As is often (always?) the case, Ohio State had no trouble at all at Rutgers Saturday night. The Buckeyes raced out to a 35-0 halftime lead, J.T. Barrett established two school milestones and Demario McCall got wild on the way to a 56-0 blowout in Piscataway.
Let's take a journey through the GIFs of the game. To view the GIFs, hover on desktop or touch on your mobile device.
After the teams traded punts on their opening possessions, Mike Weber got the scoring started just 4:31 in with his first touchdown since the Michigan game last season. Weber would finish the evening three touchdowns 10 carries.
Late in the first, Rutgers would take over in Ohio State territory following a 26-yard punt from Drue Chrisman. The Scarlet Knights put a drive together, advancing to the Ohio State 15 before linebacker Dante Booker came up with his first career interception to give the Buckeyes the ball back.
Ohio State capitalized on the ensuing possession, marching 87 yards in eight plays – capped by Weber's second touchdown of the evening, coming on this 3-yard run. 14-0, Ohio State, just four seconds into the 2nd quarter.
Seven minutes later, Ohio State found itself in a 3rd-and-17 situation. Good thing Rutgers decided to come off of Johnnie Dixon.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett found the receiver behind blown coverage for a 70-yard touchdown to put the Buckeyes up 21-0 midway through the 2nd quarter.
Three minute later, Barrett found Dixon again, this time going for 39-yards on a nifty catch and tip-toe down the sideline. Dixon finished with three catches for 115 yards and the two scores.
Not long after, Barrett found wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a 13-yarder over the middle. The completion would hand the Ohio State career passing record to the quarterback, as he moved in front of Art Schlichter.
Three plays later, Weber would make it 35-0, Ohio State, with his third touchdown of the first half.
On Ohio State's second possession of the 3rd quarter, J.T. Barrett ripped off a 30-yard run, and McLaurin destroyed a man. Initially called for targeting, that was overturned, but McLaurin was still whistled for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct on the play.
Here's another look at the hit:
Three plays later, Binjimen Victor Moss'd a Rutgers defensive back to put the Buckeyes up 42-0.
With Dwayne Haskins in at quarterback, Demario McCall showed America why it's unfair to run him on a wheel route. The GOAT is getting healthy and that should scare the rest of the Big Ten.
49-0, Buckeyes.
McCall would strike again on Ohio State's next possession, racing 48 yards to put the Buckeyes up 56-0. This touchdown run was part of 103 yards on 11 carries and the one touchdown reception.
How ya feeling, GOAT?
Rutgers put together one final drive, advancing 60 yards in 13 plays to the Ohio State 14 and then, this:
... Which had Ohio State like this:
... and Rutgers coach Chris Ash like this:
