Ohio State First Thoughts: Buckeyes navigate injured starters, handle business at Purdue

Down two offensive starters, the Buckeyes didn't push the envelope at Purdue.

Ohio State handled Purdue on Saturday in its final Big Ten road game before visiting Michigan later this month. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State athletics)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — First thoughts on Ohio State’s 34-10 win on Saturday at Purdue.

1. Ohio State played without receiver Carnell Tate. The junior, and the team’s second-leading receiver, wasn’t on the pregame availability report. He went through warmups and was dressed when the team took the field, but OSU said Tate was held out for “precautionary reasons.” The television broadcast noted that Tate was experiencing some muscle tightness.

His absence made an impact on the opening drive, when quarterback Julian Sayin targeted sophomore Mylan Graham on third-and-13 and Graham, playing in place of the sure-handed Tate, dropped a pass over the middle.