EditorsNote: rewords eighth graf
Justin Fields threw four touchdown passes, and J.K. Dobbins scored twice and rushed for 121 yards as No. 4 Ohio State defeated Northwestern 52-3 on Friday in Evanston, Ill.
The Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) tuned up for their Oct. 26 showdown against sixth-ranked Wisconsin in Columbus by powering to a 31-3 halftime lead against the Wildcats (1-5, 0-4).
Northwestern trailed only 7-3 after the first quarter, but Ohio State blew the game open by halftime, capped by a career-long, 55-yard field goal from junior Blake Haubeil as time expired.
The Buckeyes have outscored opponents 158-20 in their past three games.
Fields was 18 of 23 for 194 yards. He has thrown for 22 touchdowns against one interception and added eight rushing TDs.
Dobbins led the charge in the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown catch for a 14-3 lead at 12:44.
On the next possession, he raced 68 yards to the 5, his fourth 50-yard plus run of the season, then ran it in from there on the next play.
A bad snap on a Northwestern punt attempt led to a 28-3 advantage. The Buckeyes took over at the Wildcats 15, and Fields spotted Chris Olave on second down in the right corner of the end zone for an 8-yard score.
Olave also had a 20-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.
Northwestern answered Olave's first score with a 33-yard field goal by Charlie Kuhbander with 3:05 left in the first before the Buckeyes exploded.
Fields extended the lead to 38-3 on Ohio State's first possession of the third quarter with a 23-yard touchdown to Austin Mack, and the Buckeyes cruised from there.
With Ohio State leading 45-3, backup running back Master Teague ran 73 yards for a touchdown with 7:46 to play. Teague had 96 yards on seven carries.
Northwestern quarterback Aidan Smith was 6 for 20 for 42 yards and an interception. The Wildcats managed just 199 total yards to Ohio State's 480.
--Field Level Media
