after kickoff was delayed from the original start time of 7:30 p.m. due to lightning and thunderstorms in the vicinity of the university of oklahoma, the buckeyes (2–0) and sooners (1–1) began play at 9:00 p.m. in norman, oklahoma. ohio state struck first, midway through the first quarter on a curtis samuel 36-yard touchdown run. on oklahoma's next possession, ohio state's jerome baker intercepted baker mayfield's pass to score a touchdown on a 68-yard interception return. this was ohio state's fourth defensive score in their first three games. during the ensuing kickoff, oklahoma's joe mixon returned the kick for a 97-yard touchdown, to make the score 14–7, ohio state. though not caught, mixon dropped the ball before he crossed the goal line and fumbled into the end zone. ohio state scored another two touchdowns and oklahoma made a field goal to make the score 28–10. with six minutes to go in the half, oklahoma scored on a 35-yard mayfield pass to a.d. miller to give the osu defense their first allowed offensive touchdown of the year and brought the sooners within 11. the buckeye offense drove 75 yards to end the first half on a behind-the-back grab by noah brown to give the buckeyes a 35–17 halftime advantage.