Ranking the Top 10 Plays from the First Half of Ohio State's Regular Season

By David Regimbal on October 12, 2018 at 11:40 am
Dwayne Haskins
© Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
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There have been no shortage of big plays during Ohio State's perfect 6-0 start to the season.

With Dwayne Haskins behind center, the Buckeyes rank third nationally in passing offense and fifth in scoring and total offense.

The defense hasn't played to a similar standard, but the unit has managed to make a number of game-breaking plays. 

Now that Ohio State is officially at the midway point of the regular season, here's a look back at the top 10 plays so far. 

10: Mike Weber Breaks Off A 48-Yard Touchdown Run vs Oregon State

GIF: Mike Weber rips off a long touchdown run against Oregon State

The ground game has been inconsistent all year, but it looked unstoppable against the Beavers, piling up 375 rushing yards on opening weekend. Mike Weber spearheaded the attack with186 yards, highlighted by this 48-yard score.

9: J.K. Dobbins Gets Ohio State on the Board vs. Penn State

GIF: J.K. Dobbins turns a Dwayne Haskins screen into points against Penn State

Things looked dire in the first half against Penn State, which built a 13-point lead while completely stifling Ohio State's offense. A timely fumble recovery set Ohio State up in scoring position right before the first half, and J.K. Dobbins capitalized by taking a screen pass 26 yards to the house.

8: Binjimen Victor's Over-the-Shoulder Touchdown Catch vs. Indiana

Victor taps both feet for 6

Haskins has so many perfectly placed touchdown passes through six games that it was hard to narrow down the best, but Victor's tightrope touchdown catch against Indiana gets the nod. He didn't get just one foot in either — that would've been six on Sunday as well.

7: Parris Campbell's 63-Yard Touchdown Catch vs. TCU

GIF: Parris Campbell takes a pass 63 yards for a touchdown against TCU

TCU looked like the faster team for a large stretch of the first half, but that changed after the break when Campbell broke a screen 63 yards past the Horned Frogs defense.

6: Tate Martell's 47-Yard Touchdown Run vs. Rutgers

GIF: Tate Martell breaks off a 47-yard touchdown run on Rutgers

Haskins is on his way to rewriting Ohio State's single-season record book, but Tate Martell has proved plenty capable when given the opportunity. That was most apparent against Rutgers, when he ripped off a dazzling 47-yard touchdown scamper.

5: Nick Bosa's Strip Sack and Davon Hamilton's Recovery for a Touchdown vs. TCU

GIF: Nick Bosa's strip sack of Shawn Robinson

The last time we saw Bosa on the field, he flirted with felony assault charges for what he did to TCU's offensive line and quarterback Shawn Robinson. Midway through the first quarter, he beat the left tackle and got to Robinson to force a strip sack, and Hamilton pounced on the ball for the first touchdown of the game.

4: Dre'Mont Jones' Pick-Six vs. TCU

GIF: Dre'Mont Jones goes ham on a pick six

Ohio State's rally started with Campbell's touchdown catch, but Jones put the Buckeyes up for good when he perfectly telegraphed an attempted shuttle-pass from TCU. Jones snatched it out of the air and rumbled 28 yards for the Buckeyes' second defensive touchdown of the game.

3: Victor's Weaving 47 Yard Score vs. Penn State

GIF: Ben Victor houses a pass for an Ohio State touchdown

Most Buckeye fans were starting to come to terms with another loss to Penn State under the famed white out conditions, but momentum swung drastically when Victor stretched to haul in a tough Haskins pass, then weaved his way through the Nittany Lions' defense for a 47-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game.

2: Chase Young's Tackle For Loss to Seal the Win vs. Penn State

GIF: Chase Young eats Miles Sanders to win the game

Penn State needed five yards for a first down and 15 yards to give its kicker a chance to hit the game-winning field goal. Instead of keeping the ball in the hot hands of Trace McSorley, the Nittany Lions handed it off to Miles Sanders, who was swallowed up by Chase Young on fourth down. 

1: K.J. Hill's Go-Ahead Score vs. Penn State

GIF: K.J. Hill's winner at Penn State

The game winner. Down by five and needing 96 yards on its final offensive drive of the game, Haskins mechanically marched the Buckeyes down the field. He capped the drive with a screen pass to K.J. Hill, and perfect perimeter blocking from Austin Mack and Terry McLaurin opened things up for the go-ahead 24-yard touchdown.

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