Ohio State beats Rutgers: 5 things we learned in victory

Ohio State took care of business against Rutgers on Saturday. Here’s five things we learned.

Okay, so maybe it wasn’t quite the score most people projected, but Ohio State still more than took care of business against a Rutgers team that’s just looking to turn the page into a new era.

Like most games, the Buckeyes raced out to a big lead, then cruised from there. The second and third teamers may have took it on the chin just a wee-bit toward the tail-end of the game, but it was still good experience and something the whole team can grow from.

Next up is the big one against Penn State, but first we take time to reflect with five things we learned from the Ohio State win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

Anyone can make the spectacular play at anytime

Yeah, you know about Justin Fields, J.K. Dobbins, and Chase Young, but there’s so much NFL talent on this roster it’s a bit ridiculous. I think we’re going to look back on this year’s team and be absolutely floored by how many kids end up playing ball on Sundays.

Wide-receiver Chris Olave made a draw-dropping catch, cornerback Shaun Wade made a highlight-reel interception, and they aren’t the only ones to get into the spotlight.

Again, maybe it didn’t go as well with after the first-teamers as you would have thought against Rutgers, but this team has a depth of talent maybe nobody else in the country has.

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Next … Justin Fields can indeed sling it

Watch what Rutgers interim head coach Nunzio Campanile said about Ohio State post game

Rutgers interim head coach Nunzio Campanile met with the media after the game and had some complimentary things to say about Ohio State.

It wasn’t as dominant on the scoreboard as what many would have thought, or what had taken place in other games this year, but Ohio State went to Rutgers and took care of business with an easy 56-21 victory.

The Buckeyes raced out to a dominant, early lead, got the starters out of harm’s way in the second half, then put it on cruise control to put it away and turn the page towards the game against Penn State next week.

We’ve said it before, but we always like to give you the comments of the opposing head coach after the conclusion of each game, and it’s no difference here.

Rutgers interim head coach Nunzio Campanile met with the media in Piscataway after the game and said some very complimentary things about the Buckeyes after the game.

He seemed encouraged that his team kept fighting, but also knows that Ohio State is one whale of a team. Watch his entire comments below courtesy of RVision.

WATCH: Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade makes incredible interception

Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade made a circus interception Saturday against Rutgers.

Some of the Ohio State skill position players made some unbelievable, highlight-worthy plays Saturday against Rutgers. Wide receiver Chris Olave hauled in a deep ball that you have to rewatch no less than six times, but he wasn’t the only one making circus catches.

On the other side of the ball, cornerback Shaun Wade had himself a pretty remarkable interception. While dropping back in coverage, and with his head turned to the ball, he was able to look back at just the right moment, get his hand in the way for a deflection, then somehow find the ball on the way to the ground and snatch it before it hit the ground.

If you didn’t get a chance to see it the first time, or just want to re-live it, click on the below shared by BTN on Twitter and rewind and replay it.

These high-profile guys on offense and defense are making some of these plays look easy, but they are far from it.

Watch: Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave haul in remarkable catch

Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave dealt with some pass interference and still managed to make an unbelievable catch against Rutgers.

Ohio State wide receiver Chris Olave had a catch for the ages against Rutgers Saturday night. Early in the 3rd quarter with the Buckeyes already up 35-7, Olave ran down the right sideline and was bowled over by a Rutgers defender.

It was of course called pass interference, but that didn’t stop the OSU receiver from making a spectacular play. While falling down, he kept his head on the ball, keeping his focus and was able to grab the ball around his ankles and keep it from hitting the ground.

The fact that Olave was able to somehow snatch the ball and caress it against his legs while playing through contact was pretty amazing and worth a watch.

In case you missed it, simply click on the below Tweet shared by Fox College Football and get a slow motion view of it.

Yes, the pass interference penalty was declined.

Simply unbelievable.

Ohio State vs. Rutgers: Final thoughts and ramblings before the game

Just before Ohio State takes on Rutgers Saturday, get some final thoughts, ramblings, and brain dump comments to ingest.

I have all these thoughts flying around in my head, and they have to go somewhere, so why not share them with you? Before every game we’ll provide a mindless brain dump of all the things that you might want to think of for the upcoming game — or at least what I’m thinking of. Take it or leave it I say.

Some of those thoughts might be humorous, some outlandish, some just factual, and some nondescript and boring. Either way, we provide our final thoughts just before all the fun on the gridiron for Ohio State each week. This time we’re talking the college known as the birthplace of college football, Rutgers.

It’s not expected to be much of a contest, but they have to play the games and the Buckeyes need to remain sharp and focused.

Off we go …

  • You’d think the program that has the genesis of college football in its DNA would have won more games. But no, apparently Rutgers is still stuck back in 1869.
  • When Jim Delany sold Rutgers and Maryland to all the benefits of being in the Big Ten, you figured the programs would get a boost. It hasn’t happened and there’s really no signs that it will. That can change quickly, but right now those television markets and new locations to visit are really all that’s going for the expansion.
  • How many points will Ohio State score in this one? Anything below 60 would be a surprise.
  • Speaking of which, I hear many asking if the Buckeyes can score 100 points in this one. Here’s the problem with that. The clock has to run out at some point and OSU would need at least 14 total possessions — all ending with a TD, two with a two-point conversion. That’s not happening without a slew of turnovers.
  • Can Rutgers score on the Ohio State defense? I say there will be some garbage time points much like last week against Maryland. Until then though, it’ll take an act of God or something.
  • There will be zero home field advantage in this one. SHI stadium might have more Ohio State fans. I mean the color is the same, but that’s about it.
  • Is there any amount of points OSU can score that would impress the CFP Playoff Committee enough to sway out Ohio State for LSU. Only if there was an SEC logo on the chest it appears.

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Next … Final Thoughts continued

Ohio State vs. Rutgers: Five snarky reasons the Buckeyes win

Ohio State is almost assured a victory Saturday on the road against Rutgers. Here’s five tongue-in-the-cheek reasons the Buckeyes win.

It’s off to the next tuneup for Ohio State. Thanks goes out to Jim Delany for bringing in the television markets of New York and the D.C. area while also getting two more bye-weeks for the Big Ten East division contenders.

After treating Maryland like a whipped omelet, the Buckeyes now head east to take on a Rutgers team that’s still trying to figure out how to play the game of football since helping invent it.

We normally do five reasons Ohio State beats its next opponent, but this time we’re taking a little different tact because there’s little rationale for believing the Scarlet Knights can put up more resistance than a light breeze on Saturday.

So, here’s five snarky reasons the Buckeyes beat back the Scarlet Knights this weekend. And before we get any vitriol pointed in our direction by one of the few dozen Rutgers’ fans, remember it’s all in good fun.

Next … Influenza?

Ohio State vs. Rutgers Buckeyes Wire staff predictions

As we do every week, our contributors take turns predicting the final score of the Ohio State vs. Rutgers matchup.

It’s off to the next one for Ohio State. After annihilating Maryland this past weekend, it should be a similar showing when the Buckeyes hit the road to play Rutgers, and they might be looking to make a statement.

That’s because many — likely including the team — believe the College Football Playoff Committee continued to show its bias towards the SEC by elevating LSU over an Ohio State team that has been more dominant from the start of the season than any we’ve seen in recent memory.

Of course, blowing out one of the worst Power Five opponents in the country will do nothing to change that perception, but don’t be surprised when this team continues to look focused and hungry.

So let’s get on with it. Here’s our Buckeyes Wire contributors’ predictions for the game.

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Next … the predictions

Ohio State releases depth chart and availability information for Rutgers game

Ohio State released the depth chart and player availability, injuries for the game against Rutgers Saturday. Get a look at it here.

Every Friday Ohio State releases information on the depth chart and player availability for the upcoming game. Next up is a trip to Rutgers that should be nothing more than another tune up prior to a bigger one against Penn State the following week.

The Buckeyes will still be without arguably its best player because of the Chase Young’s suspension, but that didn’t seem to matter against Maryland last week. So the team will just keep moving forward, taking one game as it comes — and probably looking dominant in this one.

We’ve got the release of the depth chart from the fine folks at Ohio State, so were passing it on. We’ll start with player availability and injury, then provide the complete depth chart for the game against the Scarlet Knights.

Game-time decision

None

Unavailable

OL Josh Alabi

WR Kamryn Babb

LB Baron Browning

DE Jonathon Cooper

RB Marcus Crowley

DL Noah Donald

WR Ellijah Gardiner

SAF Ronnie Hickman

OL Matthew Jones

WR Austin Mack

OL Brett Novick

WR C.J. Saunders

DT Taron Vincent

DE Chase Young

Next … Ohio State Depth Chart – offense, defense, and specialists

Ohio State vs. Rutgers: How and where to watch and listen to the game Saturday

Ohio State is looking to lay waste to another Big Ten opponent, Rutgers. Here’s how you can watch, stream, or listen to the game Saturday.

Okay, It’s off to the next challenge that probably won’t be much of one. After administering a public flogging against Maryland last week at home, Ohio State travels to the garden state to take on a Rutgers team that is having a worse year than a Donald Trump phone conversation.

The Buckeyes are favored by a gazillion or something like that, and this one doesn’t figure to be close for very long. But, they must play the game as they say, so we know you’ll be watching. As will we.

On that note, in case you need to know where to watch, stream, listen, or catch the smoke signals from the game against the Scarlet Knights, we got all the information you need on the next page.

Let’s keep it going.

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Next … television, radio, streaming, game time, and venue

Ohio State vs. Rutgers Enemy Territory preview. Get to know the Scarlet Knights

Ohio State travels to New Jersey to take on the state school better known as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Uh-oh, things could get messy.

Before every game, we provide a preview of Ohio State football’s opponent for the upcoming week. It’s a twelve game slate to the regular season, so there’s plenty to talk about, and plenty of opponents to get up to speed on.

Of course, some you’ll know better than others.

So, if you want to impress your friends while watching the game, we’ve got your cheat code right here. We do the research, you drop nuggets. You win on Saturdays. It’s as simple as that.

Ohio State’s tenth game of the year is against a Rutgers team that is sorely outmatched and outmanned. There’s almost no way the Scarlet Knights stay competitive in this one short of an act of God, a virus strain breaking out in the Ohio State locker room, or an unscheduled, long and blustery blizzard.

But none of that will be in the cards, so this one could be one of the most lopsided Power Five conference games of the year. Anyway, you still need to know the opponent, so here’s all you need.

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Next … Rutgers all-time vitals