COLUMBUS (AP) — Dwayne Haskins Jr. threw for 304 yards and five touchdowns in the first half as Ohio State blew out Tulane 49-6.
The No. 4 Buckeyes marked the return of coach Urban Meyer to the sideline by scoring on their first six possessions and cruising.
Meyer served a three-game suspension for mismanaging former assistant Zach Smith, who was accused of domestic violence and other bad behavior.
Haskins was nearly flawless, completing his first nine passes on the way to a 21-for-24 effort for 304 yards before taking a seat in the second half as the Buckeyes backed off the gas and cruised.
The third-year sophomore, is among the nation’s leaders in touchdown passes with 16 through the first four games and is on track to eclipse J.T. Barrett’s school record of 35 set last season.
“Dwayne did very good, but then to throw the ball takes much more than him,” Meyer said. “The offensive line protected well and the receivers are playing at a very high level.”
Parris Campbell caught Haskins’ touchdown passes of 14 and 37 yards in the first quarter. Binjimen Victor, Terry McLaurin and Austin Mack also caught first-half scoring throws. The prettiest might have been the last touchdown, a perfectly placed back-shoulder 14-yarder on which Mack made a falling-down grab.
Campbell, a fifth-year senior, had a career day, catching eight passes for 147 yards and the pair of scores.
Running back Mike Weber left the game in the second quarter with an injury and didn’t return.
Meyer said Weber “has a little strain on his foot,” but should be fine for next Saturday’s prime-time visit to Penn State.