“It feels great,” head coach Ryan Day said afterward. “Any time you win games, it feels great. It isn’t about all the other stuff. You win, you move on. That’s what it comes down to, and that’s the way we look at it.”
Ohio State overcame an early gaffe to build a 28-7 lead over Rutgers in the first half.
Emeka Egbuka mishandled a punt after the opening possession of the game, and Rutgers recovered at the Ohio State 18-yard line.
Three plays later, the Scarlet Knights (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) scored on a fade pass from Evan Simon to Sean Ryan over Denzel Burke in the end zone.
Their first lead in the series did not last long, though, as a failed onside kick attempt gave the third-ranked Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0) the ball at the Rutgers 48-yard line.
They took advantage with a five-play touchdown drive finished off by a 2-yard Williams run.
He scored again from a yard out with 4:05 left in the first quarter to put Ohio State on top, and then added another 1-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the second quarter.
In between, C.J. Stroud and Julian Fleming hooked up for a 36-yard touchdown pass.
After intercepting an ill-advised Stroud pass to start the third quarter, Rutgers drove 42 yards for a 35-yard field goal by Jude McAtamney.
Ohio State only needed one play to respond as Williams found a big hole in the middle and rumbled 70 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 35-10.
After Ohio State turned Rutgers over on downs on the ensuing drive, the Buckeyes drove 55 yards in eight plays, finishing with a 4-yard pass from Stroud to Marvin Harrison Jr. for the touchdown.
Williams scored his record-tying touchdown early in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard run.
Stroud finished with 154 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He completed 13 of 22 passes.
Steele Chambers led the Ohio State defensive effort with 11 tackles, including eight solos. He made two stops in the backfield and collected an interception after Zach Harrison hit Simon’s arm and the ball fluttered to him.
Josh Proctor also had an interception for the Buckeyes, who improved to 9-0 against the Scarlet Knights and scored at least 49 points against them for ninth straight time.
There were some fireworks late in the game when Ohio State punter Jesse Mirco took off on a 22-yard run instead of punting the ball away with the Buckeyes leading 49-10.
He got to the sideline but was rocked by Rutgers return man Aron Cruickshank, who was ejected for the hit. A brief scrum ensued near the Ohio State sideline, and Rutgers coach Greg Schiano ran across the field as that was happening.
TV cameras caught Schiano and Day exchanging words. Both were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Day said there were no hard feelings and he maintains high respect for Schiano, who shared the Ohio State coaching staff with him in 2017 and ‘18.
“Just one coach defending one side and one coach defending theirs,” Day said.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Ohio State at Michigan State, 4 p.m., ABC, 1410
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