Ohio State offensive weapons earn first-round-best PFF grades

Ohio State football dominated Tennessee, and its players were given some lofty grades for their performance.

Ohio State football throttled the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium on Saturday.

The Buckeyes got out to a quick 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, and despite having just an 11-point halftime lead, they ended up winning 42-17.

The Ohio State defense again showed why it is among the best in the country, holding Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava to just 104 yards on 31 attempts.

The defense was stiff and held the Volunteers scoreless in two of four quarters. At the same time, the Buckeyes offense showed why they are among the country’s best units, tallying four rushing touchdowns and two passing.

For his strong performance, quarterback Will Howard earned the highest Pro Football Focus grade among first-round quarterbacks.

On top of Howard, PFF recognized what both Emeka Egbuka and Jeremiah Smith were able to do. Egbuka finished second on the team with 81 receiving yards on five receptions while Smith had 103 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. They also sat No. 1 and 2 in PFF’s grades.

Expect a few more strong performances from these stars as the Buckeyes will advance to take on the Oregon Ducks for their quarterfinal battle from the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2025.