Link: Full Game Notes (Huskers.com)
#5/#6 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0) at Nebraska (3-1, 1-0)
When: Saturday, September 28 | 6:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, NE
TV: ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Ben McLaughlin)
Westwood One (Ryan Radtke, Derek Rackley)
Internet Broadcast: Huskers.com / Huskers App / TuneIn.com
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 83) | XM (Ch. 83)
Nebraska returns to Memorial Stadium on Saturday night for a prime-time showdown against the fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The game is set to kick off shortly after 6:30 p.m. CT, with ABC carrying the national telecast as part of its Saturday Night Football series. Radio coverage of the game will be available on the Husker Sports Network from Learfield-IMG.
Nebraska comes into the game with a 3-1 overall record, and a 1-0 Big Ten mark after a come-from-behind 42-38 victory over Illinois last Saturday night in Champaign. Nebraska trailed by two touchdowns on four occasions in the game, and relied on its offensive firepower to pull out the victory. The Huskers gained nearly 700 yards of total offense and topped 300 yards rushing and passing for just the second time in school history.
Ohio State comes to Lincoln with strong momentum from an impressive 4-0 start. The Buckeyes defeated Miami (Ohio) 76-5 on Saturday and has outscored the opposition by an average of 53.5-9.0 in four contests in 2019. Ohio State's high-powered offensive attack ranks third nationally in scoring and 14th in total offense, averaging better than 525 yards per game. On the defensive side, the Buckeyes are second nationally in total defense, allowing just 222.0 yards per game.
Nebraska and Ohio State are two of the most successful programs in college football history. The schools have combined for more than 1,800 wins and 11 national championships.
This Week's Numbers
2 - Saturday night's meeting between Nebraska and Ohio State will mark just the second all-time matchup of schools with more than 900 all-time victories. The first of those meetings occurred between Michigan and Ohio State last season.
300 - The Nebraska offense topped 300 yards in both rushing and passing at Illinois last week. That marked just the second time in school history the Huskers have posted a 300-300 game.
7 - Nebraska will host ESPN's College GameDay this weekend. It will mark the seventh time the show has originated from Lincoln and the first time since the 2007 season.
Series History
Ohio State holds a 6-1 all-time edge in the series, including a 4-1 series lead since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.
- The schools are meeting for the fourth straight season and will meet each year through the 2021 campaign
- Nebraska won the first matchup between the schools as Big Ten opponents, a 34-27 win at Memorial Stadium in 2011, the Huskers' first-ever Big Ten home game. Nebraska rallied from a 27-6 deficit in that game, marking the largest comeback in school history.
- With Ohio State ranked No. 5 in this week's Associated Press Poll, the Buckeyes will have been ranked no lower than 12th in the past five meetings between the schools and in the top 10 in each of the past four matchups.
Nebraska vs. Ohio State Big Ten History
2011 - #14 Nebraska 34, Ohio State 27 (Lincoln)
2012 - #12 Ohio State 63, #21 Nebraska 38 (Columbus)
2016 - #6 Ohio State 62, #10 Nebraska 3 (Columbus)
2017 - #9 Ohio State 56, Nebraska 14 (Lincoln)
2018 - #8 Ohio State 36, Nebraska 31 (Columbus)
Nebraska-Ohio State Matchup Pits Two Traditional Powers
Saturday's matchup features two of the historically dominant programs in college football. With the Huskers' win over Illinois on Saturday, Nebraska became just the fifth school to reach 900 all-time victories. Saturday's matchup between the Huskers and Buckeyes is just the second in college football history pitting two programs with 900 victories.
• In looking at the most wins in college football over the past 30, 40, 50 or 60 years, Nebraska and Ohio State each rank in the top five in all of those categories.
• The schools have combined to win 11 national championships and 83 conference titles, including five national championships and 46 conference crowns by Nebraska.
Nebraska Joins 900-Win Club
Nebraska reached a major milestone in the history of its program with Saturday's win at Illinois, becoming the fifth program in the country with 900 all-time victories. Nebraska joined Michigan (955), Ohio State (915), Texas (912) and Alabama (909) in the 900-win club.
Huskers Seek Success Against Top-10 Opponent
Nebraska will face its first test of 2019 against a ranked opponent this weekend. Ohio State enters Saturday's matchup ranked No. 5 by the AP and sixth in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Nebraska has games later this season at Memorial Stadium against No. 8 Wisconsin and 14th-ranked Iowa.
• Nebraska will be looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since a victory over No. 22 Oregon in Lincoln in 2016. It would also be the highest ranked team Nebraska has defeated since a 20-10 win over No. 2 Oklahoma in 2001.
• Nebraska was 0-3 against ranked opponents in 2018, but did not play a home game at Memorial Stadium against a ranked team.
Huskers Hope to Shine Under Memorial Stadium Lights
The Huskers have a long history of success under the lights in Lincoln.
• The Huskers have won 21 of their last 23 home night games at Memorial Stadium. NU is 47-7 all-time in Memorial Stadium night games, including a 44-8 victory over Northern Illinois on Sept. 14.
• Nebraska's dominance at night in Lincoln has been impressive, as 34 of the home night wins have been by at least 13 points.
• The seven losses in home night games have all come against teams that won at least 10 games in that season (Washington, 1991; Texas, 2002; USC, 2007; Virginia Tech and Missouri, 2008; Wisconsin and Ohio State, 2017). Ohio State is the last team to win a night game at Memorial Stadium, defeating the Huskers in 2017.
ESPN College GameDay Returns to Lincoln
Nebraska will serve as the center of the college football world this weekend. In addition to hosting the highest profile game of the weekend, Nebraska will also serve as the host for ESPN's College GameDay on Saturday morning.
• The show will be making its first visit to Lincoln since the 2007 season, when Nebraska hosted College GameDay for its matchup with top-ranked USC.
• Overall, Nebraska has hosted College GameDay six previous times, including twice in 1994, once in 1998, twice in 2001 and in 2007.
About Ohio State
Ohio State has fielded a football team since 1890. One of the most historic programs in college football history, the Buckeyes have won more than 900 games (915) in program history, which ranks second in NCAA history, only behind Michigan. OSU claims eight national championships, including one in 2014.
The Buckeyes have won 37 Big Ten Championships, including back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. Ohio State has had 85 consensus All-America selections, 405 first-team All-Big Ten selections and 81 first-round NFL Draft picks.
First Season: 1890
All-Time Record: 915-325-53
Big Ten Titles: 37
National Titles: 8
Stadium: Ohio Stadium
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Enrollment: 57,466
Conference: Big Ten
Colors: Scarlet & Gray
About 2019 Ohio State Football
Schedule
Florida Atlantic (W 45-21)
Cincinnati (W 42-0)
at Indiana (W 51-10)
Miami (OH) (W 76-5)
at Nebraska
Michigan State
at Northwestern
Wisconsin
Maryland
at Rutgers
Penn State
at Michigan
Ohio State (4-0) defeated Miami (Ohio) 78-5 in Columbus last Saturday in Columbus. The Buckeyes also own wins over Florida Atlantic (45-21), Cincinnati (42-0) and Indiana (51-10).
The OSU offense is led by quarterback Justin Fields and tailback J.K. Dobbins
Fields is 66-for-95 with thirteen touchdown passes and six rushing touchdown this season. Dobbins is OSU’s leading rusher with 483 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, the Buckeyes’ leading tacklers are safety Jordan Fuller and linebacker Malik Harrison. Fuller led the Buckeyes in tackles in 2018 and leads the team with 19 stops so far this season. Harrison is a Columbus native and has recorded 18 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in the first four contests.
About Ryan Day
Ryan Day is in his first full season as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes and is 4-0. He served as interim coach for the first three games of the 2018 season and went 3-0 to push his career record at Ohio State to 7-0. This is his first head coaching position of his career. Prior to serving as OSU's head coach, Day served as offensive coordinator and quartebracks coach from 2017 through 2018. Prior to that he spent time as a quarterbacks coach in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers (2015-2016). He also served as an offensive assistant coach with New Hampshire, Boston College, Florida, and Temple. The 40-year-old Day is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he played quarterback under Chip Kelly.
Last Meeting: November 3, 2018
#10 Ohio State 36, Nebraska 31
Nebraska's defense forced three consecutive turnovers, two of them helping Nebraska take a halftime lead, but No. 8 Ohio State responded with two third-quarter touchdowns to regain the lead and thwart an upset attempt with a 36-31 victory over the Huskers on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
Nebraska (2-7, 1-5 Big Ten Conference) had its two game-winning streak snapped. Ohio State (8-1, 5-1) improved to 6-0 following a bye week under coach Urban Meyer and rebounded from its 49-20 loss two week ago at Purdue.
Freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez was 22-of-33 passing for 266 yards and ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns to finish with 338 yards of total offense. As a team, Nebraska collected 450 total yards of offense.
Nebraska trailed 16-7 when the Blackshirts forced fumbles on consecutive Ohio State drives late in the second quarter, both leading to touchdowns for a 21-16 Nebraska lead at halftime.
The Huskers made it three straight turnovers when junior cornerback Lamar Jackson intercepted Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the end zone to end the Buckeyes' opening drive of the second half.
Nebraska moved near midfield before punting, and Ohio State put together an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, with sophomore running back J.K. Dobbins scoring from 3 yards out to give the Buckeyes a 23-21 lead with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter.
The teams traded possessions, then Ohio State used a 37-yard by junior running back Mike Weber to set up a 9-yard touchdown by senior wide receiver Parris Campbell on a jet sweep play. That pushed Ohio State's lead to 30-21 going into the fourth quarter.
After punting on its first five possessions of the second half, Nebraska finally put together a scoring drive, thanks to a big play through the air. Martinez, scrambling under pressure, hit senior receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. for 46 yards to the Ohio State 20-yard line.
Nebraska advanced to the ball to 1-yard line on fourth down, but down nine points, elected to kick a field goal. Freshman placekicker Barrett Pickering made it from 18 yards, pulling the Huskers within 30-24 with 7:46 remaining.
Ohio State responded with a Dobbins touchdown run of 42 yards, and the Buckeyes led by 12 with 4:52 remaining after an unsuccessful two-point conversion. But Nebraska answered quickly, with Martinez hitting sophomore receiver JD Spielman for 17-yard touchdown, as the Huskers covered 75 yards in 1:55, with Martinez going 5-of-5 passing in the seven-play series.
Nebraska never saw the football again, as Ohio State ran the final 2:57 off the clock to seal the victory.
Nebraska received game's the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 12 plays while taking 5:05 off the clock. Senior running back Devine Ozigbo, who rushed for 86 yards in the game, finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead. It marked the fifth straight game Nebraska began the game with a touchdown drive.
After a failed onside kick attempt gave Ohio State a short field, the Huskers stuffed the Buckeyes on four plays, including a fourth-and-2 run, and took possession at their 22-yard line.
Nebraska, though, gained no yards in three plays, and Ohio State's Keandre Jones blocked Isaac Armstrong's punt. The ball sailed out of the side of the end zone for a safety to cut the Huskers' lead to 7-2.
Following the free kick, Ohio State drove 68 yards in six plays, scoring on Haskins' 42-yard touchdown pass to an open Johnnie Dixon for a 9-7 lead. The Buckeyes forced another three-and-out and took advantage of good field position after the punt, driving 57 yards in seven plays for another touchdown. Dobbins capped the drive with a 10-yard run for a 16-7 lead.
Martinez hit freshman tight end Austin Allen on a misdirection throwback for a gain of 41 yards to the Ohio State 30-yard line. Nebraska had first-and-goal from the 5-yard line, but a penalty and a backwards pass that Ohio State recovered for a turnover thwarted the scoring threat.
The Blackshirts responded by forcing an Ohio State punt, but the Buckeyes also forced a punt to regain possession. Ohio State then drove into Nebraska territory when sophomore linebacker JoJo Domann came off the edge and sacked Haskins while forcing a fumble. Junior defensive tackle Carlos Davis recovered, stopping the Buckeyes' scoring threat at the Nebraska 36-yard line.
Nebraska responded by driving 64 yards in 10 plays, with Martinez capping the series with a 2-yard touchdown run up the middle. That pulled the Huskers within 16-14 with 4:52 remaining in the first half.
The Blackshirts struck again early on Ohio State's ensuing series. Haskins connected with Hill for a 30-yard gain, but senior linebacker Luke Gifford forced the ball loose before Hill hit the turf. Gifford also recovered the fumble at the Ohio State 47-yard line with 4:09 remaining.
Nebraska responded with eight consecutive rushing plays and consumed all but 22 seconds of the remaining time in the first half while also scoring a touchdown. Martinez again finished the series with a 2-yard run, giving the Huskers a 21-16 lead at halftime.
#5/#6 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0) at Nebraska (3-1, 1-0)
When: Saturday, September 28 | 6:30 p.m.
Where: Memorial Stadium | Lincoln, NE
TV: ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor)
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Greg Sharpe, Matt Davison, Ben McLaughlin)
Westwood One (Ryan Radtke, Derek Rackley)
Internet Broadcast: Huskers.com / Huskers App / TuneIn.com
Satellite Radio: Sirius (Ch. 83) | XM (Ch. 83)
Nebraska returns to Memorial Stadium on Saturday night for a prime-time showdown against the fifth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The game is set to kick off shortly after 6:30 p.m. CT, with ABC carrying the national telecast as part of its Saturday Night Football series. Radio coverage of the game will be available on the Husker Sports Network from Learfield-IMG.
Nebraska comes into the game with a 3-1 overall record, and a 1-0 Big Ten mark after a come-from-behind 42-38 victory over Illinois last Saturday night in Champaign. Nebraska trailed by two touchdowns on four occasions in the game, and relied on its offensive firepower to pull out the victory. The Huskers gained nearly 700 yards of total offense and topped 300 yards rushing and passing for just the second time in school history.
Ohio State comes to Lincoln with strong momentum from an impressive 4-0 start. The Buckeyes defeated Miami (Ohio) 76-5 on Saturday and has outscored the opposition by an average of 53.5-9.0 in four contests in 2019. Ohio State's high-powered offensive attack ranks third nationally in scoring and 14th in total offense, averaging better than 525 yards per game. On the defensive side, the Buckeyes are second nationally in total defense, allowing just 222.0 yards per game.
Nebraska and Ohio State are two of the most successful programs in college football history. The schools have combined for more than 1,800 wins and 11 national championships.
This Week's Numbers
2 - Saturday night's meeting between Nebraska and Ohio State will mark just the second all-time matchup of schools with more than 900 all-time victories. The first of those meetings occurred between Michigan and Ohio State last season.
300 - The Nebraska offense topped 300 yards in both rushing and passing at Illinois last week. That marked just the second time in school history the Huskers have posted a 300-300 game.
7 - Nebraska will host ESPN's College GameDay this weekend. It will mark the seventh time the show has originated from Lincoln and the first time since the 2007 season.
Series History
Ohio State holds a 6-1 all-time edge in the series, including a 4-1 series lead since Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011.
- The schools are meeting for the fourth straight season and will meet each year through the 2021 campaign
- Nebraska won the first matchup between the schools as Big Ten opponents, a 34-27 win at Memorial Stadium in 2011, the Huskers' first-ever Big Ten home game. Nebraska rallied from a 27-6 deficit in that game, marking the largest comeback in school history.
- With Ohio State ranked No. 5 in this week's Associated Press Poll, the Buckeyes will have been ranked no lower than 12th in the past five meetings between the schools and in the top 10 in each of the past four matchups.
Nebraska vs. Ohio State Big Ten History
2011 - #14 Nebraska 34, Ohio State 27 (Lincoln)
2012 - #12 Ohio State 63, #21 Nebraska 38 (Columbus)
2016 - #6 Ohio State 62, #10 Nebraska 3 (Columbus)
2017 - #9 Ohio State 56, Nebraska 14 (Lincoln)
2018 - #8 Ohio State 36, Nebraska 31 (Columbus)
Nebraska-Ohio State Matchup Pits Two Traditional Powers
Saturday's matchup features two of the historically dominant programs in college football. With the Huskers' win over Illinois on Saturday, Nebraska became just the fifth school to reach 900 all-time victories. Saturday's matchup between the Huskers and Buckeyes is just the second in college football history pitting two programs with 900 victories.
• In looking at the most wins in college football over the past 30, 40, 50 or 60 years, Nebraska and Ohio State each rank in the top five in all of those categories.
• The schools have combined to win 11 national championships and 83 conference titles, including five national championships and 46 conference crowns by Nebraska.
Nebraska Joins 900-Win Club
Nebraska reached a major milestone in the history of its program with Saturday's win at Illinois, becoming the fifth program in the country with 900 all-time victories. Nebraska joined Michigan (955), Ohio State (915), Texas (912) and Alabama (909) in the 900-win club.
Huskers Seek Success Against Top-10 Opponent
Nebraska will face its first test of 2019 against a ranked opponent this weekend. Ohio State enters Saturday's matchup ranked No. 5 by the AP and sixth in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Nebraska has games later this season at Memorial Stadium against No. 8 Wisconsin and 14th-ranked Iowa.
• Nebraska will be looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since a victory over No. 22 Oregon in Lincoln in 2016. It would also be the highest ranked team Nebraska has defeated since a 20-10 win over No. 2 Oklahoma in 2001.
• Nebraska was 0-3 against ranked opponents in 2018, but did not play a home game at Memorial Stadium against a ranked team.
Huskers Hope to Shine Under Memorial Stadium Lights
The Huskers have a long history of success under the lights in Lincoln.
• The Huskers have won 21 of their last 23 home night games at Memorial Stadium. NU is 47-7 all-time in Memorial Stadium night games, including a 44-8 victory over Northern Illinois on Sept. 14.
• Nebraska's dominance at night in Lincoln has been impressive, as 34 of the home night wins have been by at least 13 points.
• The seven losses in home night games have all come against teams that won at least 10 games in that season (Washington, 1991; Texas, 2002; USC, 2007; Virginia Tech and Missouri, 2008; Wisconsin and Ohio State, 2017). Ohio State is the last team to win a night game at Memorial Stadium, defeating the Huskers in 2017.
ESPN College GameDay Returns to Lincoln
Nebraska will serve as the center of the college football world this weekend. In addition to hosting the highest profile game of the weekend, Nebraska will also serve as the host for ESPN's College GameDay on Saturday morning.
• The show will be making its first visit to Lincoln since the 2007 season, when Nebraska hosted College GameDay for its matchup with top-ranked USC.
• Overall, Nebraska has hosted College GameDay six previous times, including twice in 1994, once in 1998, twice in 2001 and in 2007.
About Ohio State
Ohio State has fielded a football team since 1890. One of the most historic programs in college football history, the Buckeyes have won more than 900 games (915) in program history, which ranks second in NCAA history, only behind Michigan. OSU claims eight national championships, including one in 2014.
The Buckeyes have won 37 Big Ten Championships, including back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. Ohio State has had 85 consensus All-America selections, 405 first-team All-Big Ten selections and 81 first-round NFL Draft picks.
First Season: 1890
All-Time Record: 915-325-53
Big Ten Titles: 37
National Titles: 8
Stadium: Ohio Stadium
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Enrollment: 57,466
Conference: Big Ten
Colors: Scarlet & Gray
About 2019 Ohio State Football
Schedule
Florida Atlantic (W 45-21)
Cincinnati (W 42-0)
at Indiana (W 51-10)
Miami (OH) (W 76-5)
at Nebraska
Michigan State
at Northwestern
Wisconsin
Maryland
at Rutgers
Penn State
at Michigan
Ohio State (4-0) defeated Miami (Ohio) 78-5 in Columbus last Saturday in Columbus. The Buckeyes also own wins over Florida Atlantic (45-21), Cincinnati (42-0) and Indiana (51-10).
The OSU offense is led by quarterback Justin Fields and tailback J.K. Dobbins
Fields is 66-for-95 with thirteen touchdown passes and six rushing touchdown this season. Dobbins is OSU’s leading rusher with 483 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, the Buckeyes’ leading tacklers are safety Jordan Fuller and linebacker Malik Harrison. Fuller led the Buckeyes in tackles in 2018 and leads the team with 19 stops so far this season. Harrison is a Columbus native and has recorded 18 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in the first four contests.
About Ryan Day
Ryan Day is in his first full season as head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes and is 4-0. He served as interim coach for the first three games of the 2018 season and went 3-0 to push his career record at Ohio State to 7-0. This is his first head coaching position of his career. Prior to serving as OSU's head coach, Day served as offensive coordinator and quartebracks coach from 2017 through 2018. Prior to that he spent time as a quarterbacks coach in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers (2015-2016). He also served as an offensive assistant coach with New Hampshire, Boston College, Florida, and Temple. The 40-year-old Day is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he played quarterback under Chip Kelly.
Last Meeting: November 3, 2018
#10 Ohio State 36, Nebraska 31
Nebraska's defense forced three consecutive turnovers, two of them helping Nebraska take a halftime lead, but No. 8 Ohio State responded with two third-quarter touchdowns to regain the lead and thwart an upset attempt with a 36-31 victory over the Huskers on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
Nebraska (2-7, 1-5 Big Ten Conference) had its two game-winning streak snapped. Ohio State (8-1, 5-1) improved to 6-0 following a bye week under coach Urban Meyer and rebounded from its 49-20 loss two week ago at Purdue.
Freshman quarterback Adrian Martinez was 22-of-33 passing for 266 yards and ran for 72 yards and two touchdowns to finish with 338 yards of total offense. As a team, Nebraska collected 450 total yards of offense.
Nebraska trailed 16-7 when the Blackshirts forced fumbles on consecutive Ohio State drives late in the second quarter, both leading to touchdowns for a 21-16 Nebraska lead at halftime.
The Huskers made it three straight turnovers when junior cornerback Lamar Jackson intercepted Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the end zone to end the Buckeyes' opening drive of the second half.
Nebraska moved near midfield before punting, and Ohio State put together an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, with sophomore running back J.K. Dobbins scoring from 3 yards out to give the Buckeyes a 23-21 lead with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter.
The teams traded possessions, then Ohio State used a 37-yard by junior running back Mike Weber to set up a 9-yard touchdown by senior wide receiver Parris Campbell on a jet sweep play. That pushed Ohio State's lead to 30-21 going into the fourth quarter.
After punting on its first five possessions of the second half, Nebraska finally put together a scoring drive, thanks to a big play through the air. Martinez, scrambling under pressure, hit senior receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. for 46 yards to the Ohio State 20-yard line.
Nebraska advanced to the ball to 1-yard line on fourth down, but down nine points, elected to kick a field goal. Freshman placekicker Barrett Pickering made it from 18 yards, pulling the Huskers within 30-24 with 7:46 remaining.
Ohio State responded with a Dobbins touchdown run of 42 yards, and the Buckeyes led by 12 with 4:52 remaining after an unsuccessful two-point conversion. But Nebraska answered quickly, with Martinez hitting sophomore receiver JD Spielman for 17-yard touchdown, as the Huskers covered 75 yards in 1:55, with Martinez going 5-of-5 passing in the seven-play series.
Nebraska never saw the football again, as Ohio State ran the final 2:57 off the clock to seal the victory.
Nebraska received game's the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 12 plays while taking 5:05 off the clock. Senior running back Devine Ozigbo, who rushed for 86 yards in the game, finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead. It marked the fifth straight game Nebraska began the game with a touchdown drive.
After a failed onside kick attempt gave Ohio State a short field, the Huskers stuffed the Buckeyes on four plays, including a fourth-and-2 run, and took possession at their 22-yard line.
Nebraska, though, gained no yards in three plays, and Ohio State's Keandre Jones blocked Isaac Armstrong's punt. The ball sailed out of the side of the end zone for a safety to cut the Huskers' lead to 7-2.
Following the free kick, Ohio State drove 68 yards in six plays, scoring on Haskins' 42-yard touchdown pass to an open Johnnie Dixon for a 9-7 lead. The Buckeyes forced another three-and-out and took advantage of good field position after the punt, driving 57 yards in seven plays for another touchdown. Dobbins capped the drive with a 10-yard run for a 16-7 lead.
Martinez hit freshman tight end Austin Allen on a misdirection throwback for a gain of 41 yards to the Ohio State 30-yard line. Nebraska had first-and-goal from the 5-yard line, but a penalty and a backwards pass that Ohio State recovered for a turnover thwarted the scoring threat.
The Blackshirts responded by forcing an Ohio State punt, but the Buckeyes also forced a punt to regain possession. Ohio State then drove into Nebraska territory when sophomore linebacker JoJo Domann came off the edge and sacked Haskins while forcing a fumble. Junior defensive tackle Carlos Davis recovered, stopping the Buckeyes' scoring threat at the Nebraska 36-yard line.
Nebraska responded by driving 64 yards in 10 plays, with Martinez capping the series with a 2-yard touchdown run up the middle. That pulled the Huskers within 16-14 with 4:52 remaining in the first half.
The Blackshirts struck again early on Ohio State's ensuing series. Haskins connected with Hill for a 30-yard gain, but senior linebacker Luke Gifford forced the ball loose before Hill hit the turf. Gifford also recovered the fumble at the Ohio State 47-yard line with 4:09 remaining.
Nebraska responded with eight consecutive rushing plays and consumed all but 22 seconds of the remaining time in the first half while also scoring a touchdown. Martinez again finished the series with a 2-yard run, giving the Huskers a 21-16 lead at halftime.
