COLUMBUS, Ohio – This was supposed to be the week Braxton Miller triumphantly returned to Ohio State’s starting lineup, the week he reminded everyone what this team looked like before Kenny Guiton stole the show.

But Miller, listed as a game-time decision for Saturday’s game against Florida A&M, ultimately decided that his return from an MCL sprain in his right knee would have to wait at least another week.

So again Ohio State leaned on Guiton, and again the backup led the Buckeyes to more than 600 yards of total offense and a win, this time a 76-0 victory over the overmatched Rattlers.

“I wanted to play him,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said of Miller. “Braxton felt like he couldn’t go. He tried really hard, we had a good week of pushing him through, but with good athletes, those (knee sprains) are tough injuries.”

Meyer listed Miller as probable early in the week, and the hope for the coach was that his starter would have at least a few quarters against the Rattlers to acclimate himself to game action before the No. 4-ranked Buckeyes host Wisconsin in their Big Ten opener next weekend.

But Meyer changed Miller’s status to probable later in the week by listing him as a game-time decision, one that probably wasn’t helped with an abundance of rain that made the Ohio Stadium turf slick.

It became clear that Miller wouldn’t go when he wasn't dressed along with Guiton, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett when the quarterbacks emerged for pregame warmups in the hour leading up to kickoff. Miller threw during warmups, but he was dressed in a red sweat suit.

Miller wore a headset as he stood near Ohio State’s bench for most of the first half, but once the Buckeyes’ lead became insurmountable Miller took it off.

He was probably watching Guiton impress again in his second consecutive start.

Guiton etched his name in the Buckeyes record book in his first career start last week – he threw the longest pass in Ohio State history on the second play of the Buckeyes' 52-34 win at California on a 90-yard touchdown strike to Devin Smith – and he set another record against the Rattlers.

This time Guiton became the first Ohio State quarterback to throw for six touchdowns in a game, all of which occurred in the first half. Guiton finished the game having completed 24-of-34 passes for 215 yards and the six scores.

“The coaches wanted to throw the ball around, and I wanted to thank them for the trust they put in me to do that,” Guiton said. “I trusted the receivers, and then I made plays.”

How many plays does Guiton have to make in Miller's absence before there's a real quarterback controversy?

Guiton has thrown for 13 touchdowns in Ohio State’s last three games, and perhaps more importantly he’s looked rather poised in the backfield for a quarterback that spent all of the previous four years on the bench.

Guiton, though, still hasn’t put Meyer in the position to have to sit back and wonder who Ohio State’s starting quarterback is. For Meyer, in this moment, it’s simple – when Miller is healthy, he’s the guy.

That doesn’t meant Guiton won’t get on the field.

“He is our starting quarterback,” Meyer said. “Our backup quarterback has earned some time. I can’t begin tell you how. I’ve been going through scenarios in my mind, and I don’t know what it is. I’m going to see how we practice this week, but Braxton is our starting quarterback.”

But without Miller on the field for another game, Guiton remains in the conversation.