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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Evan Bachman

Ohio State offensive player-by-player PFF grades for Notre Dame game

The Ohio State football team had one of its most exciting victories in recent memory on Saturday as a Chip Trayanum touchdown with one second left lifted the Buckeyes to a 17-14 win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The offense executed a thrilling 65-yard drive with 1:26 left on the clock that included three third down conversions and a fourth down conversion with clutch throws from Kyle McCord.

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The other touchdown was a breakaway 61-yard run by TreVeyon Henderson displaying his elite explosiveness and speed that is back and as exciting to watch as ever now that he is fully healthy this season.

Putting up just 17 points isn’t what the Buckeyes offense is accustomed to but that point total is somewhat misleading considering this was a slug it out type of game.

Ohio State had just eight drives in the game and were able to move the ball pretty well as they nearly 46 yards per drive. So, while this wasn’t a necessarily a flawless offensive performance it was better than the score indicated, and they were able to execute in the most important moments on the final drive against a very good Notre Dame defense.

With that in mind, will we break down each offensive position group’s performance using Pro Football Focus grades for each player. While PFF grades aren’t the end all be all, it is a great tool to break down individual players’ performance.

Quarterbacks

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Starter: Kyle McCord

PFF Grade | 69.0 (69 snaps)
Stats | 21-of-39 (53.8%). 240 Yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

What It Means

Kyle McCord showed that he’s ready to step up and make big plays in big moments in this game as he led the game-winning drive in just his fifth career start. He delivered multiple massive throws including a 21-yard strike to Emeka Egbuka on 3rd down and 19 to put the Buckeyes on the goal line.

McCord also did well to avoid sacks in this game. Although he was pressured on 20 of his 42 drop backs, he wasn’t sacked once.

Running Backs

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Starter: TreVeyon Henderson

PFF Grade | 55.5 (50 snaps)
Stats | 14 attempts for 105 Yards (7.5 avg.), 1 TD, 1 Target, 0 Receptions

Other: Chip Trayanum

PFF Grade | 58.9 (15 snaps)
Stats | 6 attempts for 13 Yards (2.2 avg.), 1 TD, 1 reception, 12 yards

Other: Miyan Williams

PFF Grade | 55.4 (2 snaps)
Stats | 1 attempt for 0 Yards (0.0 avg.), 0 TD

What It Means

Treveyon Henderson showed why he is one of college football’s best running backs with on his 61-yard touchdown run. The burst to get into the open field and the speed to pull away from defensive backs is something not many other players in college football would be capable of.

Wide Receivers

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Starter: Marvin Harrison Jr.

PFF Grade | 56.8 (66 snaps)
Stats | 7 targets, 3 receptions, 32 Yards, 0 TD

Starter: Emeka Egbuka

PFF Grade | 78.8 (64 snaps)
Stats | 11 targets, 7 receptions, 96 Yards, 0 TD

Starter: Julian Fleming

PFF Grade | 55.9 (57 snaps)
Stats | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 8 Yards, 0 TD

Other: Xavier Johnson

PFF Grade | 68.5 (6 snaps)
Stats | 1 target, 1 reception, 40 Yards, 0 TD

What It Means

Emeka Egbuka showed the college football world once again that Marvin Harrison Jr. isn’t the only superstar in the wide receiver room. Egbuka’s two third down catches on the game-winning drive were two of the biggest plays of the entire game.

Tight Ends

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Starter: Cade Stover

PFF Grade | 70.3 (67 snaps)
Stats | 10 targets, 7 receptions, 52 Yards, 0 TD

Starter: Gee Scott Jr.

PFF Grade | 53.8 (13 snaps)
Stats | 0 targets

Starter: Joe Royer

PFF Grade | 59.9 (1 snap)
Stats | 0 targets

What It Means

This was another strong performance from Cade Stover who continues to be a key piece of the Buckeyes’ passing attack.

Offensive Line

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Left Tackle: Josh Simmons

PFF Grade | 41.0 (69 snaps)
Stats | 44.4 run block grade, 59.9 pass block grade, 0 Sacks Allowed, 1 pressure allowed on 46 pass block snaps

Left Guard: Donovan Jackson

PFF Grade | 55.2 (69 snaps)
Stats | 60.4 run block grade, 29.2 pass block grade, 0 sacks allowed, 3 pressures allowed on 46 pass block snaps

Center: Carson Hinzman

PFF Grade | 41.2 (69 snaps)
Stats | 60.0 run block grade, 7.9 pass block grade, 0 sacks allowed, 9 pressures allowed on 46 pass block snaps

Right Guard: Matthew Jones

PFF Grade | 58.1 (69 snaps)
Stats | 57.1 run block grade, 54.9 pass block grade, 0 sacks allowed, 1 pressure allowed on 46 pass block snaps

Right Tackle: Josh Fryar

PFF Grade | 58.4 (69 snaps)
Stats | 63.8 run block grade, 69.3 pass block grade, 0 sacks allowed, 2 pressures allowed on 46 pass block snaps

Other: Luke Montgomery

PFF Grade | 69.5 (3 snaps)
Stats | 69.5 run block grade

What It Means

The Ohio State offensive line had question marks coming into the season having to replace three starters. The unit beat up on some weaker opponents, but against Notre Dame faced a tough test and struggled. In particular, Carson Hinzman struggled to protect for McCord as he conceded nine pressures.

Moving forward this season the offensive line’s growth will be very important for this offense. The Buckeyes were still able still come away with a victory despite struggling to protect McCord, but the big uglies must play better in future big games.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Evan Bachman on X.

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