The loss on the road to Oregon two weeks ago was one thing.
An upset at home to Nebraska would have been altogether different. That would have put Ohio State’s College Football Playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.
That’s exactly what was staring at the fourth-ranked Buckeyes in the fourth quarter Saturday in front of 104,832 increasingly anxious spectators at Ohio Stadium.
But when the moment of truth arrived, Ohio State answered the challenge and escaped with a 21-17 victory.
Will Howard threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Quinshon Judkins with 6 minutes left for the winning score after Nebraska had taken its first lead on its previous drive.
Ohio State (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) then forced a three-and-out. But the Buckeyes’ offense, which did little most of the game, failed to get a first down again, giving Nebraska another shot.
The Cornhuskers were granted a first down at their 46 on a targeting call against linebacker Arvell Reese, drawing a heated reaction from Ohio State coach Ryan Day and a few bottles thrown from the stands.
But the Buckeyes didn’t allow Nebraska to get any closer. On third-and-19, Jordan Hancock intercepted a pass from Dylan Raiola to preserve the victory.
It was the Buckeyes’ 44th consecutive win over unranked opponents under coach Ryan Day and among the most concerning. Nebraska (5-3, 2-3) was coming off a 56-7 blowout loss to Indiana. Ohio State was eager to make a statement after its 32-31 to now-No. 1 Oregon two weeks ago.
The Buckeyes didn’t, at least not how they intended. But at least they survived, though next week’s showdown at No. 3 Penn State seems an even larger task.
Second half a mess for Ohio State until …
Ohio State hoped to extend its 14-6 halftime lead but instead was barely after three quarters. It opened the third quarter with a three-and-out and allowed Nebraska to drive 58 yards for a field goal.
On the next play, Howard overthrew Emeka Egbuka and Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted the pass and returned it 34 yards to the Ohio State 7.
Nebraska faced fourth-and-goal from the 2. The Dante Dowdell tried to leap over the Buckeyes pile, but cornerback Davison Igbinosun met him in the air to keep him out of the end zone.
But the offense’s struggles continued to put the onus on the defense. Nebraska had the ball on the Ohio State 32 on its next possession when Ty Hamilton had a third-down sack to force a punt.
But the Buckeyes couldn’t hold off the Huskers forever. Raiola, a one-time Ohio State commitment, led Nebraska 74 yards in nine plays to take the lead on a 1-yard run by Dowdell, followed by a shovel pass for the 2-point conversion with 10:52 left.
Ohio State offense finally awakens
Howard completed all nine of his passes in the first half before faltering in the second half and the running game failed to pick up the slack. But it answered the challenge when needed.
Howard connected with Carnell Tate for a 37-yard completion along the sideline to start the drive. Emeka Egbuka caught a 3-yard pass on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive. Howard scrambled for 10 yards and then threw to Judkins for the go-ahead touchdown.
Howard finished 13 of 16 for 221 yards.
Sluggish Ohio State offense in the first half except for two big plays
Ohio State’s offense did almost nothing in the first three quarters other than two big plays. The Buckeyes went three-and-out on its first two possesisons.
But they drove to the Nebraska 40 on their following drive before Howard threw deep to Carnell Tate. The ball was slightly underthrown, but Tate was so open that he was able to catch it anyway for a touchdown.
Howard was on target on Ohio State’s other first-half touchdown. Freshman Jeremiah Smith ran free down the middle of the field, and Howard’s pass hit him in stride for a 60-yard score.
Other than that, Ohio State’s offense sputtered. With Zen Michalski took over and struggled. Ohio State’s running game did little in the first half. Other than 15-yard run by TreVeyon Henderson, he and and Quinshon Judkins ran eight times for 17 yards.
Ohio State’s only other chance to score ended when Jayden Fielding missed a 42-yard field goal late in the half.