Ohio State Football: Buckeyes Roll, 77-10

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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With so many new faces set to make their debuts, the 2016 opener took on a heightened sense of anticipation for Buckeyes fans. By the time the game was over, it also carried a historic feel to it as well.

Behind monster days from J.T. Barrett and Curtis Samuel, the Buckeyes offense racked up 776 yards of total offense, the most in school history.

The game got off to a rather inauspicious start when J.T. Barrett was picked off by Brandon Harris on the opening drive, and Harris returned it all the way to give Bowling Green an early 7-0 lead.

That would be as good as it got for the Falcons, though, as the Buckeyes offense wasted no time in answering.

A 47-yard Barrett pass to K.J. Hill capped off the ensuing drive, and evened up the score at 7. The drive took all of a minute and a half, and the Buckeyes were off to the races.

456 yards of total offense later, Ohio State was heading into the break with a 35-10 lead.

Barrett was responsible for all five first half touchdowns, including four passes and a 9-yard run. He would add two more in the second half to give him the single game school record. He finished with 349 passing yards, good for a new career high.

For all of the focus that was on Barrett, and rightfully so, Samuel may have entered the game a bit under the radar. After churning out 261 yards of total offense, and finding the endzone three times, he will surely be on everyone’s radar moving forward.

His nine catches and 177 receiving yards were both easily career highs.

Freshman running back Mike Weber, making his first start since being named the heir apparent to departed Ezekiel Elliott, didn’t disappoint in his much anticipated debut. He ran for 136 yards on 19 carries.

As prolific as the Ohio State offense was, the defense also turned in an impressive opening statement. The Silver Bullets held the Falcons to just 244 yards of total offense, and only 69 yards on 28 carries.

Safety Malik Hooker, making the first start of his career, came up with two interceptions in the game. They were the first interceptions of his career.

All was not roses for the defense, though, as they will most likely be without junior Tracy Sprinkle for the rest of the year. He was carted off of the field with an apparent knee injury, and Meyer’s comments in the postgame press conference all but confirmed that surgery was on the way.

The loss will further test an interior defensive line that is still searching for a rotation of players that the coaching staff feels comfortable moving forward with.

All in all, it was a successful opening act for a team that still has a lot of growth ahead of them. It is hard to take away too much from the performance, given the talent discrepancy, but the good vibes will certainly help to propel the Buckeyes forward as they look to get better every week.

Ohio State will take on Tulsa in The Horseshoe next Saturday. That kickoff is set for 3:30.