COLUMBUS (AP) — Justin Fields threw for four touchdowns and ran for another as No. 5 Ohio State rolled over Florida Atlantic 45-21 in the opener for both teams.
The Buckeyes’ new starting quarterback finished 18 for 25 for 234 yards.
“Lots to build from off of today,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “I thought overall, though, game management was decent. There was one time where (Fields) scrambled out and took a sack, could have just thrown it away. It would have been second-and110. I think it was second and 14. A lot of little things going on there. But again, overall pretty solid.”
The much-anticipated debut of Fields as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback resulted in four touchdowns in the first four drives.
But a bigger test will come next week when the Buckeyes host Cincinnati.
The Ohio State defense held Florida Atlantic to just 22 yards rushing.
“The defense started out real fast. We’ve got to get some young guys going, but it’s going to take time. Overall, we played great,” Buckeye defensive end Chase Young said.
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Season-ticket sales for Ohio State football games have dropped by 2,300 this season.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that is the biggest drop in at least a decade.
The school says it sold nearly 51,000 non-student season tickets for this season. That’s down 4% from last season.
Ohio State deputy athletic director Diana Sabau says attendance has been falling for college football programs across the nation.
She thinks the absence of Michigan on the home schedule is the biggest reason why sales fell this year.
Ohio State this year began offering ticket packages that include three or four games.