The #1 Ohio State Buckeyes haven't made it easy on themselves this year, allowing inferior teams to hang around while causing many a nervous moment for their Columbus faithful.
They broke that trend on Saturday.
JT Barrett absolutely sparkled in his first start as OSU's unquestioned #1 quarterback, Ezekiel Elliott did his normal damage between the tackles and the defending national champs crushed the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a 49-7 Big Ten romp in New Jersey.
Barrett went 14-of-18 in the air for 223 yards and three scores, backing that up with 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns. His five total touchdowns serve as an emphatic form of validation for head coach Urban Meyer who ended the team's season-long QB controversy in the days leading up to this game by tabbing the sophomore as the team's starter.
Ezekiel Elliott complemented Barrett's breakthrough performance with a classic Zeke performance -- carrying 19 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns.
Barrett and Elliott's performances will grab the headlines, but it's Ohio State's defense who may have won the day. OSU held Rutgers scoreless for the game's first 59 minutes, giving up just 293 total yards.
The Buckeyes move to 8-0, 4-0 in the Big Ten. Rutgers falls to 3-4 overall, 1-3 in the conference.
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