COLUMBUS — Moments after brushing aside Marshall 45-7, Ohio State ’s players could finally say what they’ve been thinking about for a while.

And there’s no question that the Buckeyes have had Miami on their minds and the Sept. 11 showdown against the 13th-ranked Hurricanes.

“It’ll be wild to be in that game,” wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said. “It’s a relief that finally we can talk about Miami.”

At about the same time Miami was dispensing with Florida A&M 45-0 on Thursday night, the second-ranked Buckeyes were putting on a show before 105,040 at Ohio Stadium.

Rose Bowl MVP Terrelle Pryor picked up where he left off in Pasadena, Calif., with three touchdown passes, Brandon Saine ran for 103 yards and two scores and Ohio State coasted past the error-prone Thundering Herd on Thursday night.

Next up: The first meeting between Ohio State and Miami since the 2002 national championship game.

The Buckeyes won that one in the Arizona desert, upended the top-ranked Hurricanes 31-24 in double-overtime for Ohio State’s first national championship in 34 years.

“It’s not 2002,” wide receiver DeVier Posey said. “We’re wearing the same colors, but now it’s our teams and our time.”

Against Marshall, Pryor completed 17 of 25 passes for 247 yards and TDs covering 6 and 11 yards to Posey and 65 yards to Sanzenbacher. The last time Ohio State fans saw Pryor playing, he was having the game of his career and leading the Buckeyes to a 26-17 win against Oregon in January.

“Every game is about maturity,” said Pryor, whose maturity has frequently been questioned during his two previous years as the Buckeyes signal-caller. “It’s 12 weeks in a (season). Let’s see what happens next. I’m excited to play Miami.”

Sure the competition wasn’t as good Thursday night, but the Heisman Trophy contender was Rose Bowl sharp against the Thundering Herd.

“The reality is we’ve got a tremendous challenge next weekend,” coach Jim Tressel said. “If we’re willing to learn a little bit from this weekend and get rested and get healthy, it will be a lot of fun.”

The Buckeyes had a lot of fun at the expense of Marshall.

It was a bleak debut for new Marshall coach Doc Holliday, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant at West Virginia. The Thundering Herd fumbled the opening kickoff and were down 14-0 before running their first play in Ohio State territory.

“It’s a hell of a way to have your first game, isn’t it? Against a team like that?” Holliday said. “They’re No. 1 or No. 2 in America, picked by everybody, and they showed it tonight. They have a hell of a player at every position.”

Ohio State’s defense limited Marshall to 44 yards on the ground and 199 total. Brian Rolle picked off Brian Anderson’s pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

Anderson, who completed 17 of 28 passes for 135 yards, was harassed most of the night. He had an interception and the Herd also lost two fumbles.

“As good as their front four is, they don’t have to bring a lot of people,” Anderson said.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes’ offense amassed 529 yards.

The first play was telling for the Thundering Herd.

Andre Booker took the opening kickoff and was hit hard by Dorian Bell and Dominic Clarke. The ball came loose and Nate Oliver recovered at the Marshall 22 for Ohio State.

Four plays later, Posey was open by a mile in the left corner and Pryor hit him for a 4-yard score.

After a punt, the Buckeyes were right back in business.

Pryor hit Posey for a 5-yard gain before Saine raced 40 yards off left tackle, breaking two tackles on the way to the 4. He then took a pitch untouched around right end for another score.

The Buckeyes had run seven plays, taking 2:13, and were up 14-0.

The offense continued to click.

Pryor hooked up with Sanzenbacher on a 65-yard bomb and Saine added a 45-yard scoring run on a quick burst up the middle.

The Buckeyes did have some problems with special teams, but those will get a lot of attention over the next few days.

And so will the Hurricanes.

“It’s a big game and if you’re not ready to play, they’ll hit you right in the mouth,” defensive lineman Cameron Heyward said. “But we can’t let our emotions get the best of us.”

No. 2 OHIO STATE 45, MARSHALL 7

Marshall 7 0 0 0 — 7

Ohio State 21 14 7 3 — 45

First Quarter

OSU—Posey 6 pass from Pryor (Barclay kick), 13:42.

OSU—Saine 4 run (Barclay kick), 10:27.

Mar—Shakoor 61 blocked field goal return (Warner kick), 2:21.

OSU—Sanzenbacher 65 pass from Pryor (Barclay kick), 1:22.

Second Quarter

OSU—Saine 45 run (Barclay kick), 3:49.

OSU—Rolle 30 interception return (Barclay kick), 2:46.

Third Quarter

OSU—Posey 11 pass from Pryor (Barclay kick), 10:17.

Fourth Quarter

OSU—FG Barclay 34, 7:28.

A—105,040.

—————

Mar OSU

First downs 11 23

Rushes-yards 21-44 41-280

Passing 155 249

Comp-Att-Int 18-35-1 18-27-0

Return Yards 2 60

Punts-Avg. 8-36.9 4-40.8

Fumbles-Lost 4-2 1-0

Penalties-Yards 8-60 7-47

Time of Possession 25:11 34:49

Individual Leaders

RUSHING-Marshall: Ward 6-32, Sullivan 1-7, Martinez 1-6, Booker 8-5, Perry 1-0, Anderson 4-(minus 6). Ohio State: Saine 9-103, Berry 7-80, Herron 7-44, J.Hall 5-32, Pryor 8-17, Hyde 1-4, Guiton 2-4, Team 1-(minus 1), Bauserman 1-(minus 3).

PASSING-Marshall: Anderson 17-28-1-135, Sullivan 1-7-0-20. Ohio State: Pryor 17-25-0-247, Bauserman 1-2-0-2.

RECEIVING-Marshall: Wilson 5-38, Dobson 3-34, Walker 2-18, Ward 2-5, T.Evans 2-2, Edmonson 1-26, D.Evans 1-20, Smith 1-8, Booker 1-4. Ohio State: Posey 4-41, Sanzenbacher 3-113, Stoneburner 3-41, Schwartz 3-20, J.Hall 1-13, Herron 1-9, A.Homan 1-7, Fields 1-3, Brown 1-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALS: Barclay, Ohio State (blocked).