J.T. Barrett has been playing lights out for Ohio State. (Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett hit his first eight passes and the No. 13 Buckeyes scored on their first three possessions in a 56-17 victory against Rutgers on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.
Barrett totaled 368 total yards with three touchdown passes and two more rushing scores.
In the first half, Barrett was 11-for-14 for 147 yards and two TD passes to lead the Buckeyes (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) to a 35-7 lead in the first meeting between the schools.
Barrett finished 19-for-31 for 261 yards through the air and led the Buckeyes in rushing with 107 yards on seven carries. He has 17 touchdown passes and one interception in the past four games.
The Buckeyes set a school record in grand fashion with 4:14 left in the third quarter when Evan Spencer made a one-handed grab for a 56-7 lead, marking the first time Ohio State has scored 50-plus points four games in a row.
Rutgers (5-1, 1-2) entered the game third in the nation with 24 sacks (four per game). But the Scarlet Knights had no hurries and no sacks in the first half and Barrett took advantage, going 8-for-8 for 112 yards and two TDs for a 21-7 lead two minutes into the second quarter. He completed one more pass on the next drive before an incompletion.
Barrett hit tight end Nick Vannett for a 12-yard score on the Buckeyes’ first possession for a 7-0 lead to cap a six-play, 52-yard drive in 2:29. Jalin Marshall]s 31-yard catch and run down the left sideline set up the second score, a 1-yard run by Ezekiel Elliott with 5:24 left in the first period.
Rutgers’ lone TD of the half came on a 1-yard rush by Desmon Peoples on the 10th play of the drive to make the score 14-7. The Buckeyes quickly responded, needing only six plays to go 67 yards with Vannett getting his second TD reception, this time on a 26-yarder up the middle from Barrett.
The Buckeyes took a 28-7 lead with 9:50 left in the second when OSU defensive end Rashad Frazier stripped receiver Janarion Grant at the Rutgers 9-yard line. Cornerback Eli Apple scooped up the fumble at the 4 and ran into the end zone.
Rod Smith tacked on another score from three yards out to increase the margin to 28 at the half.
Barrett was at it again to open the third quarter when he kept the ball and raced 33 yards for a 42-7 advantage.
On the next series, Barrett scrambled on a fourth-and-goal from the 6 and scored untouched.
NOTES: Ohio State has won 18 straight Big Ten regular season games. The record is 20, set by OSU from 2005-07. … Rutgers has not beaten a ranked opponent since a 31-0 victory against No. 23 South Florida on Nov. 12, 2009. … Ohio State has won seven straight games after an open weekend, the past five under coach Urban Meyer. Rutgers coach Kyle Hood is 3-3 following an open week.
