Ohio State football took care of business against Rutgers, winning 42-9 with a dominant defensive performance and four straight touchdown possessions in the second half.
Without star wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, quarterback Julian Sayin completed 68% of his passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. The Ohio State run game worked efficiently against the Scarlet Knights, averaging 6.7 yards per carry and snagging four rushing touchdowns for a second straight week.
Defensively, Ohio State held Rutgers to 147 yards of offense and had multiple highlight plays, including a Caden Curry strip sack in the third quarter that led to an Ohio State touchdown score.
Read below to see highlights from the Ohio State win.
Big Ten scoreboard
Peoples waltzes into the end zone | Ohio State 42, Rutgers 9
After his best game of the season against UCLA, James Peoples joins the scoring party with a 49-yard touchdown run.
Rutgers has more yards on that drive than… | Ohio State 35, Rutgers 9
Through three quarters, Rutgers had 70 yards of offense. On that drive, which ended with an Antwan Raymond 1-yard run, they had 71 yards. An attempted 2-point conversion after the TD failed.
CJ Donaldson extends OSU lead | Ohio State 35, Rutgers 3
11:39 left in fourth quarter: It took some time to review what was really a straightforward touchdown, in more ways than one. CJ Donaldson bulled straight ahead for 5-yard touchdown. It was fairly clear it crossed the goal line, but referees needed video to certify that.
Ohio State-Rutgers third quarter score, stats:
Ohio State football announces today’s attendance
There are 100,023 fans at Ohio Stadium today.
Bo Jackson scores second TD | Ohio State 28, Rutgers 3
2:30 left in third quarter: Julian Sayin tossed the ball to Bo Jackson, who used his speed to break out left. Jackson got a few blocks, powered through a few defenders and extended the OSU lead with a 10-yard score.
Max Klare continues to come up big for Buckeyes | Ohio State 21, Rutgers 3
7:00 left in third quarter: Backed up by a penalty, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin was still able to get OSU a touchdown, an 11-yarder to Max Klare.
Caden Curry forces fumble, Ohio State gets ball
Ohio State’s Caden Curry strip-sacked Athan Kaliakmanis, and then Curry grabbed the ball, giving OSU possession on the doorstep of the end zone at the 1-yard line.
David Adolph having career day for Ohio State
OK, it sounds modest: two catches for 23 yards on three targets, but Adolph is a great story. The Dublin (Jerome High School) native was honored before the game during senior day festivities; then with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate hurt, Adolph got his first start.
Adolph walked on to the team in June of 2022. He is an OSU Scholar-Athlete and was Academic All-Big Ten in 2023, who is majoring in business.
What to watch in the second half?
Julian Sayin’s, Bo Jackson’s halftime stats
Quarterback Julian Sayin is 9 of 12 for 95 yards and a touchdown, and running back Bo Jackson has 62 yards on 11 carries and a score.
Ohio State-Rutgers halftime score, stats:
Davison Igbinosun interception erased by penalty
Eddrick Houston was flagged for hands to the face, which wiped out a Davison Igbinosun pick. OSU has been flagged twice today for 15 yards.
Julian Sayin connects with Brandon Inniss | Ohio State 14, Rutgers 3
2:27 left in second quarter: Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin floated a beautiful pass to Brandon Inniss, who made an equally beautiful reception in the back right corner of the end zone. It was a 7-yard score.
Rutgers roughs the passer, Lincoln Kienholz
After using him as a red zone quarterback a couple of weeks ago and then extensively last week when OSU was up big against UCLA, Ohio State brought Lincoln Kienholz again today. He was roughed on the play.
Lorenzo Styles exits the medical tent
Ohio State’s Lorenzo Styles has his helmet and 97.1 FM reports that his return has not been ruled out. However, they may play things cautiously, given OSU is a heavy favorite today.
Scarlet Knights get on the board | Ohio State 7, Rutgers 3
11:50 left in 2nd quarter: Styles’ stop (see below) ended up being a big play. Rutgers failed to gain a first down and was eventually forced to attempt a Jai Patel 44-yard field goal. That kick gave Rutgers its first points of the game.
Lorenzo Styles heads to medical tent after trainers help him off field
Ohio State nickel back Lorenzo Styles helped bring down Rutgers receiver Kenny Fletcher Jr., but needed medical attention after the play. Although replays showed his right ankle twisting as he made the tackle, athletic trainers appeared to be tending to the senior’s right shoulder.
Ohio State-Rutgers first quarter score, stats:
Bo Jackson makes Rutgers pay | Ohio State 7, Rutgers 0
4:01 left in first quarter: Bo Jackson (no relation to the former dual-sport star who was a standout in the NFL and MLB) made Rutgers pay for their fourth-down gamble. He ran the ball 15 yards for an Ohio State score. He now has 64 yards on nine carries.
Rutgers takes fourth-down risk
Rutgers coach Greg Schiano gambled against the Ohio State defense and lost. The Scarlet Knights ran the ball on fourth-and-1 from their own 29 and Antwan Raymond was stopped for no gain.
The Buckeyes are getting the ball with a very short field.
Speaking of retirements…
Ohio State red coat John Austin, much revered by co-workers and visiting opponents alike, is working his last game today. He has been an Ohio Stadium mainstay for 59 years.
There is cheering in the press box
Ohio State’s longtime sports information director Jerry Emig, who is retiring after this season, just addressed the media in the press box, using (appropriately for him) music lyrics to put his emotions into perspective. He ended with, “You made it possible for me to have a good SID day many, many times, and I thank you for that.”
He then received a standing ovation.
Ohio State fumbles, Rutgers recovers
Ohio State running back Bo Jackson dropped the ball, which skittered into the end zone where the Scarlet Knights recovered. Before he fumbled, Jackson had carried it seven times for 51 yards on OSU’s first offensive drive.
Rutgers got just 1 yard on an Antwan Raymond run on the opening possession before punting it to the Buckeyes.
Who are the officials for the Ohio State-Rutgers game:
Who rang the Victory Bell for Ohio State?
Former OSU coach Jim Tressel rang the Victory Bell for the Buckeyes today.
NFL Scouts in attendance for Ohio State vs Rutgers
Scouts from the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and the New England Patriots are expected to be in attendance today at Ohio Stadium.
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate officially out
Ohio State has ruled out Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate for today’s game. They are Ohio State’s two leading wide receivers. OSU’s next most prolific pass catcher is tight end Max Klare with 31 catches for 295 yards.
When does the Skull Session start, and other important pregame scheduling notes
Ohio State vs Rutgers time today
What channel is Ohio State vs Rutgers on today?
The broadcast team features Gus Johnson calling the action, Joel Klatt providing commentary and Jenny Taft reporting from the sidelines.
The radio announcers are Paul Keels (play-by-play), Jim Lachey (color analyst) and Dom Tiberi (sideline reporter).
Ohio State vs Rutgers history
Ohio State is 10-0 vs. Rutgers. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano was the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator from 2016-18. He and Day were on Urban Meyer’s staff together and remain friends, even if there last meeting at Ohio Stadium got a little heated.
Ohio State vs Rutgers predictions
Here is what our experts at The Columbus Dispatch think about today’s game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Ohio State vs Rutgers betting odds
Spread: Ohio State by 31.5
Over/under: 54.5
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Nov. 21.
Ohio State vs Rutgers injury updates
Ohio State beat UCLA handily without wide receiver Carnell Tate, who was out for a second straight week, and with Jeremiah Smith on the sidelines for the entire second half. He was seen limping after the game.
Offensive linemen Josh Padilla was still hobbled, and running back CJ Donaldson was hurt.
OSU’s policy is to withhold details about injuries, and coach Ryan Day was unwilling to provide timelines on when those players might return.
The Buckeyes’ official availability report is released closer to game time, and we should know more about the status of those players when that happens.
Ohio State vs Rutgers weather update
According to weather.gov, it will be cloudy through mid-morning and start clearing around game time. The high will be around 51 degrees.
Ohio State football schedule 2025
Rutgers football schedule 2025
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football vs Rutgers highlights, Buckeyes bully Rutgers 42-9
Reporting by Lori Schmidt, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
