Ohio State jumped ahead early, with freshman running back Bo Jackson scoring the first of his two touchdowns on a 15-yard run in the first quarter. Quarterback Julian Sayin finished 13-of-19 passing for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring strikes to Brandon Inniss and tight end Max Klare, who led all receivers with 105 yards.
The Buckeyes’ defense stifled Rutgers throughout, holding quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis to just 81 passing yards and limiting the Scarlet Knights to 129 total yards. Caden Curry was a defensive standout, recording two sacks and a pivotal forced fumble that set up a short-field touchdown.
By halftime, Ohio State led 14-3 and broke the game open in the second half with three unanswered touchdowns, highlighted by Jackson’s second score and a 49-yard touchdown run from James Peoples. Rutgers managed only one touchdown, a 1-yard run by Antwan Raymond in the fourth quarter.
Ohio State outgained Rutgers 434-129 in total yards and dominated time of possession. The Buckeyes’ balanced attack compensated for the absence of their top receivers, leaning on the ground game and contributions from depth players like David Adolph, who started in place of the injured stars.
This win preserved Ohio State’s unbeaten record against Rutgers, now 11-0 all-time, and maintained their position atop the Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes are set to face rival Michigan next, with playoff implications on the line.
For a full recap and statistics, visit the official ESPN game page. For historical series results, see Rutgers’ official football history vs. Ohio State.
According to the SportsLine Projection Model, Ohio State entered as a 30.5-point favorite and covered the spread comfortably. The Buckeyes have now scored at least 34 points in seven consecutive games, while Rutgers’ losing streak against OSU continues.
Kickoff was broadcast nationally on FOX. For highlights and interviews, visit the Ohio State Football Twitter account.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day praised his team’s execution despite injuries, emphasizing the importance of depth ahead of next week’s high-stakes matchup in Ann Arbor.