Rob Oller’s second thoughts
• Anyone who thought losing Joe Burrow to LSU would hamstring Ohio State’s quarterback situation needs to think again. Even if Burrow blossoms on the Bayou, the Buckeyes are in great shape with the 1-2 punch of Dwayne Haskins Jr. and Tate Martell (it’s not 1 and 1a quite yet). Haskins turned in another superb performance against Rutgers — yes, I know, we’re talking Rutgers — and Martell showed off a strong and accurate arm to go with shifty running. Plus, the backup bounced up after taking a nasty hit.
• Oregon State and Rutgers are not exactly Bama and Clemson — not even Minnesota or Purdue — but through the first two games, Ohio State’s offense is carving up defenses the way it should against chopped liver. The Buckeyes have scored on 10 of their first 11 possessions in the past two weeks. Anyone watching the OSU of recent vintage knows quick starts have not been a forte. This team is changing that, largely through better play-calling and passing. In the first quarter against the Beavers and Scarlet Knights, Haskins was a combined 18-of-21 passing for 221 yards and four touchdowns.
• Rutgers would be a middle-of-the-pack program — in the Mid-American Conference. The Scarlet Knights were supposed to be improved this season, and they might be — Ohio State defeated them by scores of 56-0 and 58-0 the past two years, so 52-3 is a baby step in the right direction, but that’s like being the smartest goldfish. Rutgers is overmatched in the Big Ten, and earned an invitation only because the Big Ten Network wanted into the New York media market. It was a money deal. But competitively, the Nots are out of their league.