Game Recap: #6 Ohio State vs. #10 Nebraska

Ahead of Saturday night's top 10 showdown with Nebraska, Ohio State fans were a bit wary and perhaps even nervous, and with good reason. The #10 and 7-1 Nebraska Cornhuskers entered Columbus having just lost their very first game of the season to the Wisconsin Badgers, a team that the Buckeyes needed overtime to defeat. For Ohio State, the last two weeks had proven quite frustrating and disappointing for player and fan alike. Two weeks ago, the Buckeyes were dealt their first loss by a tough Penn State team and on the following week squeaked out a win at home against a feisty Northwestern team. This week, however, the Buckeyes put on a show that finally put the Ohio State faithful at ease.

The Buckeye defense had been solid all season even throughout the ups and downs of the year. The "silver bullet" defense started the game out fast, returning an interception for a touchdown just a minute and 34 seconds into the game. Nebraska was able to add a field goal, but towards the end of the first quarter, the Buckeye offense got on the board with a 7-yard TD pass for quarterback J.T. Barrett to extend the Ohio State lead to 14-3.

Ohio State added another touchdown to open the second quarter thanks to Mike Weber's TD dash from 23 yards out. Tyler Durbin added his third extra point of the game and then just a few minutes later booted a 28 yard field goal through the uprights. The field goal was set up by great defense and a poor punt and the Buckeye defense continued to frustrated the Cornhuskers. When it seemed like nothing could go worse for Nebraska, it suddenly did.

Nebraska senior QB Tommy Armstrong Jr. scrambled for a first down on the Cornhusker's next drive. As he was running out of bounds, Armstrong was hit and fell head first on the turf and did not get up. Armstrong was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Fortunately, he was able to return to Ohio Stadium to watch his team finish the game after being diagnosed with a concussion. Ohio State engineered a beautiful touchdown drive to end the half to extend their lead to 31-3.

The second half didn't go much better for Nebraska. On the very first play of the second half, Curtis Samuel caught a 75-yard TD pass from J.T. Barrett and just like that any chance Nebraska had of a comeback had totally vanished. Another touchdown pass and a field goal later and Buckeye fans everywhere were thrilled with their team and the 48-3 lead they possessed. Malik Hooker returned yet another interception for a touchdown to end the third quarter, and after putting up an impressive 24 points in the third, the Buckeyes enjoyed a commanding 55-3 lead heading into the final stanza.

At this point, head coach Urban Meyer was able to play mostly backups on both sides of the ball. Backup QB Joe Burrow got some game experience and even ran 12 yards for a touchdown which would prove to be the last score of the game. Ohio State rolled to a 62-3 victory, much to the delight of the 108,750 in attendance. The win gave the Buckeyes a very respectable 8-1 record and more than anything perhaps it boosted the confidence of the young Ohio State squad.