INSIDE OHIO STATE’S SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 vs. Bowling Green: W, 77-10
The Buckeyes set a school record by gaining 776 yards, and the offense scored 10 touchdowns. Nine players scored touchdowns, including defensive back Rodjay Burns, who returned an interception 75 yards for the final touchdown of the game with 3:23 left to play. Quarterback J.T. Barrett was 21-for-31 passing for 349 yards, and he threw six touchdown passes, covering 47, 25, 79, 25, 21 and 11 yards. He also scored on a 9-yard run.
Sept. 10 vs. Tulsa: W, 48-3
This time the offense didn’t score until the third quarter, but the Buckeyes led 20-3 at halftime. Their two first-half touchdowns came on interceptions returns – 26 yards by Malik Hooker and 40 yards by Marshon Lattimore. Quarterback J.T. Barrett scored two rushing touchdowns. The second half was played in a hard rain, and halftime lasted more than an hour because of a lightning delay.
Sept. 17 at Oklahoma: W, 45-24
In the first road game of the season, against the eventual Big 12 champs, the Buckeyes led 35-17 at halftime. For the game, sophomore Noah Brown caught four touchdown passes, which tied a school record. Freshman Mike Weber rushed for 123 yards on 18 carries, and Jerome Baker returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown.
Oct. 1 vs. Rutgers: W, 58-0
In the blowout, running back Mike Weber gained 144 yards on 14 attempts, even though he took the rest of the game off in the third quarter. Of Rutgers’ drives, 10 ended in punts and two ended with the clock expiring on a half. Ohio State gained 669 yards to Rutgers’ 116.
Oct. 8 vs. Indiana: W, 38-17
The Buckeyes’ 21 points in the second quarter proved to make the difference in a game that had little to distinguish itself. Indiana was coming off a big upset of Michigan State the week before, and Ohio State had throttled Rutgers the previous Saturday and had Wisconsin looming the next week. Quarterback J.T. Barrett led the Buckeyes with 137 yards rushing on 26 carries.
Oct. 15 at Wisconsin: W, 30-23 (OT)
In a game loaded with Big Ten title ramifications, the Buckeyes prevailed after Tyquan Lewis sacked Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook on a fourth-and-goal play from the 4-yard line. J.T. Barrett’s 7-yard pass to Noah Brown gave the Buckeyes the lead in overtime. Wisconsin led 23-20 until a 31-yard field goal by Tyler Durbin with 3:57 left in regulation.
Oct. 22 at Penn State: L, 21-24
A week after a thrilling OT win at Wisconsin came a trip to State College, Pa. Penn State overcame a 21-17 deficit when Grant Haley returned a blocked field-goal attempt 60 yards for a touchdown with 4:27 to play in the game. The Buckeyes outgained the Nittany Lions 413 yards to 276, but quarterback J.T. Barrett was sacked six times, including on Ohio State’s final two offensive plays. The result was the Buckeyes’ only loss of the season.
Oct. 29 vs. Northwestern: W, 24-20
After two challenging road games, the Buckeyes returned home to play a hard-fought game against Northwestern. A Wildcats field goal with 3:31 to play produced the final score, and Ohio State made sure of it with a drive that consumed the remaining time.
Nov. 5 vs. Nebraska: W, 62-3
Three consecutive close games gave way to another blowout, the first of consecutive 62-3 results. The game included interception returns of 36 yards by Damon Webb and 48 yards by Malik Hooker, and a 75-yard touchdown pass from J.T. Barrett to Curtis Samuel.
Nov. 12 at Maryland: W, 62-3
The Buckeyes scored 45 points in the first half, during which time J.T. Barrett rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two. Ohio State outgained Maryland 581 yards to 176 and had 32 first downs to Maryland’s 10.
Nov. 19 at Michigan State: W, 17-16
With Ohio State leading 17-10 late in the fourth quarter, Michigan State’s L.J. Scott scored on a 1-yard run that pulled the Spartans to within one with 4:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. Going for the win, Michigan State lined up for a two-point conversion attempt. A pass by quarterback Tyler O’Connor was intercepted in the end zone. After a Buckeyes drive, the Spartans got the ball with 2:04 to play at their own 20, but a sack at the 12 and an interception by Gareon Conley allowed Ohio State to run out the clock.
Nov. 26 vs. Michigan: W, 30-27 (2OT)
A 23-yard field goal by Ohio State’s Tyler Durbin tied the score at 17-17. Each team scored a touchdown in the first overtime. After getting the ball first in the second overtime, Michigan settled for a field goal and a 27-24 lead. Ohio State then went 10 yards in four plays to set up a first-and-10 at the 15. Curtis Samuel then swept around left end for a 15-yard touchdown run and one of the more dramatic finishes in this historic rivalry. Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett led all rushers with 125 yards on 30 carries.
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