For the second straight week, the Ohio State offense got off to a slow start.
This time, though, the Buckeyes could not overcome it.
Ohio State fell to Oklahoma on Saturday night in Columbus, 31-16, as Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield shredded the Buckeye defense for 386 yards and three scores through the air.
On the other side of things, the Buckeyes struggled to get much going on offense, as quarterback J.T. Barrett threw for 183 yards. At one point in the fourth quarter, Barrett had completed just 10-of-21 passes for 84 yards and an interception.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 OHIO STATE | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 16 |
| #5 OKLAHOMA | 0 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 31 |
The Sooners out-gained the Buckeyes 222-92 in the first half and did not attempt a punt until there were six minutes left in the third quarter. Oklahoma was also able to overcome two first half turnovers, allowing just three Ohio State points in the first 30 minutes.
After a less than impressive first half, Ohio State opened the second half with a long kick return from Parris Campbell, giving the Buckeyes excellent field position at the Oklahoma 44-yard line.
Barrett and freshman running back J.K. Dobbins moved the Buckeyes down the field, and Dobbins scampered into the end zone from six yards out, giving Ohio State a 10-3 lead.
The Sooners responded, as Mayfield found wide open fullback Dimitri Flowers over the middle for a 36-yard touchdown pass. Flowers outran Ohio State safety Erick Smith into the end zone, tying the game at 10 apiece.
| Ohio State | Oklahoma | |
|---|---|---|
| 350 | NET TOTAL YARDS | 490 |
| 167 | RUSHING YARDS | 104 |
| 34 | RUSHING ATTEMPTS | 37 |
| 4.9 | AVERAGE PER RUSH | 2.8 |
| 1 | RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS | 1 |
| 183 | PASSING YARDS | 386 |
| 19-35 | COMPLETIONS–ATTEMPTS | 27-35 |
| 9.6 | AVERAGE PER COMPLETION | 14.3 |
| 0 | PASSING TOUCHDOWNS | 3 |
| 21 | 1st DOWNS | 27 |
| 11 | RUSHING 1st DOWNS | 6 |
| 9 | PASSING 1st DOWNS | 17 |
| 1 | PENALTY 1st DOWNS | 4 |
| 69 | TOTAL PLAYS | 72 |
| 5.1 | YARDS PER PLAY | 6.8 |
| 4-4 | RED ZONE | 4-5 |
| 7-15 | 3rd DOWNS | 4-11 |
| 0-1 | 4th DOWNS | 1–3 |
| 9-87 | PENALTIES | 3-26 |
| 24:43 | POSSESSION | 35:17 |
Following three straight runs by Dobbins on the ensuing drive, Barrett connected with wide receiver Austin Mack on a corner route for a gain of 31 yards to set up 1st-and-goal from the 10-yard line. Mack, however, was injured on the catch and would not return to the game.
Two Barrett rush attempts were preceded by an incomplete pass to K.J. Hill before kicker Sean Nuernberger connected on his second field goal of the night to put Ohio State back in front, 13-10, with 8:10 to play in the third quarter.
After the two teams traded punts, Mayfield led a four play, 92-yard drive that ended in an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lee Morris. The touchdown, Mayfield's second of the night, gave Oklahoma a 17-13 lead with 2:17 to play in the third quarter.
The Sooners extended their lead again early in the fourth, as Mayfield threw his third touchdown pass to running back Trey Sermon, who muscled into the end zone for a 10-yard score with 11:11 to play in the game.
On the first play of Ohio State's ensuing drive, Barrett threw an interception to Oklahoma's Parnell Motley, which led to a 3-yard score from Sooner Jordan Smallwood, pushing the OU lead to 31-13.
Nuernberger would add a fourth quarter field goal with 6:29 to play to close the scoring at 31-16.
Nuernberger finished the game with three field goals on the night, scoring the first points of the game following an Oklahoma fumble in the second quarter.
After missing his first attempt, Oklahoma kicker Austin Seibert connected on a 35-yard field goal to knot the score at 3-3 heading into the halftime locker room.
Game Notes
● Saturday’s crowd of 109,088 was the second largest in Ohio Stadium history and the largest in a home opener.
● Chris Worley recorded his second career forced fumble. Jashon Cornell recorded his first career fumble recovery on the play.
● Damon Webb scooped up his first career fumble recovery.
● J.K. Dobbins’ six-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the first of his career.
● In the third quarter, J.T. Barrett surpassed 10,000 yards of career total offense.
● Drue Chrisman dropped all four of his punts inside the 20-yard line.
● Damon Webb set a career high with nine tackles while Chris Worley tied his career-high 11 stops.
