COLUMBUS (AP) — J.K. Dobbins rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown as No. 4 Ohio State rolled over No. 25 Michigan State 34-10.
Quarterback Justin Fields threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score as the Buckeyes overcame a slow start and wore down the Spartans with big plays.
I think we showed flashes, but we weren’t really consistent the whole game on the offensive side,” Fields said. “If we get better at that and more consistent about that, I think we’ll definitely be one of the best offenses in the country.”
The Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) had to work to figure out Michigan State’s defense at the beginning, after blowing out every opponent through the first five games. They gained just 16 yards on 16 plays — with zero rushing yards — in the first quarter but finally got unstuck. Dobbins, Fields and two other backs then piled up 323 yards on the ground in the next three quarters.
“We were killing ourselves,” Dobbins said of the strange first quarter. “We had to get that fixed, get it going, then the offense started to roll.”
Fields finished 17 for 25 for 206 yards and was sacked three times — twice by Michigan State linebacker Joe Bachie, who finished with 11 tackles.
Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke finished with 218 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
After an off week, the Buckeyes play at Northwestern on Oct. 18.