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Rutgers vs. Ohio State Final Score: Buckeyes Roll, 56-17

By Phil Watson

Oct 18, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) breaks a tackle attempted by Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Johnathan Aiken (26)at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2014; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) breaks a tackle attempted by Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Johnathan Aiken (26)at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Rutgers Scarlet Knights made their first Big Ten road trip Saturday. The Ohio State Buckeyes made it memorable for all the wrong reasons.

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights had split their first two games in Big Ten Conference play at home, but on Saturday they ventured on the road for the first time.

Playing in front of the largest crowd ever to see a Rutgers game—106,795—the Ohio State Buckeyes were not welcoming hosts. The No. 13-ranked Buckeyes led 35-7 by halftime behind a big day from redshirt freshman quarterback T.J. Barrett en route to a 56-17 pummeling of Rutgers.

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The win was Ohio State’s 18th straight win in conference regular-season play, two shy of the Big Ten record set by the Buckeyes from 2005-07.

Barrett was 19-for-31 for 261 yards and three touchdowns throwing the ball and also ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns on just seven carries to trigger the rout for Ohio State (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten).

Rutgers (5-2, 1-2) was outgained 585-345 and turned the ball over three times to just one miscue for the Buckeyes.

The Scarlet Knights defense came into the game 136.7 rushing yards per game and 4.1 yards per carry. But Ohio State gashed them for 324 yards on 40 attempts, a gaudy 8.1 yards per crack.

The Buckeyes, who never trailed, got on the board just 3:26 into the game on a 12-yard pass from Barrett to tight end Nick Vannett. Vannett caught two passes for 38 yards, both for touchdowns.

Ezekiel Elliott made it 14-0 with a 1-yard touchdown plunge before Rutgers finally got on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run by Desmon Peoples with 27 seconds left in the first period.

Barrett made his second scoring connection with Vannett early in the second quarter.

It got out of hand on Rutgers’ next possession. Trapped deep in the closed end of the Horseshoe, quarterback Gary Nova threw a short pass to Janarion Grant, who was wrapped up by one defender and then popped hard by Rashad Frazier. Eli Apple scooped up the ball and took two steps to cover the 4 yards for the touchdown.

Rod Smith scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with 4:32 to go in the half. After the break, Barrett scored on runs of 33 and 5 yards to put the Buckeyes up 49-7.

Barrett’s final score was on an 11-yard pass to Evan Spencer with 4:14 left in the third quarter.

Kyle Federico kicked a 42-yard field goal for Rutgers in the third quarter and Peoples scored his second touchdown on the first play of the final quarter on a 12-yard run to cap the scoring.

Peoples finished with 83 yards on 15 carries with both Scarlet Knight scores. Nova was 17-for-28 for 192 yards with one interception.

Ohio State visits Penn State next Saturday while Rutgers visits No. 19 Nebraska.

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