Ohio State football: It was “Only Rutgers”

“It’s Only Rutgers.” I heard and read that constantly after Saturday’s win by the Ohio State football team. “Sure, they won big, but it was Only Rutgers.” The team that was praised for giving Michigan all they wanted the previous week, is now being dismissed as “Only Rutgers.”

Rutgers got behind 20-3 by halftime against Michigan and fought back to trail by just seven late in the game. Rutgers had the ball and was trying to mount a drive to tie the game before a turnover killed any mounting threat. “Only Rutgers” was down fourteen points to the Buckeyes after just 3 ½ minutes, never recovered, and lost 52-13.

Rutgers held Michigan to just 275 yards and fifteen first downs. “Only Rutgers” gave up 406 yards and seventeen first downs to the Ohio State football team…by halftime. Rutgers ran for nearly 200 yards and averaged 4.7 yards per carry against Michigan. “Only Rutgers” managed just 68 yards on 21 carries against Ohio State’s first-team defense.

The Scarlet Knights held Michigan to less than three yards per carry. “Only Rutgers” allowed 5.6 yards each time the Buckeyes ran the ball. Rutgers had not thrown an interception in their first four games. “Only Rutgers” was picked off three times by Ohio State.

So, what is the difference between Rutgers and “Only Rutgers”? Nothing. The team the Buckeyes dismantled yesterday was the same team everyone was falling all over for playing Michigan so tough. I’m not going to sit here and tell you Rutgers is ready to challenge for a spot in the Big Ten championship game, but this is certainly not the same program it was even two years ago.

Two of their three wins so far this year have come against Temple and Syracuse. Those two teams won’t put much of a scare in anyone, but they are games Rutgers had made a habit of losing in recent years. This is not the same inept program of the last few years and Ohio State should be patted on the back for what they did to them.

Without question, the Buckeye team we saw against “Only Rutgers” has made improvements. C.J. Stroud looked like a different quarterback. His accuracy allowed the nation’s best-receiving corps to make something happen after the catch.

It also allowed Ryan Day to open the playbook a bit more. Stroud showed confidence and a command of the offense. The defense is becoming more and more aggressive. No longer do players look passive and lost. This is a different Ohio State team than we saw against Oregon.

Maryland is up next. Iowa is getting a lot of talk for the way they blasted them Friday night. I’m quite sure if the Ohio State football team does the same, they’ll go from Maryland to “Only Maryland.”

I still think it is way too premature for playoff talk, but I have a much better feeling about this team than I did a few weeks ago.