Ohio State junior quarterback Braxton Miller said Saturday night he is playing with more confidence than at any point in his career. It showed against Penn State.
Miller threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns, and added 68 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as the Buckeyes embarrassed Penn State 63-14. Ohio State led 42-7 at halftime as Miller piled up 272 total yards and accounted for four TDs (two in the air, two on the ground) in the first two quarters.
Miller was 18 of 24 in the air, and his yardage total was the highest of his career. It also was the third time he threw at least three TD passes in a game. And the rushing touchdowns were his first two of the season.
Ohio State finished with 686 total yards, including 408 on the ground, and 32 first downs, and the Buckeyes were 7 of 10 on third down.
Miller received ample help from senior tailback Carlos Hyde (6-foot-0, 238 pounds). Hyde might look like a fullback, but he can't block or catch and runs like a tailback. He ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries; he had 130 yards and both TDs in the first half.
In the past three games, Hyde has rushed for 464 yards and seven touchdowns on 66 carries. He and Miller -- and the rest of the Buckeyes' offense -- should have it easy next week, too, when Ohio State plays at Purdue.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.