ESPN Stats & Information 9y

Big plays big part of Ohio State offense in 2015

At times, the Ohio State offense looked as if it was being operated by an excited fan playing a video game with all the spin moves and fancy cuts.

The Buckeyes had three touchdowns of 50 yards or more in their win over Virginia Tech on Monday night. All three were rather impressive.

Ezekiel Elliott had the first, an 80-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter. That gave him six rushing touchdowns in his past six quarters and three touchdown runs of 50 yards or more in his past four games. It was the third 80-yard touchdown run of Elliott’s career, all within his past four games. His career-best is the 85-yard run he had in last year’s playoff semifinal against Alabama.

Elliott's three 80-yard runs since the start of last season are the most in FBS. This one against the Hokies included 75 yards after contact. He finished the game with 122 rushing yards.

The next came on a 54-yard touchdown pass from Cardale Jones to Braxton Miller 31 seconds into the third quarter. It was a nice bounceback for Jones, who went 0-for-4 with an interception in the second quarter when Virginia Tech outscored Ohio State, 17-0. Jones was 9-of-14 outside of the second quarter.

Jones, who was 4-of-6 for 131 yards and two touchdowns on throws 20 or more yards downfield, connected with Miller on two of the three times he targeted him.

The last was Miller’s 53-yard run on a wildcat keeper. Braxton Miller is the first Ohio State player with a 50-yard TD run and a 50-yard touchdown catch in a game since Ted Ginn Jr. in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame. The last Big Ten player to do it was Akeen Hunt of Purdue versus Eastern Michigan in 2012.

Virginia Tech allowed four touchdowns of at least 50 yards last season but is only one shy of that in 2015 after Monday's game.

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