COLUMBUS — Miyan Williams ran for a career-high 189 yards and five touchdowns, as Ohio State buried the Rutgers Scarlett Knights 49-10 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
During pregame, Williams found out that he would be carrying the load as Ohio State's No. 1 running back as TreVeyon Henderson was ruled out with an injury. The two back normally split carries for the Buckeye offense.
The junior back exploded for a 70-yard touchdown early in the third quarter and also had four short scoring plunges.
His fifth score of the game, 2-yard run in the fourth quarter, tied an Ohio State record. He's the first back to rush for five touchdowns in a game since Keith Byars in 1984. Pete Johnson also did the same feat it in 1974.
Rutgers (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka fumbled a punt return after the opening drive. Three plays later, the Scarlett Knights would score on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Evan Simon to Sean Ryan.
It was the first time the Buckeyes had trailed in a game since going down 3-0 during the season opener against Notre Dame.
Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) tied the game on the next possession when Williams rumbled for 32 yards to set up his 2-yard score two plays later.
Williams stepped up with the best game of his Ohio State career at a good time, as quarterback C.J. Stroud had an off day by his standards. The Heisman Trophy favorite completed just 13 of 22 passes for a career-low 154 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Stroud capitalized on a Rutgers turnover with his best pass of the afternoon, as he dropped a ball perfectly to Julian Fleming in stride running down the middle of the field for a 36-yard touchdown. Williams later scored his third touchdown to give Ohio State a 28-7 halftime lead.
Early in the second half Stroud threw an interception, his second of the season, but the Scarlet Knights were held to a 35-yard Jude McAtamney field goal to make the score 28-10.
Things got very heated in the fourth quarter when Ohio State punter Jesse Mirco pulled the ball and ran for a first down with the Buckeyes up by 39 points.
Mirco scampered out of bounds and was drilled on a late hit by Aron Cruickshank in front of the Ohio State bench. The hit riled up both teams, with Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano coming clear over to the Buckeyes bench and exchange words with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who exchanged words with him. Once order was restored, Cruickshank was ejected from the game, and Schiano and Day got off-setting unsportsmanlike conduct fouls.
Ohio St plays at Michigan State, their first road game of the season, next Saturday.
Rutgers 7 0 3 0 — 10
Ohio St. 14 14 14 7 — 49
First Quarter
RUTG — Sean Ryan 14 pass from Evan Simon (Jude McAtamney kick), 11:00 OSU — Miyan Williams 2 run (Noah Ruggles kick), 9:21 OSU — Miyan Williams 1 run (Noah Ruggles kick), 4:05 Second Quarter
OSU — Julian Fleming 36 pass from C.J. Stroud (Noah Ruggles kick), 14:51 OSU — Miyan Williams 1 run (Noah Ruggles kick), :48 Third Quarter
RUTG — Jude McAtamney 35 field goal, 10:12 OSU — Miyan Williams 70 run (Noah Ruggles kick), 10:01 OSU — Marvin Harrison Jr. 4 pass from C.J. Stroud (Noah Ruggles kick), 1:22
Fourth Quarter
OSU — Miyan Williams 2 run (Noah Ruggles kick), 14:50
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