Will Howard helps No. 2 Ohio State rout Northwestern 31-7 at Wrigley Field

CHICAGO (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns, Quinshon Judkins had two 1-yard TD runs and No. 2 Ohio State pounded Northwestern 31-7 on Saturday at Wrigley Field.

Backed by a supportive crowd at the home of baseball's Chicago Cubs, the Buckeyes (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 2 CFP) shook off a slow start on the way to their fourth consecutive win since a 32-31 loss at Oregon on Oct. 12. Next up is a pivotal matchup with No. 5 Indiana next weekend.

“Overall, good. I would have liked to see us finish the fourth quarter better, but we did what we needed to do in this game,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

Howard was 15 for 24 for 247 yards. Both of his touchdown passes went to Carnell Tate, who grew up in Chicago and finished with four catches for 52 yards.

“They did some good things, did some things that we hadn't seen,” Howard said. “But I think I did a pretty good job being able to take my checkdowns when I needed to and not forcing things and just kind of letting the game come to me. And when I'm able to do that, good things happen.”

Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith had four receptions for 100 yards, including a 68-yard play that set up Tate's 8-yard TD early in the second half. The freshman nearly made a one-handed catch in the end zone on the Buckeyes' first possession, but the ball touched the ground as he was bringing it in.

Northwestern (4-6, 2-5) lost for the third time in four games. Jack Lausch passed for 201 yards and rushed for 44 yards and a TD, but he was sacked four times. He also lost a fumble on a scramble, ending a promising first drive for the Wildcats.

“There (were) some things in the first half that gave us an opportunity to be in the game, be in the position that we wanted to be," Northwestern coach David Braun said. "And then some things that unraveled there in the second quarter, in the middle eight, you know at the beginning of the third quarter, that if you expect to be in the game against a team like Ohio State can’t happen.”

Judkins' first touchdown capped an 85-yard drive and tied it at 7 midway through the second quarter.

Northwestern went three-and-out on its ensuing possession, and a high snap led to a blocked punt that set Ohio State up at the 1. Judkins scored again for his eighth rushing TD on the season.

The Buckeyes added another first-half touchdown on Tate's 25-yard catch with 47 seconds left, making it 21-7 at the break.

Ohio State gained 118 of its 173 yards rushing in the second half. Judkins finished with 15 carries for 76 yards, and TreVeyon Henderson had 75 yards on 11 attempts.

“We did make some adjustments there, and I thought we finally got that run game going,” Day said. “The run game takes time certain games.”

Northwestern: Played without Theran Johnson, one of its top defensive backs who was on the team's pregame unavailable list. The Wildcats definitely missed the redshirt junior while trying to match up with Ohio State's deep group of receivers.

Ohio State: It was relatively smooth sailing once the Buckeyes' offense started to get going in the second quarter.

Ohio State: Hosts undefeated Indiana next Saturday.

Northwestern: At Michigan next Saturday.

Get alerts on the latest AP Top 25 poll throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate State lays out for a touchdown pass as Northwestern defensive back Josh Fussell defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins (1) scores during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State tight end Gee Scott Jr. catches a deep pass from quarterback Will Howard as Northwestern linebacker Greyson Metz defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins carries the ball as Northwestern defensive back Devin Turner (8) and linebacker Greyson Metz defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Northwestern wide receiver A.J. Henning catches a pass from quarterback Jack Lausch as Ohio State safety Caleb Downs during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State and Northwestern square off during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. Ohio State won 31-7. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith catches a pass as Northwestern linebacker Greyson Metz defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard passes under pressure from Northwestern defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard during the first half of an NCAA college football game at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has selected Chris Wright, a campaign donor and fossil fuel executive, to serve as energy secretary in his upcoming, second administration.

CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Wright is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking, a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market.

Wright has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change and could give fossil fuels a boost, including quick action to end a year-long pause on natural gas export approvals by the Biden administration.

Wright also has criticized what he calls a “top-down” approach to climate by liberal and left-wing groups and said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.”

Consideration of Wright to head the administration's energy department won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm.

Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term.

Hamm helped organize an event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in April where Trump reportedly asked industry leaders and lobbyists to donate $1 billion to Trump’s campaign, with the expectation that Trump would curtail environmental regulations if re-elected.

The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. The agency is in charge of maintaining the country’s nuclear weapons, oversees 17 national research laboratories and approves natural gas exports, as well as ensuring environmental cleanup of the nation’s nuclear weapons complex. It also promotes scientific and technological research.

Republican Sen. John Barrasso, who is expected to become chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Trump promised bold choices for his Cabinet, and Wright’s nomination delivers.

“He’s s an energy innovator who laid the foundation for America’s fracking boom. After four years of America last energy policy, our country is desperate for a secretary (of energy) who understands how important American energy is to our economy and our national security,″ Barrasso said of Wright, adding: “Wright will help ensure America remains committed to an all-of-the-above energy policy that puts American families first.”

Thomas Pyle, president of the American Energy Alliance, a conservative group that supports fossil fuels, said Wright would be “an excellent choice” for Energy secretary. Pyle led Trump’s Energy Department’s transition team in 2016.

Liberty is a major energy industry service provider, with a focus on technology. Wright, who grew up in Colorado, earned undergraduate degree at MIT and did graduate work in electrical engineering at the University of California-Berkeley and MIT. In 1992, he founded Pinnacle Technologies, which helped launch commercial shale gas production through hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

He later served as chairman of Stroud Energy, an early shale gas producer, before founding Liberty Resources in 2010.

President-elect Donald Trump speaks at meeting of the House GOP conference, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)