COLUMBUS — Oh, it was ugly all right. Predictably, utterly, and inevitably ugly, yet again.

Ohio State’s 52-3 mugging of Rutgers on Saturday has become so thoroughly routine the Buckeyes’ reserves look like a solid favorite every year to also impale the Scarlet Knights. Remarkably, this was actually an improvement after 58-0 and 56-0 blowouts in the previous two meetings.

Larry Phillips mug shot

“Obviously we ran into a really good football team today,” said Rutgers’ coach Chris Ash, the former defensive coordinator at Ohio State. “When you play teams like this, especially on the road, the margin for error is very, very small. We made a lot of mistakes. They took advantage of those mistakes, capitalized on those mistakes, and you just can’t do that against good teams.”

The fourth-ranked Buckeyes are an outstanding team, but it’s hard to know how good. Their first two victims, Oregon State and Rutgers, are strong contenders for the cellar in the Pac-12 and Big Ten, respectively.

Still, Ohio State is doing exactly what a strong team should do against overmatched foes, pound them. The Urban Meyer-less Buckeyes hammered Oregon State 77-31 last week. 

This week quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell combined to complete 30-of-33 passes (91 percent) for 354 yards and 5 touchdowns.

“Top to bottom they are one of the best teams in the country, that is why they are in the top-5 in the country,” Ash said. “When you can’t generate a pass rush, it’s going to be really hard to play good defense and then when you make some mistakes in coverage on top of that, it makes it even worse.”

In both games this season, there has been almost no pressure — a combination of excellent protection and putrid competition. In fact, virtually the only time a defender has been near an OSU quarterback this year Haskins promptly threw a pick in the red zone against the Beavers. That’s one of the few times the offense has been stopped so far.

“It’s like every series there’s opportunity to go score, there’s me throwing it, me running it or giving it to somebody else to do something with it,” said Haskins, who went 20 of 23 for 233 yards and four touchdowns against Rutgers. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Martell was even better, 10 of 10 for 121 yards, a 51-yard TD pass to Terry McLaurin in the second quarter and a 47-yard scoring scamper in the fourth period. Martell also ran for 95 yards on just eight carries, and was the team’s leading rusher.

“I’ve improved a ton as a passer,” Martell said. “I want to be able to go out there and show that, and I just went out there and made plays with my legs when I had to.

“That was the first time I really got to go out there and throw the ball and throw in rhythm.”

Interim coach Ryan Day was particularly pleased with Martell.

“I thought you got a chance to see what Tate can do today, which is great,” Day said. “He can beat you with his feet and beat you with his arm … that’s what makes him a special player.”

The Ohio State defense looked far better than last week, when it was gutted repeatedly by the Beavers.

Junior defensive end Nick Bosa is well on his way to a first-team All-American honor and top-5 NFL draft pick status. Bosa tied his career high with three tackles-for-loss. He finished with five tackles and a sack. A week ago he had four tackles, two sacks, recovered two fumbles and scored his first collegiate touchdown.

“He’s a pretty good player and that’s what happens,” Ash said. “We had ways to try to protect (the quarterback). He is one of the top players in the country, regardless of position and we had a plan to try and protect (the quarterback) but he is still a great player.”

The Buckeyes outgained Rutgers 579 to 134. Still, have a pair of patsies adequately prepared them for the 16th-ranked Horned Frogs in what will be a virtual road game?

“I’m very excited, the team’s very excited,” Haskins said. “We’re going to use this week as a great preparation for TCU on Saturday, and we’re ready for them.”