Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech Recap

Final Score: Ohio State 42, Virginia Tech 24

Sept. 7 – Ohio State appeared to be ready to crush and kill getting out to an early 14-0 lead on a 24-yard Cardale Jones touchdown pass and an 80-yard Ezekiel Elliott run, but Virginia Tech roared back, taking advantage of Buckeye miscues to score 17 straight second quarter points helped by two Michael Brewer touchdown passes. Brewer got knocked out of the game with a broken collarbone, and then it was all Ohio State. Braxton Miller put on a show, catching a 54-yard touchdown pass – stumbling into the end zone – and used a brilliant spin move for a 53-yard touchdown. A ten-yard Cardale Jones scoring run and a 26-yard Michael Thomas catch from J.T. Barrett put it well out of reach.

Quick Reaction: Ohio State

– And here’s the scary part – Ohio State was missing, arguably, the best player in college football in Joey Bosa and a few key offensive weapons. It didn’t matter. Braxton Miller looked like an NFL-caliber receiver, Cardale Jones looked like an NFL starting quarterback – at least when he wasn’t spraying his passes – and the Buckeyes had NFL player after NFL player doing big things. It wasn’t a perfect performance with three turnovers, a few Week One defensive breakdowns, and a second quarter letdown, but this was supposed to be a dangerous game and it turned into a blowout.

– Cardale Jones completed 9-of-18 passes for 186 yards and two scores with a pick, and ran 13 times for 99 yards and a touchdown. Ezekiel Elliott ran 11 times for 122 yards and a touchdown. Braxton Miller caught two passes for 78 yards and a score, and ran six times for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Quick Reaction: Virginia Tech

– The outcome wouldn’t have been different if Michael Brewer didn’t get hurt, but it sure didn’t help the cause getting knocked out with a broken collarbone. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns, showing off a calm veteran poise, but it didn’t matter. The defense still has one of the best secondaries in college football, and the pass rush is still going to be tremendous, but Ohio State is simply at a whole other level. There’s no shame this year in losing to that team – especially after throwing a scare at it in the second quarter.

– The Hokies were outgained 360 yards to 128 on the ground. OSU averaged 9.7 yards per carry, Virginia Tech 2.9

Ohio State – Virginia Tech Game Rating: B

Ohio State uses dominant second half to jet past Virginia Tech in Blacksburg

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If Virginia Tech didn’t hang a loss on Ohio State tonight, it’s probable that no one will until at least the playoff.

This could be as vulnerable as the Buckeyes will be all fall. Opening night. In Blacksburg. And their best player, DE Joey Bosa, one of four kids suspended for the game. And yet, despite some hiccups in the second quarter, the defending champs still won comfortably.

The universal truth about Urban Meyer’s teams is that they always improve, year-over-year and in-season. That was the case at Utah and Florida … and now in Columbus. And that’s what makes the task of dethroning Ohio State so daunting for the other 127 FBS schools. Bosa will be back, as will offensive weapons Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson and Corey Smith. Braxton Miller? He’s only begun to scratch the surface of his enormous potential as a multi-dimensional playmaker.

The Buckeyes punched their way off the ropes tonight, just like any great heavyweight champ would do. And no, the outcome wouldn’t have been that much different had Hokie QB Michael Brewer not been shelved in the third quarter.

Now that the Virginia Tech game is in the vault, Ohio State is about to amass a wicked head of steam, because as dominant as this team looked over the final two quarters tonight, Meyer knows his guys can get a whole lot stronger over the next three months.

Ohio State vs. Virginia Tech Highlights