Rutgers was marching the ball down the field in Buckeyes territory at the 25 with a two-point lead, and then everything changed. A throw by Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt was tipped into the air and grabbed by CB Jordan Hancock at the seven-yard line, and Hancock took it to the house for a 93-yard touchdown.
That play changed the game and momentum in favor of Ohio State.
OSU had some sloppy moments in the 2nd quarter with a failed fake punt leading to a field goal for Rutgers, and then on the next possession, QB Kyle McCord threw an interception that led to another field goal, giving Rutgers the lead going into the half.
RB TreVeyon Henderson had another impactful game, his third in a row with big performances against Notre Dame, Wisconsin, and on Saturday against Rutgers, all three opponents on the road.
Henderson had 208 total yards on the day including a touchdown.
The Hancock pick-six changed the game and finally settled down OSU, who played tight up until that point in the game.
McCord played better on Saturday but still struggled to find Marvin Harrison in open space early in the game. Harrison only had four catches for 25 yards. He did, however, have two touchdowns.
It was not pretty, and give Rutgers credit; they were ready for OSU. But a win is a win no matter how sloppy the game was at times.
The Ohio State Buckeyes, ranked No. 1, extended their perfect season to 9-0 with a 35-16 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium.
In the first half, OSU faced some difficulties, managing only one touchdown, a reception by backup tight end Gee Scott Jr. during the first quarter. Rutgers took advantage of a trick play, a mishandled Buckeyes punt, and an interception by Kyle McCord to secure three field goals in the second quarter.
At halftime, the Scarlet Knights held a slim 9-7 lead, igniting hopes of an upset for Coach Greg Schiano’s team. However, in the third quarter, the OSU defense quashed Rutgers’ momentum. During Rutgers’ first drive, a pass from quarterback Gavin Wimsatt was deflected into the hands of OSU’s Jordan Hancock, who returned the interception 93 yards for a game-changing touchdown. The Buckeyes regained the lead and never looked back.
The second half belonged to TreVeyon Henderson, who followed up his exceptional performance against Wisconsin with another standout game in Piscataway. The star running back exploited openings on the ground, with his most significant play being a 65-yard catch and run. That drive concluded with Marvin Harrison Jr. scoring the first of his two short touchdown receptions. Despite being a Heisman candidate, Harrison only had four catches for 35 yards in the game.
Henderson finished the day with 208 all-purpose yards, comprising 128 rushing yards and 80 receiving yards. Despite the loss, Rutgers’ offense outgained Ohio State, amassing 361 total yards compared to the Buckeyes’ 328, marking one of the most successful games the Scarlet Knights have ever had against Ohio State.
The Buckeyes will return to Columbus to face Michigan State on November 11, aiming to maintain their perfect 10-0 record. The game will be broadcast in primetime on NBC4, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. The team will find out if they can hold onto their No. 1 spot in the playoff rankings on Tuesday night.
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