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CJ Stroud Makes Heisman Race Statement as No. 4 Ohio State Routs No. 7 Michigan State

Nov 20, 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 20: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave #2 celebrates a touchdown during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on November 20, 2021. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 20: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave #2 celebrates a touchdown during the game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan State Spartans at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on November 20, 2021. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes have the best wide receivers in college football this season, and maybe the best quarterback, too. Just ask Michigan State.

C.J. Stroud and the receiving trio of Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba smoked the No. 7 Spartans (9-2) on Saturday, leading the way in Ohio State's 56-7 blowout home win, a result that has huge implications in the Big Ten title race.

Ohio State's three-headed monster at wideout combined for 24 catches, 371 yards and five scores. Borderline comical production. And by the time the first half mercifully ended, with the Buckeyes up 49-0, Stroud had already thrown for 393 yards and six touchdowns.

There are blowouts, and then there are blowouts. This was certainly the latter.

The win moved the Buckeyes to 10-1 and 8-0 in the Big Ten. They are a victory away from winning the Big Ten East and earning a berth in the Big Ten title game, though Michigan (9-1, 6-1) looms next week. Michigan State's conference title hopes and College Football Playoff aspirations have vanished, however.

Key Stats

C.J. Stroud, OSU: 32-of-35 for 432 yards and six touchdowns

Chris Olave, OSU: Seven catches for 140 yards and two scores

Garrett Wilson, OSU: Seven catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns

Payton Thorne, MSU: 14-of-36 for 158 yards and a score

Kenneth Walker III, MSU: Six carries for 25 yards; one catch for four yards

Keon Coleman, MSU: Three catches for 27 yards and a touchdown

C.J. Stroud Has to Be the Heisman Favorite After Saturday's Performance

Stroud didn't even need to have a statement game against Michigan State. He said all he needed to say in the first half.

There's no doubt he'll be the unquestioned leader in the clubhouse for this year's Heisman Trophy after Saturday's performance. Unless he lays an absolute egg next week against Michigan, the hardware should be his.

One of Stroud's primary competitors for the Heisman coming into the matchup was Walker. But after being a non-factor against the Ohio State defense, Walker likely will fade from contention. This appears to be a race between Stroud and Alabama's Bryce Young now.

MSU's Pass Defense Cost Them Everything This Season

Coming into Saturday, Michigan State was giving up 329 passing yards per game, the worst mark in the nation. Against Ohio State's incredibly deadly passing game, those deficiencies were more than exposed.

https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1462116470607986697

For most of the season, Michigan State has weathered the storm. But in losses to Purdue (536 passing yards allowed) and Ohio State (449 passing yards allowed), the Spartans couldn't find shelter.

It didn't help that Michigan State's offense failed to do anything against Ohio State and never established Walker and the run game. A bit of ball control certainly would have helped.

But this game was lost by Michigan State's complete inability to defend the pass. When these players and coaches reflect upon this season in the future, they'll lament that particular Achilles' heel.

What's Next?

The big one. Ohio State travels to Michigan next Saturday at noon ET, with absolutely everything on the line for both teams. Michigan State will look to stay in the running for a solid bowl game when it hosts Penn State next Saturday (time TBD).

No. 4 Ohio State Beats No. 19 Purdue 59-31 Behind Garrett Wilson's 4 Total TDs

Nov 14, 2021
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud looks for a a receiver during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud looks for a a receiver during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Ohio State did not fall victim to the Purdue curse thanks to an easy 59-31 victory on Saturday at the Horseshoe.

After previously knocking Iowa and Michigan State from the ranks of the unbeaten, the Boilermakers faced their biggest test of the season this week.

Ohio State came into this matchup with a blemish on its resume, but head coach Ryan Day's squad had been averaging 47.3 points in seven games since losing to Oregon on Sept. 11.

It's been three years since these two Big Ten programs last met. Purdue stunned the Buckeyes, who were undefeated, 49-20 in that game to keep them out of the College Football Playoff.

There was no doubt about the outcome of this game. Ohio State was up by 14 at the end of the first quarter and scored 45 points in the first half.

Neither offense had any trouble moving the ball in this game. Both teams combined for 1,105 total yards. Quarterbacks C.J. Stroud and Aidan O'Connell each threw for more than 350 yards.

Garrett Wilson, who entered the game with six touchdowns all season, found the end zone four times. He finished with a season-high 126 yards on 10 receptions.

Notable Game Stats

  • C.J. Stroud (OSU): 31-of-38, 361 yards, 5 TD
  • Miyan Williams (OSU): 14 carries, 117 yards
  • TreVeyon Henderson (OSU): 13 carries, 98 yards, 2 TD
  • Garrett Wilson (OSU): 10 receptions, 126 yards, 3 TD; 1 carry, 51 yards, TD
  • Aidan O'Connell (PUR): 40-of-52, 390 yards, 4 TD
  • David Bell (PUR): 11 receptions, 103 yards
  • Milton Wright (PUR): 7 receptions, 98 yards, TD

Stroud Strengthens Heisman Resume

Coming into this week, Matt Fortuna of The Athletic conducted a straw poll featuring writers from the website to vote for the Heisman. Not surprisingly, Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III was the runaway winner with 69 first-place votes and 88 total points.

Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis was second with 15 first-place votes and 36 points. A quick scan of the entire list shows that Stroud didn't receive any support.

For a quarterback of one of the best teams in the nation who entered this week completing 67 percent of his attempts for 2,675 yards and 25 touchdowns not to be at least in the conversation seemed odd.

To be fair, Stroud was coming off his worst game against Nebraska with two interceptions. The talking point coming out of that was why he wasn't running the ball:

Stroud did acknowledge recently that he suffered a separated AC joint in his right shoulder during the season opener against Minnesota. It's plausible he may not want to take any additional hits to protect the injury.

After Saturday's dominant performance, Stroud deserves to be talked about in the same breath as Walker, Davis and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. The freshman sensation has thrown for at least 300 yards in five of the past six games. He has thrown at least four touchdowns four times during that span.

Stroud could be dinged in a similar way that Mac Jones was last season.

Jones had a brilliant 2020 for Alabama, but he played on arguably the best roster Nick Saban has ever assembled. DeVonta Smith was certainly a deserving Heisman winner with 1,856 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns catching passes from Jones.

Stroud absolutely benefits from playing on a team that has TreVeyon Henderson at running back and the trio of wide receivers Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Chris Olave.

It's telling about how deep the Buckeyes are that Olave is the third-leading receiver in a game but still manages 85 yards on nine receptions.

There are plenty of accolades to go around on this offense. Ohio State's dominant performance this week should quiet any concerns after a close call against Nebraska.

It's a good thing the Buckeyes appear to have hit their stride because things don't get any easier. They have to play Michigan State and Michigan to wrap up the regular season.

O'Connell Shines, but Boilermakers Defense Falters

Saturday's game, while not a complete embarrassment for the program, was certainly a step back. O'Connell's performance is one of the positives to take away. The senior followed up his 536-yard showing against the Spartans with 390 yards and four touchdowns.

O'Connell's last three games have seen him make a dramatic turn. The Illinois native has thrown nine touchdowns with zero interceptions and is completing 75.5 percent of his passes.

For comparison, in his first six games, O'Connell threw one more interception (eight) than touchdowns (seven).

As good as he was, though, the Boilermakers defense wasn't able to do anything against Ohio State. The Buckeyes scored touchdowns on seven of their first eight possessions. The one non-touchdown drive ended with a field goal.

Ohio State's only non-scoring drive was a three-and-out midway through the third quarter. Purdue got back in the game on its ensuing offensive possession thanks to an 87-yard drive capped off by a touchdown pass to Jackson Anthrop that made the score 52-31.

Already boasting wins over then-No. 2 Iowa and then-No. 5 Michigan State, the Boilermakers are certainly in the midst of their best season under head coach Jeff Brohm.

They have already won as many games in 2021 as they did in the previous two years combined (six).

The victory over Michigan State last week was enough to get the College Football Playoff selection committee to put Purdue at No. 19 in this week's rankings.

Even with Saturday's slip-up against a team that is just better across the board, though, the Boilermakers have had a successful year no matter what happens the rest of the way. They are already bowl eligible for the first time since 2018, with two games left on the schedule.

What's Next?

Ohio State plays Michigan State at the Horseshoe in a game that could determine the Big Ten East champion next Saturday. Purdue will take on Northwestern at Wrigley Field in Chicago the same day.

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