Quarterback Julian Sayin had a near perfect game when No. 1 Ohio State pounded Grambling State 70-0 in Columbus on Saturday.
Sayin, in his second career start, set a school record for consecutive completions to start a game (16) and through two quarters was 18 of 19 for 306 yards and four touchdowns. Two went to Jeremiah Smith, including an 87-yarder as the Buckeyes cruised to a 35-0 lead.
Sayin, Smith and many of the starters did not play in the second half.
The previous record for completed passes in a row to start a game was Will Howard’s 13 in the College Football Playoff title game in January.
The Tigers (1-1), an FCS school, were no match for the Buckeyes and Sayin was 10 for 10 for 218 yards with three touchdowns in the first 10:50 of the game. By comparison, the Buckeyes (2-0) had 203 total yards in defeating then-No. 1 Texas 14-7 in their Aug. 30 opener.
Sayin connected with Will Kacmarek on a 47-yard score to make it 7-0 and on the first snap of the next possession from the Ohio State 13-yard line, Smith was wide open at the 45 and went untouched for the fourth longest play from scrimmage in Ohio State history and the second-longest pass play in school history behind a Kenny Guiton to Devin Smith 90-yard TD at California in 2013.
Smith added a 9-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and finished with five catches for 119 yards. Carnell Tate had a 13-yard TD catch as part of his five receptions for 65 yards.
Sayin fell one pass short of tying the program record for consecutive completions set by C.J. Stroud in 2021 against Michigan State when he was intercepted by Tyrell Raby at the Grambling 1 on his 17th attempt.
The Buckeyes made it 42-0 just 10 seconds into the third quarter on a 23-yard scoop-and-score by Riley Pettijohn.
Ohio State backup Lincoln Kineholz was 6 of 7 for 71 yards and a touchdown and freshman Bo Jackson in the second half rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown.
