Ohio State defeats Buffalo, 40-20

OSU: Braxton Miller left with cramps, threw 2 TDs; Hall rushes for 2 scores

Ohio State halfback Jordan Hall (7) celebrates scoring a touchdown with WR Devin Smith (9) during the second quarter against Buffalo today Columbus.

BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

Ohio State halfback Jordan Hall (7) celebrates scoring a touchdown with WR Devin Smith (9) during the second quarter against Buffalo today Columbus.

COLUMBUS —  Braxton Miller threw for a pair of touchdowns and Jordan Hall ran for two more as second-ranked Ohio State held off Buffalo 40-20 in today's season opener at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State halfback Jordan Hall (7) scores a touchdown against Buffalo during the second quarter.

The game was closer than expected. The Buckeyes blistered to a 23-0 lead on a pair of touchdown passes by Braxton Miller and a 49-yard scoring run by Jordan Hall, but played uneven the rest of the afternoon.

The Buckeyes' next three drives ended with a fourth-and-1 stop, a lost fumble by freshman Dontre Wilson, and Miller misreading a screen pass. Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown to pull the Bulls within 10 at 23-13. Hall answered with a 37-yard touchdown run to put OSU back ahead 30-13 at the half.

Miller went down with cramps in the third quarter, but backup Kenny Guiton led the Buckeyes into the end zone on his first drive. Guiton connected with Chris Fields to push OSU ahead 37-20. Miller returned and finished 15-of-22 passing for 178 yards while rushing for 71 yards on 15 carries.

3rd QUARTER

Ohio State leads 37-20 after trading touchdowns with Buffalo in the third quarter of today's season opener at Ohio Stadium.

The second-ranked Buckeyes blistered to a 23-0 lead on a pair of touchdown passes by Braxton Miller and a 49-yard scoring run by Jordan Hall. But they have stumbled since.

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The Buckeyes' next three drives ended with a fourth-and-1 stop, a lost fumble by freshman Dontre Wilson, and Miller misreading a screen pass. Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown to pull the Bulls within 10 at 23-13. Hall answered with a 37-yard touchdown and finished the half with 126 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Miller went down with cramps in the third quarter, but backup Kenny Guiton led the Buckeyes into the end zone on his first drive. Guiton connected with Fields to push OSU ahead 37-20.

HALFTIME

Ohio State leads Buffalo 30-13 at halftime of today’s season opener after an uneven second quarter.

The second-ranked Buckeyes blistered to a 23-0 lead on a pair of touchdown passes by Braxton Miller and a 49-yard scoring run by Jordan Hall. But their offense then stalled.

The Buckeyes were stopped on fourth-and-1 on their first drive, then Miller misread a screen pass on their next one. Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown to pull the Bulls within 10 at 23-13.

Hall answered with a 37-yard touchdown and finished the half with 126 yards rushing on 12 carries.

FIRST QUARTER

The Ohio State football team leads Buffalo 23-0 after the first quarter of a statement opener for the nation's second-ranked team.

Quarterback Braxton Miller found Devin Smith for a 47-yard touchdown on the Buckeyes' fourth offensive play, and the hosts continued to pile on. Miller followed with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Chris Fields and running back Jordan Hall ran untouched up the middle for a 49-yard score.

Coach Urban Meyer called for successful two-point conversions after the first two touchdowns before ending his extra-point boycott after the third.