Ohio State rides passing game to rout of UNLV

Barrett didn’t play the last series of the half and didn’t return to the game in the second half with Ohio State leading 44-7 at halftime. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 209 yards. He passed Bobby Hoying to move into second place in Ohio State history in career passing yards.

Big picture: The Buckeyes (3-1) did what they had to do the last two weeks against big underdogs: win and win big. They routed Army 38-7 and then UNLV after losing at home to Oklahoma. They begin a stretch of eight straight Big Ten games on Sept. 30 at Rutgers. They return home the following week with a home game against Maryland.

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Key stat: The Buckeyes completed all three of their fourth-down attempts in the first half.

Big play: Parris Campbell turned a short pass into a 69-yard touchdown, the first of the game. He led Ohio State with three catches for 105 yards.

Dobbins’ day: Freshman J.K. Dobbins rushed 14 times for 95 yards with a long run of 25.

Defensive gems: Dre'Mont Jones tackled UNLV running back Lexington Thomas in the end zone for a safety to give Ohio State a 16-0 lead. Damon Webb and Damon Arnette each had interceptions in the first half.

Career firsts: Redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins threw his first career touchdown pass on the last drive of the half, finding walk-on wide receiver C.J. Saunders for a 28-yard touchdown pass. It was the first career reception for Saunders.

Tight end Rashod Berry also scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard pass from Haskins.

Worst play: Haskins threw an interception in the fourth quarter that Javin White returned 65 yards for a touchdown.

Injury note: Wayne grad Robert Landers didn't play. He watched the game from the bench with a walking boot on his left foot.