Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Brian Hartline scored two touchdowns and Todd Boeckman threw for two scores, as third-ranked Ohio State blasted Kent State, 48-3, at Ohio Stadium.

Because of the win, combined with losses later in the day by No. 1 LSU and No. 2 California, it's likely the Buckeyes will become the top-ranked team in the nation on Sunday.

Hartline recorded Ohio State's first two touchdowns. The wideout found the end zone on a 14-yard pass from Boeckman on the team's first possession and scored on a school-record 90-yard punt return early in the second quarter.

Boeckman completed 13-of-16 pass attempts for 184 yards for the Buckeyes (7-0) in their final non-conference game of the season. Ohio State will host Michigan State next Saturday, then visits Penn State and hosts Wisconsin and Illinois before the season-finale at Michigan.

"We are happy to have this delay in the Big Ten schedule by playing a non- conference game and turn it into a win," said Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. "We had an opportunity to get a lot of guys some playing time. Now we've got to learn a lot from video and we know full well what is critical begins next Saturday."

Kent State (3-4) has lost two in a row and three of its last four.

Already ahead 14-0 thanks to Hartline, the Buckeyes added three more scores before the intermission.

Following a 15-yard Kent State punt to the 50-yard line, Chris Wells scored on a seven-yard run with 9:49 left in the half.

Ohio State sophomore defensive back Donald Washington registered a 70-yard interception return with 2:47 remaining and a Kent State fumble at the 36-yard line led to the Buckeyes scoring on a 15-yard pass from Boeckman to Maurice Wells with 23 seconds left in the second quarter for a 35-0 cushion.

"When you get returns like a punt and interception for touchdowns, it is going to be hard for anybody to beat you," Tressel added. "The interception return really was a back-breaker for Kent State."

The Buckeyes scored on their first possession of the second half from two yards out on a run by backup quarterback Rob Schoenhoft.

Ohio State's last two scores were field goals by Ryan Pretorius. He connected on a 49-yard kick with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter and hit from 31 yards away with 9:42 left in the game.

Kent State avoided the shutout when Nate Reed posted a 34-yard field with 2:36 to play.

Schoenhoft threw for 79 yards in the second half, completing 7-of-9 passes. Brian Robiskie caught four passes for 42 yards and Hartline finished with 47 yards on three catches. Teammate Brandon Saine rushed nine times for 69 yards and had five catches for 76 yards.

Eugene Jarvis led the Golden Flashes with 84 yards rushing on 16 carries.