Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate celebrates his touchdown against Minnesota during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

COLUMBUS — A game in which the way Carnell Tate played was stunning began with him being shocked.

The Ohio State junior receiver caught 9 passes for 183 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown catch and two other catches of 49 yards and 48 yards in OSU’s 42-3 win over Minnesota on Saturday night in Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State had de-emphasized its passing game a little in its game plan at Washington last week. But it was back in a big way against Minnesota with quarterback Julian Sayin (23 of 27 for 326 yards), Tate and Jeremiah Smith (7 catches, 67 yards, two touchdowns) leading the way.

Tate said he and OSU’s other receivers knew it was going to be a good night when they saw how the Gophers had chosen to defend them.

“We were shocked when they came out in man (man to man defense) and tried to play us in man and we made them pay for it,” Tate said.

Smith has been Ohio State’s No.1 receiver since his first game as a freshman last season but Saturday night the spotlight found Tate.

“Carnell has seen Jeremiah do a lot of different things and now you’re seeing Carnell take the next step. He does a lot of the dirty work, he does a lot of the blocking and now you’re seeing him show up,”

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

The word “best” came up more than once in OSU’s interview room after the game.

Day called Smith “the best offensive player in college football and I don’t even think it’s close.”

When Tate was asked if he and Smith are the best pair of receivers in the college game he said, “I know that for sure.”

“We’re always pushing each other to make the better play. And we’re also always pushing to get each other open,” he said.

No.1 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) gave up a field goal on Minnesota’s first drive of the game then held the Gophers (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) scoreless the rest of the way.

Minnesota scored first on Brady Denaburg’s 27-yard field goal at the end of the opening drive of the game.

Ohio State’s first drive ended with Jayden Fielding missing a 53-yard field goal attempt but OSU dominated the rest of the first half.

Minnesota ran one more play than OSU in the first half (31-29) but the Buckeyes led 21-3 lead at halftime and had a 277-111 edge in total offense yards.

It quickly became apparent that Minnesota’s defense could not keep up with Ohio State’s passing game.

C.J. Donaldson’s 1-yard touchdown at the end of a 91-yard drive put OSU into the lead for the first time at 7-3.

Sayin’s 6-yard touchdown throw to Smith made it 14-3 with 11 minutes left in the first half and a 48-yard touchdown catch by Tate pushed the lead to 21-3 with eight minutes left in the first half.

OSU added three more touchdowns in the second half on 5-yard run by Bo Jackson, a 9-yard pass from Sayin to Smith and a 1-yard run by Lincoln Kienholz.

Jackson got his first start and led Ohio State’s running game with 63 yards on 13 carries. Tight end Max Klare had his most productive game since transferring to OSU with 6 catches for 63 yards.

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said, “They’re really big, really powerful, and then they force you to put more people in the box, and then they throw it over the top with two first-round draft picks. They know how people are going to defend them, and the minute you pick something, they go ahead and take what you’re giving them, and they’ve got the playmakers to do it.”