Technically, the Ohio State Buckeyes do not control their own destiny to get to the Big Ten Championship. If Ohio State and Illinois win out, there will be a five-way tie atop the Big Ten standings, all with one loss (assuming the five all win every other game). The Buckeyes would have head-to-head wins over Indiana and Penn State but have that loss to Oregon. With six weeks to go, there is an abundance of football to be played. This week, Ohio State vs. Nebraska is all that matters in Columbus.
The Buckeyes roll into Week 9 at 5-1 and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Ohio State had an off-week to stew in the one-point loss to Oregon, learn, and refocus. Nebraska is sitting at 5-2 and 2-2 in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers are coming off a demoralizing loss at Indiana and will be looking to secure just the program’s second win over Ohio State and first-ever in Columbus.
Ohio State vs. Nebraska: Get Back on Track to Indianapolis
Fluke or Sign of What’s to Come?
Through the first five games, the Buckeye defense dominated and looked to be as elite as any in college football. Then, Dillon Gabriel, Dylan Stewart, and the Oregon offense tore through the Buckeyes to the tune of 341 yards through the air and nearly 500 yards of total offense. It was by far the worst regular-season performance by an Ohio State defense since Michigan managed 530 yards in 2022.
The narratives of Ohio State vs. Nebraska need to be remedied. One bad game does not define a defense but it does provide the blueprint for top offenses. Ohio State has a handful of solid offenses left on the schedule, kicking off with Nebraska.
Most of the attention will be on the defensive side of the ball in this game. How does Ohio State respond after getting punched in the jaw? The concern prevailing in the Buckeye fandom is that Ryan Day just can’t win the big one. There’s another big one waiting next week. Can the Buckeyes get right against a Nebraska team that is not going to roll over?
Next Man Up
The midseason injuries have begun to pile up and at least two key contributors are hurting.
To start, Josh Simmons, the starting left tackle, suffered a knee injury during the loss to Oregon. Day announced that he is out for the remainder of the year. Simmons’ progress as a left tackle from his first game last year until his injury was monumental. He went from obvious liability to a strength and worked his way to a first-round pedigree. Zen Michalski, a redshirt junior, stepped up after Simmons went down and performed admirably. According to PFF grading, he outplayed two starters on the offensive line in his 105 snaps. Day spoke highly of Michalski that “he was able to go into that game in a big environment, build confidence coming out of it.”
Quinshon Judkins popped up on the proverbial injury report in the off-week as he had surgery on his hand. Judkins suffered the injury leading up to the Oregon game. However, he is feeling even better than before for the Nebraska game and beyond. Ohio State’s two-headed monster at running back has been able to stay healthy for eight weeks *knocks on wood*.
A third crucial piece in dealing with an injury is safety, Lathan Ransom. Day is notoriously tight-lipped regarding injuries, and Ransom’s case has Day’s lips sealed like the Pandorica (from “Doctor Who”). Reports and speculation have circled around a potential foot issue but Day declined to comment on whether or not Ransom would miss any time. Jordan Hancock, Lorenzo Styles, Jr., and Jaylen McClain could be called upon if/when Ransom misses time.
Contain Little Mahomes
True freshman quarterback and one-time Ohio State commit Dylan Raiola has decided to emulate the top quarterback in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes. From his haircut to his number to his pregame rituals, Raiola yearns to be Mahomes. Considering Mahomes has three Super Bowl rings and is on a trajectory unlike anything we’ve seen from an NFL quarterback, it only makes sense.
Raiola plays with the confidence and poise that a true freshman often lacks. At some points, he can sling it with the best of them. In four games, Raiola threw for at least 238 yards. In the overtime loss to Illinois, he passed for 297 yards and three touchdowns, both career-highs to this point.
However, just as Ohio State saw with Aidan Chiles at Michigan State, Raiola makes mistakes. Despite throwing nine touchdowns this year, he hasn’t found paydirt since the 2:49 mark of the third quarter of the Cornhuskers’ game with Purdue. 137:49 of game time has eclipsed since, including two full games. In that time, he’s thrown four interceptions, three of which came in the loss to Indiana last week.
Raiola has a wealth of natural talent, it’s obvious when he plays. However, he has a bit of “save the world” in his game. As a 19-year-old quarterback for a historic program looking to get back to glory, it only makes sense.
The pass rush has been AWOL this year for the Buckeyes. Against the only competent offense on the schedule to this point, it allowed the secondary to be exposed. Ohio State has great corners but when it was left out to dry, Oregon took advantage.
While Nebraska’s offense isn’t quite as filled to the brim with five-star talent (outside of Raiola), it can still make plays. Ohio State’s defense must impost its will to get right with Penn State just a week away.
Beat Another Solid Defense
The offense of Ohio State vs. Nebraska has an opportunity to continue playing at a high level. The Buckeyes are just one of six programs averaging at least 500 yards of offense and they’ve been doing it with a 58-42 lean on the passing game. Will Howard, despite the loss and infamous Dak Prescott-esque slide at the end of the game, played incredibly well. On that final drive, he made a few tight, well-placed throws to give Ohio State a chance. All in all, he finished with 326 yards, just the second 300+ yard game of his career and a yard shy of his career best.
Nebraska’s defense took a tumble after last week’s beating. Despite that, in terms of defenses Ohio State has faced to this point, the Huskers are the second-best scoring, third-best passing, best rushing, and second-best total defense.
Indiana’s success against Nebraska last week bodes well for Ohio State vs. Nebraska. The Hoosiers passed for 280 yards and three touchdowns despite losing their star quarterback. On the ground, an offense that averaged 182 yards per game against FBS foes went for 215 yards and a whopping five touchdowns.
Speaking of blueprints being out, Ohio State can pile onto the Huskers’ woes on defense. It’s not terribly outlandish to think Ohio State’s offense is a tad more talented than Indiana’s. The Buckeyes can lean on Howard and the offense to deliver another win.
The Buckeyes can be a score-at-will kind of offense. They’ll have the opportunity to prove that on Saturday.
