Behind a record-setting performance from the offense, including six passing touchdowns from quarterback J.T. Barrett, the sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes cruised to a 77-10 victory over the Bowling Green State Falcons at Ohio Stadium in the kickoff to the 2016 regular season Saturday afternoon.
Starting his second regular-season opener in the last three years, Barrett completed 21 of his 31 attempts for 349 yards and six touchdowns after throwing an interception that was returned for a score by Bowling Green sophomore defensive back Brandon Harris, a native of East Cleveland, Ohio, with 12:19 to play in the first quarter.
Barrett added 30 yards and one touchdown on six carries.
Redshirt freshman running back Mike Weber turned 19 carries into 136 yards, while junior H-back Curtis Samuel accounted for 84 yards and one touchdown on 13 rushing attempts. True freshman Demario McCall gained 54 yards and scored one touchdown on eight carries. He added a 36-yard touchdown reception from back-up quarterback Joe Burrow in the second half.
In addition to his 84 rushing yards, Samuel added 177 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches.
Down 7-0 after the pick six, Barrett and the Buckeyes got rolling on their second possession and never let up.
Barrett engineered a four-play, 72-yard drive that took just 1:39 off the first-quarter clock and punctuated it with a 47-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver K.J. Hill.
After the Buckeyes’ defense forced Bowling Green to punt on each of its next two possessions, Barrett led touchdown drives of 91 and 73 yards, respectively. He completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Dontre Wilson and a 79-yard scoring throw to Samuel.
Barrett ended the first half with a 25-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Noah Brown and a nine-yard scoring run of his own.
Barrett guided three touchdown drives in the third quarter before his day came to an end.
All told, the Buckeyes recorded a team-record 776 yards of total offense. The previous mark of 718 yards was previously set against the Mount Union Purple Raiders in the 1930 season.
Individually, Barrett broke his own Ohio State single-game record by being responsible for seven touchdowns. His 379 yards of total offense were the seventh-most in a single game in Ohio State history.
Barrett carries a 16-2 record as a starting quarterback at Ohio State into next Saturday’s game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Ohio Stadium.
