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No. 4 Ohio State began its most important stretch of the season with a resounding 59-31 win against No. 19 Purdue on Saturday, flexing its muscles offensively in a win that should cement its spot among the top four in the College Football Playoff Rankings.
C.J. Stroud threw for 361 yards and five touchdowns on 31-of-38 passing and wide receiver Garrett Wilson was a star in return from injury after sitting out against Nebraska last week. Wilson had 10 receptions on 11 targets for 126 yards and three touchdowns, adding a 51-yard touchdowns run to his all-purpose tally.
The offense scored on nine of its 11 possessions and totaled 624 yards of offense for the game. Ohio State entered the week ranked No. 2 nationally in yards per game (541.8) and yards per play (7.92), so Saturday's efficiency was a welcome sign after failing to meet the season averages on the scoreboard the last two times out against Penn State and Nebraska.
While Purdue trailed for most of the game, it was still able to move the ball through the air against the Buckeyes. Boilermakers quarterback Aidan O'Connell threw for 390 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with star wide receiver David Bell 11 times for 103 yards. Bell has totaled at least 100 yards receiving in his last three times out against a top-10 team. The difference this time was this effort did not come with a Purdue victory.
The win improved Ryan Day's unbeaten record against conference opponents to 22-0 with two of the toughest games of the season coming in the next couple of weeks against Michigan State and at Michigan.
