PISCATAWAY, NJ — No. 2 Ohio State (10-0, 7-0) defeated Rutgers 56-21 Saturday in Piscataway, New Jersey in what featured an array of second- and third-teamers for the Buckeyes, hence the 21 points for the Scarlet Knights.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields set a career-high with 305 yards passing, completing 15-of-19 attempts. He only played one series into the third quarter.
Running back JK Dobbins only played in the first half and rushed for 89 yards on 17 attempts, scoring twice. Receiver Chris Olave caught four passes for a career-high 139 yards.
The Buckeyes started New Jersey natives Tyler Friday and Javontae Jean-Baptiste at defensive end. They also held out senior cornerback Damon Arnette, giving sophomore Sevyn Banks the start.
Rutgers turned the ball over twice in just their first four snaps on offense and things only got worse from there.
On the Scarlet Knights’ second offensive play from scrimmage, redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Langan threw the ball downfield to a receiver, but Buckeye cornerback Shaun Wade knocked the ball up in the air and then brought it in for the interception on his way to the ground.
Ohio State took over at the Rutgers 40-yard line and scored four plays later thanks to an 18-yard touchdown run by Dobbins.
On Rutgers’ second possession Langan found receiver Isaiah Washington for a short gain, but Wade forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Jordan Fuller at the Scarlet Knights’ 33-yard line. Three plays later, Justin Fields found Binjimen Victor in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown.
On Ohio State’s next possession, Fields hit Chris Olave way downfield for a 58-yard gain down to the RU 8-yard line. Dobbins finished that drive on the next play with an 8-yard touchdown run.
With Rutgers’ ensuing possession, the inevitable punt came, but it was muffed by freshman receiver Garrett Wilson and the Scarlet Knights recovered. Three plays later, running back Isaiah Pacheco scored from 26 yards out to make it 21-7.
The Buckeyes answered that drive with a 5-play, 65-yard touchdown drive. KJ Hill scored from 35 yards out when Fields found him running all by his lonesome down the field. Ohio State scored a fifth touchdown in the first half when Fields and Victor connected yet again, this time from 24 yards to make it 35-7.
Fields opened as the Buckeyes’ quarterback to start the third quarter as well, though he was joined by redshirt freshman running back Master Teague in the backfield. On first-and-10 from their own 44-yard line, Fields went deep to Olave, who was being interfered with, but the sophomore receiver brought it in for the 42-yard gain. On the next play, Fields hit tight end Luke Farrell in the back corner of the end zone for a 14-yard score.
From there, Fields was replaced by graduate senior Chris Chugunov, who connected with fourth-year junior tight end Jake Hausmann on a 4-yard touchdown pass following the second K’Vaughan Pope interception for the Buckeyes in as many weeks. The touchdown made it 49-7. Rutgers added their second score on a 45-yard touchdown reception by receiver Bo Melton against the second and third-team Buckeye defense.
Redshirt freshman receiver Jaelen Gill scored his first touchdown as a Buckeye late in the game, catching a short pass and breaking tackles for a 32-yard score.
Ohio State outgained Rutgers 594 yards to 231.
Up next for the Buckeyes is a Big Noon Kickoff next Saturday at home against the No. 9 Penn State Nittany Lions.
I’m going to be curious to see what happens with Browning. I’ve written Cooper off for the year.
This was a difficult game for OSU, to try to get up after routing MD and home and realizing that PSU awaits us. OSU seemed to be sleep walking and remember, opposing teams try to take away our run. Anything we did against Rutgers will be greatly overshadowed by our performance against PSU. Now it’s time to put our big boys pants on. Possible next three games; PSU at home, at MI, WI/MN in Indy.
Baylor saved the number 3 spot. (choke choke choke.), and Minnesota nearly guaranteed 2 SEC teams because they choked too.
Agree with the spirit of the comments already written. I know some people like to say OSUs bench guys could beat lots of BIG teams themselves, but it’s not the case (as evidenced by the 4th). I do like what Pope is doing with his time though. Need to see a better performance in a week, for sure
Buckeyes won………..so that’s good. I do believe that Grumpy Buckeye is going to have a TON of grumps this week.
I DO believe that the starting offensive line had their worst performance of the year. They couldn’t move a pebble much less an opponent for the rushing game…………..AGAINST NAIA level players.
Top 4 right now based on results? Buckeyes sit at number 4. Buckeye waterboys should be able to keep Rutgers out of the endzone…………..but give up 21 to THAT? Yeah it’s just 1 game, but they looked awful doing it.
Pacheco and Langan would have to compete to get a starting water boy position.
The Buckeye runningbacks were awful until Steele Chambers got into the game
Justin Fields, and the receivers had a good game but everyone else……meh.
Lots like the 4th position in the CFP poll will be an argument between the Buckeyes and Baylor.
Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams turned in an AWFUL game.
Not that it matters at this point, but the Buckeyes will be a COMFORTABLE #2 in the CFP rankings this week.
I think they get jumped by Clumpson.
Are you kidding me? Rankings are (or should be) determined by the body of work over the course of the season, not a slightly meh performance in one game. 14 points were given up by the 2nd/3rd string defense. We racked up 594 yards of offense. We are still #1 in scoring offense and scoring defense in the country.
Oh, and LSU gave up 614 yards today to a team with six losses.
I agree with that………BUT…………The committee is going to ask “what have you done lately according to their own comments. Rutgers gives up an average of 431 ypg, and that’s counting 2 FCS opponents.
I’m trying to look through the eyes of SEC homers of the committee. They’ll look at Joe Burrow throwing for 489 yards and they’ll simply stop there and declare LSU the greatest of all time. Doesn’t matter that Rutgers and Ol’ Miss are pretty much the same thing in different uniforms.
The Big 10 isn’t going to get the same preferential adoration and coronation. Now it appears that they’re hitting their stride.
This just isn’t the time of year to allow dumpster fire teams to put 21 points on a Big 10 contender. Like I said, LSU and Clemson will get a pass because the SEC is WAY over valued.
Now it appears as though Clumpson is hitting it’s stride as well. The Buckeyes margin for error is far slimmer, and any perception of not being the most complete team in the Country will cost them.
Sooner or later a Buckeye Coaching Staff is going to have to start ruining feather weights hopes in dreams. Allowing Rutgers to put up 21 points REGARDLESS of when they put them up will get dinged in the eyes of that committee.
You’re crazy. Everyone understands why yesterday’s score was what it was. Nobody will jump OSU guaranteed! I’ll bet you. Loser is banned from making any more comments this year. Whatya say?
Nothing is certain, but history shows what’s likely to happen. Clumpson blew out a team that would have monkey stomped Rutgers. ESPN is already advocating the wonders of Clumpson. History also shows that the clowns on the committee like to mimic what ESPN says and believes because they are biased and absolutely SEC homers who will want to set the table for an argument why Georgia should be above the Buckeyes who play in such a lousy league. Bet on it? LOL. I’d never bet on what those clowns will or will not do.
With luck that will be the worst game the Buckeyes play this season. I’m confident against Penn State but I wonder how much rust the starters will have, not having been tested since Wisconsin?