October 24, 2015
PISCATAWAY – The nation’s top-ranked team might have come into its own Saturday night. Then again, maybe it was just a case of coming into New Jersey.
Ohio State completely dominated Rutgers, the state university, winning 49-7 before a sellout crowd of 53,111.
Ohio State moved to 8-0. Rutgers moved closer to the basement in the Big Ten’s East Division, falling to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
Top-ranked college football teams don’t visit New Jersey too often, which is good for the team that hosted college football’s first game in 1869. It has occurred a total of four times against Division I opponents.
Last night The Ohio State University extended that experience to four losses.
“Some teams get better, some teams don’t,’’ Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. “We’re getting better right now.
“I’m very pleased. It all starts with great defense, and I really felt our defense has been getting better all year. We had some big plays against us the last couple of weeks, and, for the most part, we saw those coming’’
Rutgers should have seen this coming after allowing 52 points to Indiana last week. Ohio State totaled 528 yards and held Rutgers to under 300. Rutgers didn’t score until the final 13 seconds.
The win extended OSU’s winning streak to 21 games, has now won 28 regular season Big Ten victories, and remains the league’s highest scoring team with a roster filled with NFL prospects. And in Meyer it has the guy in the khakis with the nation’s highest winning percentage among active coaches.
The result was the same as the last time a No. 1 was at this stadium. In 2002, Miami turned up the heat in the final quarter for a 42-17 win in what was then called Rutgers Stadium. Rutgers has also lost to No. 1 Pitt (1981) and No. 1 Alabama (1980), both at Giants Stadium.
This No. 1 team has not been getting the typical respect, and junior safety Vonn Bell admitted, “We haven’t been playing too hot; a little up and down like a roller coaster, but when we get going we’ll really get the respect that we should. And I understand why.’’
Meyer knows that respect is getting closer and closer.
“I think there have been many areas (of improvement),’’ he said. “Balanced offense; basically pitched a shutout. What you’re not seeing is the self-destructive stuff. When you go on the road and it’s all silent, and to not have any penalties; that might be the most impressive thing.’’
Ohio State committed an amazing zero penalties and had to punt just once. Running back Elliott Ezekiel gained 142 yards and scored two touchdowns, and quarterback J.T. Barrett ran for 101, threw for 223 on 14 of 18 passes, scored twice on the ground and threw three TD passes.
“I think J.T. is in full swing now,’’ Meyer said. “Obviously he energized us and was outstanding; really efficient throwing the ball.’’
The atmosphere was electric at High Point Solutions Stadium (fourth highest attendance ever), and the press box extended to the outside elements as a season-high 390 media credentials were issued.
The opening quarter was far from electric, but Barrett knew it would only be a matter of time.
“I think we’re getting comfortable, getting our identity, running the ball, getting our offensive line running,’’ he said about their growth, “and playing pitch and catch and getting back to what we do well on offense; playing fast.’’
Rutgers had a field goal attempt bounce off the left upright on its first possession. Ohio State’s initial drive ended in a fumble. Both teams ran 16 plays, and it wasn’t until the final play of the quarter that someone scored.
Ezekiel Elliott, fifth in the country in rushing, scored from the two as OSU went up 7-0. Halfway through the second quarter OSU displayed its passing game as Barrett connected with 6-foot-3 Michael Thomas on a 50-yard play.
OSU: 14-0.
About four minutes later Barrett, making his first start of the season, capped a 65-yard drive on a two-yard run: 21-0.
The visitors, who traveled about 500 miles for this romp, took a 28-0 lead to start the second half, going 76 yards in a minute-four, coming on another pass. By the time the third quarter was over the score was 42-0. One minute into the final quarter it went to 49-0.
By then the student end zone seats were essentially cleared, the stadium exposed sections of empty seats, and the only discussion as Scarlet Knights began to leave the building was if Ohio State really was the best team in the country.
Is it Baylor? TCU? Clemson? Or is it the defending national champion that keeps winning and keeps improving?
“I think we’ve improved every week, we’re playing at a very high level right now. There’s a good mindset right now,’’ Meyer said. “We know what’s coming down the pike here; there’s some really tough games coming up (mainly Michigan State and Michigan).’’
“We’ve been waiting for that break, for the team to come together and kind of start hitting on all cylinders,’’ said Luke Fickell, OSU Defensive Coordinator. “This might be one of those nights. I think we like where we are right now.’’
Still No. 1.
