Stroud throws for 4 TDs as OSU beats Minnesota
Quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for 294 yards and four touchdowns in his debut as the Ohio State starter and the fourth-ranked Buckeyes kept coach Ryan Day unbeaten in Big Ten play with a 45-31 victory over Minnesota on Thursday night in Minneapolis.
The Buckeyes flashed their five-star speed with two 70-plus-yard scores in the opener, one early on a run off right end by Miyan Williams and one late on a thirddown screen to true freshman TreVeyon Henderson. Day, starting his third full year on the job, is 24-2 overall and 16-0 in conference games.
Chris Olave had touchdown catches of 38 and 61 yards, and Garrett Wilson scored on a 56-yard reception that gave Ohio State the lead for good at 24-21 midway through the third quarter.
Less than three minutes later, Haskell Garrett grabbed a fumble from a stripsack that Zach Harrison delivered on Tanner Morgan and ran it in for a 32-yard touchdown.
More painful for the Gophers than their fade down the stretch was the loss of star running back Mo Ibrahim, who hurt his lower right leg late in the third quarter, limped off and did not return. He had 30 carries for 163 yards and two scores, both giving the Gophers the lead.
Illinois QB Peters returns to practice
Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters returned to practice after leaving the seasonopening win in the first quarter against Nebraska with a left shoulder injury.
Peters, who suffered the injury to his non-throwing shoulder, has been throwing passes this week. Illinois coach Bret Bielema said the sixth-year senior should return “sooner than later” although likely not for the game Saturday in Champaign against UTSA (6:30 p.m., BTN, 890-AM).
Peters is recovering quicker than initially thought. While Bielema wouldn’t completely rule him out, he seemed to indicate that Rutgers transfer Artur Sitkowski, who shined against the Cornhuskers, would be making his first start at Illinois.
Last week, he was 12-for-15 passing for 124 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.