 9 of 19 passes with one interception, as Purdue was shut out for the second time in three games. 

Ohio State sealed the dominant 45-0 win with a final fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Will Howard to Emeka Egbuka, bringing Howard’s total to 260 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one rushing score. Purdue now faces another challenge at home against top-ten-ranked Penn State, while Ohio State will take their momentum on the road to face Northwestern.