Buckeye Rosters

Recap

Piscataway, NJ — The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 52-13 at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Buckeyes, coming off a dominant win against Akron, entered the game looking to continue their offensive momentum, while Rutgers aimed to bounce back from a tough loss to Michigan.

Ohio State set the tone early, scoring on its first possession with a 44-yard touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Chris Olave. Stroud, returning after missing the previous game due to a shoulder injury, played efficiently and helped Ohio State establish a commanding lead by halftime. The Buckeyes led 45-6 at the break, capitalizing on explosive plays and defensive takeaways.

Rutgers struggled to sustain drives against Ohio State’s defense, which forced multiple turnovers, including a pick-six by Denzel Burke in the first quarter. The Scarlet Knights’ only first-half points came from a pair of field goals by Valentino Ambrosio.

Key Player Performances

• C.J. Stroud (QB, Ohio State): Stroud had a standout performance, throwing for 330 yards and five touchdowns on 17-of-23 passing. His precision and decision-making helped Ohio State’s offense function at a high level.
• TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State): The freshman running back continued his stellar season, rushing for 71 yards and a touchdown on only eight carries, showing his explosiveness with an early score.
• Chris Olave (WR, Ohio State): Olave bounced back from a quiet outing against Akron, recording five receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns, reaffirming his status as one of the top receivers in college football.
• Garrett Wilson (WR, Ohio State): Wilson added six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, providing another reliable target for Stroud.
• Denzel Burke (CB, Ohio State): The freshman cornerback made a major impact with a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown, marking his first career pick-six.

On the Rutgers side, quarterback Noah Vedral completed 16-of-26 passes for 152 yards, but he also threw an interception. The Scarlet Knights’ lone touchdown came in the third quarter on a 12-yard run by Aaron Young.

Records & Notable Achievements

• C.J. Stroud became the first Ohio State quarterback since Dwayne Haskins in 2018 to throw for five touchdowns in a conference road game.
• Chris Olave’s two-touchdown performance pushed him up the Buckeyes’ all-time receiving touchdowns list, moving closer to breaking school records.

Ohio State’s dominant performance against Rutgers showcased its offensive firepower and growing defensive confidence. Stroud’s return to the lineup proved pivotal, and the Buckeyes’ receiving corps overwhelmed the Rutgers secondary. Defensively, Ohio State tightened up after early-season struggles, limiting Rutgers’ big plays and forcing key turnovers. With this victory, the Buckeyes improved to 4-1 (2-0 Big Ten), continuing their push toward a potential Big Ten Championship run.