Ohio State QB Stroud, roll in win
Buckeyes star passes for six touchdowns
COLUMBUS, Ohio — C.J. Stroud lit up No. 7-ranked MichiganState early and gave his coach the rare luxury of being able to let his mind wander to next week’s showdown againstMichigan.
Stroud tied a school record with six touchdown passes — all in the first half — as No. 5 Ohio State bolted out to a 49point halftime lead on the way to a startling 56-7 rout Saturday that eliminated the Spartans from the Big Ten ConferenceEast Division race.
Next up, the annual rivalry game and hatefest against No. 8 Michigan that carries even greater meaning this year — the winner will claim the division, advance to the conference championship on Dec. 4 and stay alive for the College Football Playoff.
“We’ve got everything riding on this thing coming up right around the corner,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “And I got to tell you, the game wasn’t even over yet and I was thinking about it. There’s just so much going on here.”
Day should savor this one forat least a minute.
Stroud, who threw his first collegiate football pass less than three months ago, was 32 for 35 for 432 yards against the Spartans’ sketchy pass defense, which had allowed more yards through the air than any in major college football.
The redshirt freshman completed 17 consecutive passes, setting an Ohio State record, and positioned himself as maybe the Heisman Trophy favorite heading into the championship stretch of theseason.
“My O-line did a great job the whole game,” he said. “I was back there chilling, in a sense.”
This is Stroud’s third 400yard game in 10 career starts and his fourth game with at leastfive touchdown passes.
“You can see our capability,” Day said. “We’re playing really good football, clean football.We have a high ceiling.”
The Buckeyes scored on all seven first-half possession beforebacking off.
“We got blasted,” Michigan State coach Mel Tucker said. “We were not able to eliminate the explosive plays on defense and were not able to executeon offense.”
Michigan State Heisman hopeful Kenneth Walker III, the nation’s leading rusher, was turned into a non-factor bythe Buckeyes. Walker, who rolled his ankle in last week’s win over Maryland, had just sixcarries for 25 yards.
“He’s a little banged up right now, so we’re going to use the guys who can go,” Tuckersaid.
The Buckeyes’ top three receivers eclipsed the 100yard mark and caught touchdown passes. Chris Olave had seven catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Garrett Wilson grabbed seven for 126 and a pair of scores, and Jaxon SmithNjigba had 10 receptions for 105yards and a touchdown.
Olave, a senior who played his final game in Ohio Stadium, broke the school record for career touchdowns with 35, one more than David Boston(1996-98).
“I came in a three-star [recruit], the lowest in my class, I think,” Olave said. “I didn’t know it would come to this day, but I just kept my head down and kept working to try and maximize my potential here, and I feel like I’ve done that.”
“You always can remember days like this,” Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne said. “I’ll remember the feeling for a long time, coming in here and playing likewe did.”
The impressive win could bump the Buckeyes up the rankings, with another spotlight game next week in Ann Arbor. Michigan State, with a secondloss, will tumble.