Ohio State's offense made no small number of highlight plays in the first half against Michigan State.
After what many considered an uncharacteristic performance for C.J. Stroud against Rutgers in Week 5, the Ohio State quarterback has shined for the Buckeyes in East Lansing, collecting 285 yards and four touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes.
Ohio State's first score was a connection from Stroud to Marvin Harrison Jr., who ended up with two touchdown catches from Stroud in the first half. The Buckeye offense moved deep into Michigan State territory and into the red zone when Stroud dropped back to pass and found and tossed a beautiful back-shoulder pass to Harrison in the front left corner of the end zone.
This pass and catch from C.J. Stroud and Marvin Harrison Jr. was a thing of beauty.pic.twitter.com/c1KVZw4Ha4
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 8, 2022
On the offense's next drive, Stroud and Emeka had a miscommunication that resulted in a pick-six for the Michigan State defense. However, they made up for it on the next possession with a connection that resulted in a 69-yard touchdown for the Buckeyes. The score pushed Stroud past Justin Fields for the second-most touchdown passes in program history with 64.
You love to see this from C.J. Stroud and Emeka Egbuka.pic.twitter.com/maWH3hMIxF
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 8, 2022
Ohio State's third score once again came via the arm of Stroud. This time, the redshirt sophomore signal-caller threw a dart over the middle of the field to Julian Fleming, who did the rest of the work for a 51-yard touchdown. Fleming has now scored in every game he's played this season and has five touchdowns in the last four contests.
It's a good thing when Julian Fleming catches touchdowns.pic.twitter.com/xnX6Y0RqJH
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 8, 2022
TreVeyon Henderson, who rushed for 117 yards in the first half, was the next Buckeye to reach the end zone from 1 yard out. However, it was not the biggest highlight of that scoring drive. That claim belongs to Stroud and Harrison, as the pair converted on an over-the-shoulder pass that required significant touch from the former and next-level tracking from the latter.
An absolutely unreal play here from C.J. Stroud and Marvin Harrison Jr.pic.twitter.com/9CykIUwKKj
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 8, 2022
TreVeyon Henderson's first half was something else.pic.twitter.com/8fOYip3ym3
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 8, 2022
Stroud and Harrison's third and final highlight of the first half came when they connected for a 28-yard strike with a little over a minute remaining in the second quarter, completing a nine-play, 91-yard drive that started on the Ohio State 9-yard line.
Route Man Marv is having a day for the Buckeyes. pic.twitter.com/4RrlZjCUgW
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 8, 2022
Ohio State leads Michigan State, 35-13, at the break and will receive the opening kickoff in the second half.
