The Buckeyes barely beat the Huskers, while the Blackshirts bounce back and stun bettors

On another beautiful fall afternoon in the Horseshoe, the fourth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes came from behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 21-17. The Buckeyes were 25½-point favorites over the visitors, who were blown out 56-7 in Bloomington a week ago. But the Huskers played with tremendous heart and effort and had multiple opportunities to earn their first road win against a top-ten opponent since 1997 (Washington).

Unfortunately, the defeat extended some sad periods. The Huskers have now lost 27 games in a row against ranked opponents, including 18 on the road. In the Matt Rhule era, they are also 0-6 in games played to secure bowl eligibility. Four more chances remain as the Huskers enter November with the same 5-3 record as last season.

But this game was a stark contrast to last week's efforts, as the team rallied to regain the confidence needed for the long run, as well as some respect from a highly regarded opponent. I'm not sure too many experts foresaw this. I was hoping that the team would be able to stay at least a few points away from the spread when I predicted a 38-14 OSU win. However, Matt Rhule said in his post-game presser that it was the first time since he's been here that he's felt a championship mentality in the locker room. “I thought they had grown up. I challenged them: 'Next week it will look better like this.'” The 19th century American writer James Lane Allen is said to have quipped: “Adversity does not build character; it reveals it.” The Huskers responded to last week's embarrassment by revealing what they're made of.

This was another game where the defense kept Nebraska in the contest. OSU is filled with a bevy of future NFL receivers every year, and their freshman WR Jeremiah Smith scored on a 60-yard touchdown reception and Carnell Tate had 4 catches for 102 yards and a 40-yard TD play. Their final score was a well-executed 9-yard TD throw to running back Quinshon Judkins out of the backfield that clinched the game. Rhule noted that those three plays were the exception on an afternoon where the Blackshirts were probably the more dominant defense. Of Ohio State's 11 drives, they scored three points, but six drives were stopped with a 3-and-out and a turnover on downs, one resulted in a missed field goal and one was a 1-play drive that ended in an interception . Ohio State was 1 for 10 on third-down conversions. Ohio State managed just 23 yards in the third quarter, and Nebraska's defense held Ohio State to a season-low 64 rushing yards, 285 total yards and 21 points. The Buckeyes' previous lows were 141 rushing yards (at Oregon), 412 total yards (against Iowa) and 31 points (at Oregon).

Quinshon Judkins came into the game averaging nearly seven yards per carry and co-starter TreVeyon Henderson averaged more than eight yards per carry. Judkins averaged 2.9 yards on 10 carries and Henderson averaged 2.5 yards on 10 carries. The Buckeyes averaged just 2.1 yards rushing as a team. The Blackshirts recorded two sacks, the most allowed by Ohio State University in a game this season, as they had allowed just five sacks in the previous six games. The defense also had seven tackles for a loss, the most Ohio State has allowed in a game this season.

DeShon Singleton led the defense with 10 stops and three of Jimari Butler's five tackles were tackles for loss (a career high), including a sack and four solo stops. Butler ran over the Buckeyes' reserve tackle. MJ Sherman also had a career high with two tackles and a sack. Malcolm Hartzog Jr. was burned on one of the Buckeyes' scores, but redeemed himself with his team-leading fourth interception of the season in the third quarter, which he took to the OSU 7-yard line. The offense failed to convert that opportunity into a goal, and that may have been the deciding factor in the final score.

Amazingly, not a single penalty was assessed for Ohio State's offense. Please allow me a short tirade about the administration. How difficult is it to spot the ball? Emmett Johnson had a first down of nearly two yards at the end of the first half and the ball was flagged a yard short, costing the Huskers at least 18 seconds after halftime. Then in the third quarter, after Hartzog's pick, Jaylen Lloyd got to the 1-yard line on third-and-goal and the ball was flagged back at the two. The sent-in play was based on the ball at the one and Dante Dowdell came up less than a yard short on fourth down. The offensive interference calls were almost criminal and Buckeye coach Ryan Day slams his headset on the floor, touches an official and receives a sideline warning. Someone far more objective than me might assume that the Big Ten wanted to ensure the Buckeyes made the playoffs and that their officials decided accordingly. But it's not a one-game thing. The referees are bad every week.

On offense, Dylan Raiola finished the game 21-for-32 for 152 yards, no touchdowns and one interception after a poorly thrown ball on the Huskers' final possession. He missed a few open receivers, but plays boldly and continues to serve as a surprising 19-year-old team leader. He also found that he could take advantage of a man-to-man defense by fighting more than normal. He finished the game with nine carries, earning a career-best 31 yards. His 38-yard run in the second quarter to set up a Nebraska field goal was Nebraska's longest in a Big Ten game this season. With Rahmir Johnson unavailable, Dante Dowdell led all rushers with 60 yards on 14 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to give Nebraska the lead. Emmett Johnson added 30 yards on 8 carries while the Huskers totaled 121 yards on the ground, compared to 70 yards last week against Indiana. I tend to think the Buckeyes' defense is better than the Hoosiers', so this is a step in the right direction.

Jacory Barney Jr. had seven catches for 49 yards, increasing his total to 34 receptions this season. He is just the fifth Husker rookie and second true freshman to catch 30 passes in a season. Tight end Thomas Fidone II caught four passes for 55 yards, including a 33-yard catch in the fourth quarter. With his four receptions today, Fidone has 49 career receptions and is just a hop away from becoming the 11th tight end in program history with 50 career receptions. Jamal Banks added two catches for 31 yards but continues to have major issues blocking on the perimeter.

Play-calling remained a mystery, as six of Raiola's 21 completed passes were screens or flat passes that lost a total of 9 yards. Inexplicably, two of those calls came on the Huskers' final drive, leaving the Huskers barely able to secure the winning score. If a play doesn't work throughout the game, why do you think it will work when the game is on the line?

Special teams have been a mixed blessing, but at least not all were bad this week. The highlight was John Hohl's field goal of 39 and 54 yards in the second quarter and a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter. These are Nebraska's three longest field goals of the season. Hohl previously had a 1-for-5 kicking performance and only had one 21-yarder to his name. It's amazing what can happen when the snap can get to the holder without all the drama. Punter Brian Buschini was more inconsistent than usual as he averaged 40.8 yards and 52 yards on six kicks. The return return totaled 3 yards, not to mention Kwinten Ives deflected the first kickoff and recovered it at the 9-yard line. Place throws could prove important in the remaining games and Hohl's prowess today was encouraging.

After back-to-back road losses to ranked opponents, the Huskers return home to face a 2-5 UCLA team that beat Rutgers 35-32 in Piscataway last weekend. The Bruins will have a bye week, as will all five of our opponents from Indiana to Wisconsin. There seems to be something fishy about this type of Big Ten scheduling. Beating the Bruins to become bowl eligible seems much more feasible after today than it did after last week's humiliation. The defense has what it takes to keep us on the schedule in every remaining game. If the offense can find some consistency and develop an identity, the Huskers can pick up a few more wins and make this season a positive sign of development. Let's see if the Husker faithful can develop some of the character our boys showed on the field. Go Big Red!!

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