Ohio State football: What you need to know about the win over Michigan State and what’s next

“I told them I don’t want to hear a word on the bus or on the plane,” he said after his team was shellacked 56-7 on Saturday. “We got a 30-minute plane ride, there’s nothing to talk about.”

Fourth-ranked Ohio State had plenty to discuss, though not all of it pertained to Saturday.

Here are six things to know from the game (and The Game):

1. C.J. Stroud had another huge game — in the first half.

The redshirt freshman completed 29 of 31 passes for 393 yards and a school-record-tying six touchdowns before the end of the second quarter.

He completed three of four passes for 39 yards on the first drive of the third quarter before being replaced by Kyle McCord and finished the day having completed 32 of 35 for 432 yards. At one point in the first half, Stroud completed 17 passes in a row, one more than the old school record shared by J.T. Barrett, Justin Fields and Terrelle Pryor.

“When we spread the ball around that can happen at any time,” Ohio State receiver Chris Olave said. “We are all getting targets. When the running backs are clicking, or when our offense is clicking. C.J. is a one-of-a-kind talent. I’m proud of him and can’t wait to see him keep going.”

True freshman Quinn Ewers made his Ohio State debut in the fourth quarter and handed off twice.

2. So did the OSU receivers.

Olave and Garrett Wilson caught seven passes apiece for 140 and 126 yards, respectively — all in the first half. They also both had a pair of touchdown catches.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba joined them in the 100-yard receiving club, hauling in 10 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

“Chris being the veteran, he brings a sense of leadership but also is a great player,” Stroud said. “He has tremendous speed and his routes are amazing. He’s great with yards after the catch. Garrett, of course he’s just a freak athlete. He can do anything he wants to. He really deserves credit for being a great blocker as well when other guys get little bubbles and things of that sort. He’s a great player to play with. Jaxon is probably the best all-around route runner I’ve played with. He is really crisp and really clean with his body language, and the things he does with his body are just crazy.”

3. Olave broke David Boston’s Ohio State record for career touchdown receptions.

Olave needed two TD catches to pass the big Texan, and he got them in the first quarter of his Senior Day.

The first came on a 23-yard catch on the opening drive, and the second game on a 43-yarder.

Boston set the record in 1998.

“Huge record,” said Olave, who had the ball with him in the postgame interview room. “It’s such a blessing. All thanks to God.”

Olave finished the day with 169 career receptions, No. 3 all-time at Ohio State.

4. Kenneth Walker Jr. never got going.

Michigan State’s star running back entered the day leading the nation at 147.3 yards per game. After rushing for just 25 yards on six carries, his averaged dropped to 136.2, just behind the 137.8 of Central Michigan’s Lew Nichols.

Walker’s opportunities were limited after Ohio State jumped out to a huge lead, but four of his six carries went for two yards or less.

“We didn’t want to be one of those teams that he did what he wanted against,” Ohio State defensive end Tyreke Smith said. “We just had that mindset that we were going to shut him down all week. We were playing the scout team like we were playing Kenneth.”

5. Ohio State continued its recent dominance of Michigan State.

The Spartans were a thorn in the Buckeyes’ side at the beginning of the last decade — not so much lately.

Michigan State beat Ohio State three times from 2011-15, but the Buckeyes have won the last six meetings.

The last five have all been decisive starting with a 48-3 beatdown in 2017. A year later, the Buckeyes won 26-6 at East Lansing before winning 34-10 at home a year later and 52-12 last season.

Ohio State improved to 35-15 against Michigan State all time.

6. The Game is next.

After a one-year hiatus, Ohio State is scheduled to renew its rivalry with Michigan next Saturday at noon in Ann Arbor.

The Buckeyes have won eight in a row in the series, their longest winning streak against the Wolverines.

Michigan holds the record for most consecutive wins in the series with nine from 1901-09. That streak was bookended by ties.

The longest streak without a loss is 15 games set by Michigan to start the series. The Wolverines were 13-0-2 against Ohio State before the Buckeyes got their first win in 1919.

At 58-52-6 for the Wolverines, Ohio State has made the series closer than it had been since 1905.

“We’ve got everything riding on this game coming around the corner,” Day said. “I’ve gotta tell you — the game was’t over yet and I was already thinking about it.

“Very proud of how our team played today, but all our attention goes to the Wolverines.”