EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Justin Fields threw for four touchdowns, J.K. Dobbins rushed for 121 yards and No. 4 Ohio State pounded Northwestern 52-3.
The undefeated Buckeyes did exactly as expected and blew the game open early, jumping to a 31-3 halftime lead.
Eyeing a playoff spot and a shot at the national championship, No. 4 Ohio State (7-0, 4-0) sure is locked in at the moment.
Fields completed 18 of 23 passes for 194 yards. The sophomore transfer from Georgia matched his career high for TDs through the air. He now has 22 passing and 30 overall on the season.
The nation’s second-leading rusher, Dobbins scored from the 5 in the second quarter after breaking off a 67-yard run. He also caught a 19-yard touchdown pass in the first half.
The junior now has 947 yards rushing after finishing with more than 1,000 in each of his first two seasons.
Chris Olave caught two TDs. Blake Haubeil kicked a 55-yard field goal that tied the second-longest in the history of the storied program. The Buckeyes racked up 480 yards while holding the Northwestern to 199 and remained unbeaten heading into their showdown at home with No. 6 Wisconsin next week (Noon/FOX).
“I think we feel good about the way we came out coming off the bye week — with energy, starting fresh and just refocused on all the things that matter within the program,” coach Ryan Day said. “Now we know we have a huge challenge next week. … We know what we have in store there, so it’s gonna be a really tough week, tough preparation, tough game, but I know the kids are gonna be excited to play it.”
Through the first six games, Ohio State outscored opponents 296-53 — an average margin of 40.5 points that was the biggest differential among FBS schools. The Buckeyes came in leading the Big Ten in scoring and were tops in the conference in total yards and yards per game by wide margins.
With a defense that ranked second in the nation and conference to Wisconsin going against one of the country’s worst offenses, the Buckeyes made it look easy.