COLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard threw three touchdown passes, but No. 4 Ohio State had to rely on an interception from cornerback Jordan Hancock in the final minute to secure a 21-17 victory over Nebraska on Saturday.
The Buckeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) rebounded from a recent defeat to Oregon but showed signs of struggle against a Nebraska team that entered the game as nearly four-touchdown underdogs.
“It wasn’t perfect, but a win’s a win,” Howard commented. “We demonstrated that we can prevail under pressure and when things aren’t going our way. Our defense played exceptionally well in the fourth quarter, making crucial stops and allowing us to regain the lead.”
The Cornhuskers (5-3, 2-3) stayed competitive throughout the game, with John Hohl contributing three field goals. A touchdown run from Dante Dowdell early in the fourth quarter briefly put the Cornhuskers ahead. Ohio State struggled on third downs, converting only 1 of 10 attempts and punting five times, along with missing a field goal.
Dowdell’s 1-yard touchdown run and a subsequent 2-point conversion helped Nebraska take a 17-14 lead. However, Ohio State responded with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Quinshon Judkins with 6:04 remaining, regaining the advantage.
Nebraska had a chance to reclaim the lead on their final drive, starting near midfield after Arvell Reese’s ejection for targeting. However, a false start penalty and several loss-of-yardage plays hindered their momentum. Quarterback Dylan Raiola’s pass intended for Isaiah Neyor was intercepted by Hancock.
Howard ran out the clock with three kneel-downs.
In the third quarter, Nebraska had an opportunity to score after Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted a pass and returned it to the Ohio State 7-yard line. On fourth-and-goal from the 2, the Buckeye defense, led by Davison Igbinosun and Cody Simon, stuffed Dowdell at the line.
“That’s definitely a drive we wish we could have finished,” Raiola remarked. “We had the right play called, but we came up short. We’ll make sure to execute better in the future.”
Takeaways:
For Nebraska, despite improved performance from last week’s 56-7 loss to Indiana, they missed a chance for a sixth win, which would have made them bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. They’ve now lost 27 straight games against ranked teams and 18 consecutive matches against ranked opponents on the road.
“I thought our defense was dominant all day, save for three plays,” said Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, referencing Howard’s touchdown throws.
For Ohio State, their running attack was limited to just 64 yards, with no significant contributions from key players Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson. They averted their first home loss to an unranked opponent in a decade.
“Credit to Nebraska for their effort,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “We knew they would come out strong after their previous week.”
In a noteworthy moment, Howard connected with Jeremiah Smith on a 60-yard touchdown pass in the first half, marking Smith’s eighth receiving touchdown and tying him with Cris Carter for the most by a freshman in school history. Howard added a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate, completing 13 of 16 passes for 221 yards.
Poll implications indicate that the close score may affect Ohio State’s ranking in the voters’ eyes.
Injury updates include Ohio State’s starting safety Lathan Ransom and tight end Will Kacmarek, both sidelined with injuries. Nebraska’s Rahmir Johnson was ruled out due to a concussion, and left tackle Zen Michalski exited the game injured.
Next week, Nebraska will host UCLA, while Ohio State travels to face No. 3 Penn State.