Ohio State football: Buckeyes clicking on all cylinders

The numbers are pure fantasy.

Four games into the season, second-ranked Ohio State is 4-0 and has looked absolutely dominant.

The Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) are averaging 57.0 points per game (third in the nation). Their 228 points are a school record for the first four games in a season.

Ohio State is averaging 332 yards per game on the ground (third best in the nation) after churning out 410 yards last week in the 58-0 rout at home against Rutgers.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett is the catalyst for the prolific offense. He threw four touchdown passes last Saturday and set an Ohio State record with 59 for his career in only 2 1/2 years as a starter. Barrett has 14 touchdown passes already this year.

Freshman running back Mike Weber is averaging a Big Ten-best 123.8 yards rushing per game in his first year as the starter after replacing current Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. Weber powered for a career-best 144 yards against Rutgers.

The defense is just as good -- and maybe even better, though that's hard to believe.

Ohio State ranks No. 1 nationally in scoring defense at 9.3 points per game and No. 3 in total defense. Last week, Rutgers managed just 116 total yards (33 passing) and was completed overmatched in Ohio State's 58-0 victory.

The defense has not allowed a rushing touchdown -- the only team in the nation to stake that claim -- and has returned four interceptions for touchdowns. A plus-eight turnover margin (nine interceptions, two fumble recoveries) puts the Buckeyes at No. 2 in FBS in that category.

Coach Urban Meyer points to the defense and Barrett as the driving forces behind the Buckeyes' hot start this year. He named the entire defense as the player of the game against Rutgers.

"You know, any time you have great defense, that's -- just the way the game of football is, you have great defense, things are going to get usually rolling for you at some point," Meyer said. "Even if you struggle a little bit.

"Then the fact that you have J.T. Barrett running the show, it's pretty smooth. Even when he makes a mistake it's usually not an awful one and we can rally right back up. Bit it starts with defense."

Let's just say Meyer is able to grin and Barrett this year when his offense is on the field.

Barrett's 84 touchdowns responsible for (rushing and passing) are five from the school record set by Braxton Miller. Since the 2014 season, Barrett is tied with Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes in that category, four more than Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.

"It's just a great honor," Barrett said of the school record for touchdown passes. "The tradition here at Ohio State is so rich. It's just in everything we do. Despite everything I've been through it feels surreal. That's crazy that I was just trying to do my part and do my best for the team and then broke the record. I'm truly grateful for it."

Next for Ohio State is a second straight Big Ten home game against Indiana on Saturday afternoon. The Hoosiers (3-1, 1-0) are coming off the biggest win in coach Kevin Wilson's six seasons after upending Michigan State 24-21 in overtime last Saturday.

Meyer's teams have never lost to Indiana, but several matchups have been close, including last year's 34-27 victory.

"For four years in a row it's been swing as hard as you can," Meyer said. "This is by far their best team. Their game Saturday, that was a great win for that program."

NOTES, QUOTES

PLAYERS TO WATCH

--QB J.T. Barrett -- There's still a lot of football to be played this season, but Barrett is making his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation. The junior continues to play at an extremely high level. In Saturday's 58-0 rout of Rutgers, Barrett threw four touchdown passes in the first half to break the school career record of 57 TD passes by Bob Hoying. Barrett finished 21 of 29 for 238 yards with one interception and 59 career TD passes. He added 46 rushing yards on five carries. In four games, Barrett has thrown 14 touchdown passes and is completing 68.6 percent of his throws. He also has 205 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

--DL Nick Bosa -- Ohio State's defensive line is so talented with a number of quality players that it dilutes the statistics and makes it difficult for opposing offense to find a weakness. Bosa has come in as a true freshman and continues to improve. He is starting to find his stride after overcoming a knee injury last year in high school and the adjustment to the college game. Bosa, whose brother Joey is with the San Diego Chargers, had a sack in Ohio State's win over Rutgers. Look for Bosa to help disrupt Indiana's offense this week.

--RB Mike Weber -- The redshirt freshman is on pace for a 1,500-yard rushing season in his first year as a starter. After four games, he has 495 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. In Saturday's dismantling of Rutgers, Weber finished with 144 yards on 14 carries and opened the third quarter with a 46-yard touchdown run that gave the Buckeyes a 37-0 lead. He has shown to this point in the season the ability to gain tough yards inside and also break some long runs. His 49-yard run in the first quarter last Saturday was a career long.