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Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud overcame early struggles and took control late to help Ohio State rally past Minnesota in the Buckeyes' first game of the 2021 season. Stroud completed 13 of 22 passes for 294 yards, four scores and one interception in the 45-31 victory Thursday at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
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"I had first-game jitters," Stroud told reporters. "Minnesota has a great defense. Thank God I have great teammates who encouraged me.
"That's what happened in the second half."
Stroud failed to throw a touchdown pass through the first two quarters. His second-quarter interception helped the Gophers take a 14-10 lead at halftime.
"My mind wasn't right," Stroud said. "I was kind of all over the place."
Stroud led the Buckeyes, the No. 4 team in the Coaches Poll, to points on four of their first five drives in the second half to avoid an upset by the unranked Gophers.
Stroud's 56-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Garrett Wilson with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter gave the Buckeyes a 24-21 lead. They would never trail again.
The Gophers punted on the first drive of the game. The Buckeyes responded with a five-play, 92-yard scoring drive. Running back Miyan Williams ended the possession with a 71-yard touchdown run.
The Gophers punted again on the next drive. Ohio State's Noah Ruggles then made a 35-yard field goal to give the Buckeyes a 10-point edge.
Minnesota responded with 14 unanswered points. Gophers quarterback Tanner Morgan threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Wright to cut the lead to 10-7 about two minutes into the second quarter.
Stroud threw behind a wide receiver on the next drive. Gophers cornerback Terrell Smith intercepted the errant pass.
Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim then ended an eight-play, 37-yard drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown.
The Gophers forced a Buckeyes punt on the next drive to preserve their first-half edge.
Stroud came out hot in the second half. He threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to star wide receiver Chris Olave on the first possession of the third quarter.
Ibrahim responded with a 19-yard scoring run on the next drive to keep the Gophers lead on top. Both teams punted on the next two possessions.
Stroud connected with Wilson for the go-ahead score on the Buckeyes' third drive of the second half. Ohio State's defense came alive on the Gophers' next drive.
Buckeyes defensive end Zach Harris ran around the edge and stripped the football away from Morgan for a fumble. The ball bounced into the hands of defensive tackle Haskell Garrett, who scored on a 32-yard return.
Gophers kicker Matthew Trickett added a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Stroud responded with a 70-yard touchdown pass to TreVeyon Henderson to push the Buckeyes lead to 38-24 with 9:43 remaining.
Gophers running back Bryce Williams scored on a two-yard run about four minutes later, but Minnesota would not score again. Stroud threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Olave two plays later to seal the victory.
Olave hauled in four catches for 117 yards and two scores in the win.
Ibrahim ran for 163 yards and two scores for the Gophers, but exited in the third quarter due to a leg injury. Morgan completed 14 of 25 passes for 205 yards and a score in the loss.
"I'm really proud of the way our team played in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter," Day said. "We learned a lot from this experience.
"To say that I'm surprised with the way it played out, I'm not. ... The way we rallied, we have a lot to build on here."
The Buckeyes (1-0) host the Oregon Ducks (0-0) at noon EDT Sept. 11 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Gophers (0-1) host Miami University (0-0) at noon EDT Sept. 11 in Minneapolis.
