No. 1/3 OHIO STATE 35 (9-0, 6-0), RUTGERS 16 (6-3, 3-3)
SHI STADIUM • PISCATAWAY, N.J.
NOVEMBER 4, 2023 • ATTENDANCE: 53,703
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers football (6-3, 3-3) lost to No. 1/3 Ohio State (9-0, 6-0), 35-6, on Saturday afternoon in front of 53,703 fans at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights led the Buckeyes at halftime and outgained the visitors, 361-328, but OSU closed out the road victory.
RB
Kyle Monangai produced his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game on a game-high 24 carries for 159 yards, while QB
Gavin Wimsatt threw a 19-yard touchdown to WR
JaQuae Jackson. PK
Jai Patel drilled three field goals in the first half.
LB
Mohamed Toure tallied eight tackles, a sack and an interception, while LB
Deion Jennings tied his career high with 13 tackles, including one tackle-for-loss.
Rutgers' defense held strong in the opening 15 minutes of play, forcing the Buckeyes to a three-and-out on their opening possession and allowing just a touchdown before the first break. Toure recorded a sack late in the first quarter, as OSU held just a 7-0 lead heading into the second.
The Scarlet Knights forced Ohio State to punt during their opening possession of the second quarter and followed with their first scoring drive of the afternoon. Facing fourth-and-one from RU's own 43-yard line, QB Gavin Wimsatt executed a perfect direct snap to Monangai, who took it 45 yards inside OSU territory. Patel then drilled his first field goal – a 22-yard attempt – to make it 7-3 with 7:49 before halftime.
RU took advantage of a fake punt attempt from the Buckeyes on their side of the field, driving 29 yards to set up Patel for another field goal try. The South Brunswick, New Jersey, native connected from 21 yards out, as Rutgers trailed by just one at the 2:22 mark.
Toure once again made an impact, as he picked off OSU QB Kyle McCord to give the Scarlet Knights a scoring opportunity. Wimsatt completed three passes during the drive, including a 13-yard completion to TE Johnny Langan close to the goal line. Patel's third field goal gave RU a 9-7 lead heading into the locker room.
Ohio State was the first to score out of the break as it took an interception back for a touchdown. The defensive score put the Buckeyes up 14-9 midway through the third quarter. OSU added another touchdown – this one courtesy of a nine-yard scoring run from RB TreVeyon Henderson – for a 21-9 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
