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By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - For Rutgers, the post-game routine doesn't change even when the result does. So just as the Scarlet Knights did last week following their stirring comeback victory at Indiana, they'll look at game film from tonight's 49-7 loss to No. 1-ranked Ohio State, make corrections and quickly turn their attention to next week.

The season, after all, doesn't wait, and the countdown clock for a road game at Wisconsin next Saturday begins immediately.

"We'll watch the film and we'll see if there are some individual performances and players that performed well," head coach Kyle Flood said. "But you know, other than that, we've got to turn the page. We've got another game coming in less than seven days.

"We've got to learn from this, see what applies next week and then put our eyes forward. No different than we did last week when we were really excited about the outcome."

What a tape review will reinforce is this: The Buckeyes, defending national champions, are the nation's top-ranked team for a reason. Actually, for a bunch of them as a sellout crowd of 53,111 at High Point Solutions Stadium came to see first hand.

Ohio State built a 21-0 halftime lead and extended it to 49-0 before Rutgers reached the end zone with 13 seconds to play. The victory extended the nation's longest winning streak to 21 games and stretched the Buckeyes' Big Ten winning streak to 28 straight.

"They're the best team in the country," said Rutgers linebacker Steve Longa, who did what he could to slow the dynamic tandem of quarterback J.T. Barrett and running back Ezekiel Elliott, recording a career-high 19 tackles. "They played very well and they have a lot of weapons. They played like the No. 1 team in the country."

Barrett, making his first start of the year, was nothing short of spectacular, accounting for five touchdowns as Ohio State moved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten. He rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and was 14-of-18 for 223 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

"Here's what makes him so difficult to defend as a football player: You look at him in the run game, 13 carries for 104 yards, you say, `all right, there is a really athletic, running quarterback,' " Flood said. "But then, as a passer, he's 14-of-18.

"He is the prototype dual-threat quarterback and he puts a tremendous amount of stress on your defense whenever he has the football, because he can run it like a running back and he throws it very well like a quarterback."

Rutgers (3-4 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) hinted at throwing a quick scare into the Buckeyes by moving 64 yards on its opening drive. But the Scarlet Knights came away empty when Kyle Federico's 29-yard field goal attempt clanged off the left upright.

Rutgers would have to wait until the final 13 seconds, when Hayden Rettig connected on a four-yard touchdown pass to Andre Patton, for its next scoring chance.

"They're really good, probably one of the best defenses I've seen," said quarterback Chris Laviano. "But we didn't play well tonight. It's not a secret: You can't not play well against a good team."

After keeping Elliott in check throughout the first half - he had 15 rushing yards on nine carries then - Rutgers couldn't carry that over to the second half. Elliott's 13th straight 100-yard rushing performance was the main reason Ohio State opened the second half by scoring touchdowns on its first four possessions, rushing for 126 yards on 10 carries in the second half.

"They are a very talented football team," Flood said. "They have tremendous playmakers. There's a reason why I think they have won 28 straight regular-season Big Ten football games. They have got a good scheme and they have got very talented players in the scheme."

Laviano struggled against the Buckeyes' constant pressure, finishing 10-of-20 for 117 yards. The running game was limited to 104 yards, with Paul James leading the way with 56 on 10 carries.

Rutgers was also forced to go the entire second half without star wide receiver Leonte Carroo, who played the first half after being listed all week on the injury report as questionable with a lower body injury. Flood said the senior could not go the second half.