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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State finally made a statement.
Saturday’s 63-10 victory over unranked Western Kentucky (2-1) wasn’t the kind of statement win the No. 6 Buckeyes typically make against ranked teams. But it was the kind of statement that was expected of them in 2 lackluster performances in Weeks 1 and 2 against Indiana and Youngstown State.
“We knew we had to turn this up,” Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day said.
The Buckeyes (3-0) did that with a 35-point second quarter that included 4 touchdowns in the final 8 minutes of the first half.
Player of the Week: Kyle McCord
In his first game as the official starter, McCord completed 19 of 23 passes for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was decisive and took shots down field when he had them, including a 75-yard touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr.
Even after a first-quarter fumble when he was sacked, McCord showed poise and led a 12-play 82-yard touchdown drive for a 14-3 lead.
Freshmen of the Week: WR Carnell Tate and CB Jermaine Matthews
Both scored their first touchdown. Tate’s came on a 40-yard pass from backup quarterback Devin Brown early in the fourth quarter. Matthews returned an interception untouched down the sideline 58 yards with 5:26 left.
Biggest surprise: Only 60 plays
The Buckeyes hit their average, but they expected to get more offensive snaps. But when you score on back-to-back 1-play drives, a 4-play drive and a 3-play drive, you don’t have to worry about snap count. And on a day like this one you don’t worry that WKU ran 72 plays and won time of possession by 5 minutes.
Biggest concern: Offensive line
The line played well with fewer breakdowns. TreVeyon Henderson had room to run. McCord had time to throw. But until this group with 3 first-year starters does those things against a ranked opponent, questions will linger.
Developing trend: Chip Trayanum is RB2
Trayanum was the first back to get carries other than Henderson and made the most of them. He ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run in the 28-point avalanche that turned a 14-10 game into a 42-10 blowout at halftime. He finished with 56 yards on 5 carries.
Miyan Williams, the backup the past 2 years and starter when Henderson was injured, didn’t play until the third quarter. He finished with 23 yards on 5 carries.
Key stat: 204 rushing yards
The Buckeyes surpassed 200 yards for the first time this season and averaged a season-high 6.2 per carry. Henderson led the ground game with 88 yards and 2 touchdowns on 13 carries.
First impression about Week 4
The No. 6 Buckeyes finally look ready to go to South Bend and play No. 9 Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, NBC). The Irish (4-0) took care of business again Saturday with a 41-17 victory over Central Michigan.
The Buckeyes limited WKU’s wide-open passing game to 204 yards on 21-of-37. They allowed only 80 rushing yards. Notre Dame with Sam Hartman throwing the football and Audric Estime leading a potent ground attack will be a much stiffer test. But Saturday’s performance was what the Buckeyes needed.