COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Lydell Ross scored on a 12-yard run and Scott McMullen played well in place of the quarterback Craig Krenzel as No. 4 Ohio State blanked Northwestern, 20-0.
The win extended the nation's longest winning streak to 19 games in OSU's Big Ten opener.
The Buckeyes (5-0, 1-0 Big Ten) took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter with the help of the touchdown run by Ross and had a 17-0 advantage after three quarters. The Buckeyes recorded their first shutout since a 41-0 win over Illinois in 1998, and blanked Northwestern for the first time since a 63-0 decision in 1980.
Northwestern (2-3, 0-1) was shut out for the first time since a 49-0 loss to Penn State last season.
McMullen completed 16-of-25 passes for 165 yards, including a one-yard scoring pass to backup tight end Ryan Hamby in the third quarter.
Jason Wright of the Wildcats, who had rushed for 100 yards or more 10 times in his previous 14 games, was held to 55 yards on 16 carries.
