No. 4 Ohio state (2-0) got off to a rough start at home against visiting Tulsa (1-1), but some key defensive plays at the end of the first half and an extended delay at halftime due to severe weather rolling through Columbus allowed plenty of time to regroup and make some adjustments. As if Ohio State really needed any extra help in the first place. Ohio State outscored the Golden Hurricane 17-0 in the second half to pick up a second straight win to begin the season, winning 48-3.
Ohio State was locked with Tulsa in a battle of field goals and missed opportunities in the first half until a pair of pick-sixes by the Buckeyes defense provided much-needed energy to Ohio State right before the half. Malik Hooker returned one interception 26 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and moments later Marshon Lattimore returned one from 40 yards to turn a 6-3 dogfight into a 20-3 halftime lead as Tulsa was imploding as the rain started to drop on Ohio Stadium.
J.T. Barrett rushed for 52 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 149 yards in the victory for Ohio State, and Mike Weber emerged as the Buckeyes’ top running back with 92 yards and a score. Ohio State’s defense caused six turnovers as well as held the Golden Hurricane to fewer than 200 yards of total offense (189 yards). There was room for improvement for Ohio State, but credit should be given for Tulsa coming out and playing as they did. Tulsa showed it could have what it takes to be competitive in the American Athletic Conference this season, until they started making mistakes that could not stop developing. It also showed Ohio State’s overall talent advantage is difficult for most schools to overcome.
It may not have gone quite according to script for Ohio State, but they will most certainly take it as the next challenge looms.
Ohio State’s next test is a big one. The Buckeyes travel to Oklahoma to take on the Sooners in Norman next week in a clash between preseason favorites in the Big Ten and Big 12. Oklahoma may have stumbled in Week 1 against Houston, coached by former Ohio State assistant Tom Herman, but they present Ohio State with their biggest test in non-conference play during the regular season since a home-and-home series with USC when Pete Carroll and Matt Barkley were falling shy of expectations on the west coast. Yes, Ohio State did lose two years ago to Virginia Tech, but this will be the biggest regular season non-conference game for Urban Meyer since his arrival in Columbus.
Tulsa gets a chance to bounce back next week when they host North Carolina A&T before making a trip to California to play Fresno State the following week. Reaching conference play with a winning record is within sight. Tulsa’s offense is not as bad as it looked today. The chances Dane Evans has a four-interception game again are probably not very good.