COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Darron Lee returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown and the Ohio State defense bailed out its struggling, two-quarterback offense as the top-ranked Buckeyes beat Northern Illinois 20-13 on Saturday.
Cardale Jones started for the Buckeyes (3-0) and J.T. Barrett finished, but for the second straight week neither was particularly effective against an opponent Ohio State was expected to blow out.
Jones threw two interceptions and went to the bench in the second quarter. Barrett threw a touchdown pass and a pick. Ohio State had five turnovers in all but still managed to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to 16 games.
Last week, the Buckeyes shook free of Hawaii in the second half, but they couldn’t do the same with Northern Illinois (2-1).
