College Football

Ohio State faces another tough test in Nebraska

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:39 p.m. ET

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After surviving an encounter a little too close for comfort against Northwestern last week, Ohio State remains at home to face another tough Big Ten opponent when No. 9 Nebraska invades the Horseshoe on Saturday night in a prime-time game.

The Cornhuskers suffered their first loss after opening the season with seven straight wins, falling 23-17 in overtime last Saturday at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes also played an overtime game against the Badgers two weeks earlier in Madison but managed to come out on top.

"Our team actually will be mad," Nebraska coach Mike Riley said. "You can be sad or you can be mad, and you can have a chip on your shoulder and know we can be better and we can play hard. We'll have to play hard and well to win. That's the approach I think our team will take."

Ohio State was able to bounce back from its first loss of the year to Penn State on Oct. 22 with a solid effort against Northwestern.

The offense was balanced against the Wildcats with 208 yards rushing and 223 yards passing. But the Buckeyes aren't finding the end zone as easily as they did during the early portion of the season.

Meyer sees that as a product of playing better defenses and a young offense going through some growing pains.

"You've got a bunch of young cats going and swinging hard and practicing hard," he said. "So I guess I'm much more positive. Do I wish that we were (scoring) 56 points and all those kind of things, sure, but we're a work in progress."

Ohio State's defense gave up more than 400 yards at home for the first time since 2014 but made a critical stand in the fourth quarter when Northwestern had a first down at the Ohio State 5-yard line trailing by seven and forced a field goal instead of a tying touchdown.

"That's what we pride ourselves on," Ohio State linebacker Chris Worley said. "It's not about guys getting interceptions or forcing turnovers or guys getting sacks. It's the complete defense when the team needed us, not when we're up by 40.

"In those crunch times when it's third- or fourth-and-goal, we have to get a stop to have a shot at winning the game."

The defense has allowed 400 or more yards in two of the last three games and three times this season. Northwestern, ranked No. 93 in FBS in total offense last week, managed to sustain four long drives of 75, 82, 84 and 60 yards.

But the Buckeyes are clearly bending but not breaking. That's reflected in just 13 touchdowns allowed in eight games.

This week, the Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) face a mobile quarterback that provides an added concern. Nebraska's Tommy Armstrong Jr. has rushed for 380 yards and six touchdowns in addition to passing for 1,764 yards and 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Running back Terrell Newby has rushed for 588 yards on 120 carries.

The Buckeyes opened as a 16 1/2-point favorite over the Cornhuskers (7-1, 4-1) for Saturday night's clash (8 p.m. ABC), but that doesn't mean much lately. Ohio State was a 26-point favorite against Northwestern and eked out a four-point win.

"Very good team," Meyer said of Nebraska. "Really impressed with our conference, with the quality of play, players and teams we're playing, and these guys are really good."

Saturday's victory was the 161st of Meyer's career, setting a record for most wins by a coach in his first 15 seasons. He surpassed Oklahoma's Bob Stoops, who had 160. Meyer's 161-28 record gives him the highest winning percentage (.852) of any active FBS coach with 10 or more years of experience.

Meyer, now a remarkable 57-5 in five seasons with the Buckeyes, has only lost twice at home in the past five years.

"That's fine, but you're talking about the past right now," Nebraska wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El said. "We're in the present right now. We've got to go out there and play our best game. And nothing's going to be given. You stated their past history. We're talking about right now.

"They're a good team -- a bunch of good individuals -- but we still have to come out and play. It's still a game to be won. It's still a game to be played. We're going to focus on playing now."

The two teams are in a dogfight in their respective Big Ten divisions. Ohio State is tied with Penn State a game behind Michigan in the East and Nebraska has a one-game lead in the West over four teams. The loser likely will fall out of College Football Playoff consideration.

"They're kind of a different animal, Ohio State," Cornhuskers wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp said. "They've been so good for so long. This is a huge game for us. We know how good they are, but they're beatable."