Report card for Ohio State's beatdown of Rutgers on Saturday

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It felt slow because the scoring didn’t get off to a real start until late, but by every available metric Ohio State dominated its game against Rutgers. A 14-3 halftime lead might not seem like a blowout, but when that score comes after only four possessions each, that’s basically what it was. But how does each position group grade out in this victory? Do the Buckeyes have any room for improvement anywhere? And how do the absences of the two best receivers affect these grades? Let’s dive right in.

Quarterbacks: A

Julian Sayin had a relatively quiet week as the Buckeyes used this game to really try to work out the kinks in the running game. When he had to throw, though, Sayin was his usual pristine self. The rhythm still wasn’t perfect without Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, but it was pretty close. The Buckeyes obviously need those two back for the College Football Playoff, but they’re still really effective on offense even without them. And Lincoln Kienholz showed he can run a solid dual-threat offense when he’s in the game, too.

Running Game: A

Yes, I’m giving an A. I know Bo Jackson ruined the opening drive with a bad fumble. But this was the first time all year we saw the offensive line consistently block to the second level. The running backs had space, and they finally made the most of it. Rutgers has a bad rush defense, yes, but this was a clear and obvious improvement from the offense.

Wide Receivers: A

Max Klare did an amazing job as a receiving tight end, reminding everyone that he was the third threat in this passing attack most of the season. And he was lethal as a primary option. Brandon Inniss also added a highlight reel touchdown catch in case we forgot about him this season.

Defense: A+

Yes, I’m lumping the whole defense in together. It was that dominant. From highlight plays like Caden Curry’s fumble and almost-touchdown to the lockdown job by the secondary, this was a stellar team effort. Not counting garbage time, Rutgers didn’t even earn 100 yards all game. For a team with a good offense, that’s an astounding job. No notes. Just a perfect grade.

Special Teams: C

The Buckeyes generally have very few special teams play. Still, they need to make sure to avert almost-disasters like Inniss coughed up to open the second half.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Report card for Ohio State’s beatdown of Rutgers on Saturday

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