Ohio State, down 2 DBs, get key pick-six in win

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Elder WriterNov 4, 2023, 10:54 AM ET

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  • College football press reporter.
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.No.

1 Ohio State scored a 35-16 win over Rutgers on Saturday without beginning protective backs Denzel Burke and Lathan Ransom in a game that turned on cornerback Jordan Hancock’s 93-yard interception return for a touchdown.The Buckeyes trailed 9-7 at the half, and Rutgers appeared prepared to contribute to that lead when it took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and drove to the Ohio State 20. On second down, quarterback Gavin

Wimsatt tried to loop at circulate the 5-yard line. Running back Kyle Monangai and security Josh Proctor clashed, and the ball popped in the air. Hancock grabbed the fluttering ball, turned and headed upfield and never ever stopped to give Ohio State a 14-9 lead.Rutgers cut the deficit to 21-16 in the 4th quarter, however Ohio State

put the game away with a pair of goal passes to Marvin Harrison Jr.Burke, the team’s top cornerback, missed his second game in three weeks due to the fact that of an ankle injury. He left an Oct. 14 game versus Purdue in the 3rd quarter, sat the following week against Penn State and then returned Oct. 28 at Wisconsin and taped one take on. Ransom left the field in the fourth quarter against Wisconsin with a noncontact injury to his left leg and was carted to the locker room. He had 3 tackles, one for a loss, against the Badgers and has 34 takes on, an interception and a forced fumble this season.Emeka Egbuka, the Buckeyes ‘No. 2 receiver behind Harrison, played in his very first game because Oct. 7 versus Maryland and had four receptions for 29 yards.Rutgers was without beginning nose deal with Mayan Ahanotu and linebacker Tyreem Powell, its prominent tackler who is out for the season

with a hand injury.The Associated Press added to this report.