COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — In a commanding display of power, the Ohio State Buckeyes remained undefeated, methodically dispatching the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 42 to 9 on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

The victory pushed Ohio State’s season record to 11 wins and 0 losses, while Rutgers fell to 5 wins and 6 losses.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with both offenses struggling to find traction. Ohio State’s opening drive, however, set the tone for their offensive approach: a relentless ground game. The Buckeyes meticulously marched down the field, culminating in a 15-yard touchdown run to take a 7 to 0 lead late in the first quarter.

Rutgers responded with its most sustained offensive sequence of the first half. A drive that bridged the first and second quarters, fueled by runs from Samuel Brown V and a key defensive pass interference penalty against Ohio State, put the Scarlet Knights in field goal range. Kicker Jai Patel converted from 44 yards out to put Rutgers on the board, trimming the deficit to 7 to 3.

The Buckeyes answered with another methodical scoring drive just before halftime. Quarterback Julian Sayin, who finished an efficient 13 of 19 for 157 yards and two touchdowns, engineered the series. He capped it with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Inniss, extending the Ohio State lead to 14 to 3 heading into the break.

Any hope of a Rutgers comeback was extinguished in the third quarter as the Buckeyes’ offense shifted into a higher gear. Sayin connected with tight end Max Klare on an 11-yard scoring strike, and later, the ground attack produced another touchdown run to push the advantage to 28 to 3. Klare was a primary weapon for the Buckeyes, hauling in seven receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.

The Ohio State defense was suffocating throughout, consistently pressuring Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. The unit recorded multiple sacks, with Caden Curry leading the charge with two. Defensive backs and linebackers, including Sonny Styles, Faheem Delane, and Jaylen McClain, swarmed to the ball, limiting the Scarlet Knights’ offense to minimal gains.

Rutgers managed to find the end zone in the fourth quarter. A drive keyed by a 22-yard completion from Kaliakmanis to KJ Duff and several runs by Antwan Raymond ended with Raymond plunging in from one yard out. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 35 to 9.

Ohio State’s depth was on full display as backup quarterback Lincoln Kienholz entered the game and immediately made an impact with his legs, ripping off a 22-yard run to set up another touchdown. The scoring was finalized when running back James Peoples broke loose for a 49-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to its final margin of 42 to 9.

For Rutgers, the defensive effort was led by Dariel Djabome and Bo Mascoe, who each recorded nine tackles in a losing effort.

The Buckeyes now look ahead to their annual season-ending rivalry game against Michigan next Saturday. Rutgers will host Penn State on the same day, needing a victory to become bowl-eligible.