Following the team’s 76-5 drubbing of Miami (Ohio), Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said the Buckeyes “had a lot to clean up” if they wanted to win in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Instead, No. 5 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) shucked the Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-2, 1-1) in a Big Red bloodbath 48-7 Saturday.
“We talked about it all week, what it was gonna take to go win this game on the road, and we came in hitting on all cylinders,” head coach Ryan Day said.
Ohio State found plenty of success running the ball, finishing with 368 yards rushing, 177 of them by junior running back J.K. Dobbins. Sophomore quarterback Justin Fields added 72 yards of his own on the ground, to go with a 15-for-21, 212-yard, three score performance through the air.
Through five games, the Georgia transfer has yet to throw an interception.
“I felt calm and confident coming into this game,” Fields said. “I think that goes with the preparation. If you prepare hard, you have nothing to be worried about in the game.”
Ohio State’s defense came out the first drive and started what proved to be its bread-and-butter for the first half: intercept Nebraska sophomore quarterback Adrian Martinez, let the offense drive down the field for points.
Co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said he’s a fan of what the silver bullets accomplished Saturday.
“I’m really proud of these guys. They came here tonight to send a message,” co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said. “We want to show everybody that we’re gonna try and get better every day.”
Junior cornerback Jeff Okudah led the silver bullets in this effort, picking off two balls. He grabbed his first on the Cornhuskers’ second drive, leaping in front of a ball intender for star freshman wide receiver Wan’dale Robinson.
Dropping back to find nobody open downfield, Fields’ pass protection parted Nebraska’s defensive line like the Red Sea, and he responded by eating 15 yards of green turf for a touchdown scramble that put the Buckeyes on the board first.
Fields used his feet for 14 more on a third-and-10 designed quarterback-keeper to extend Ohio State’s next drive before dumping off a two-yard touchdown to redshirt senior wide receiver K.J. Hill. The Buckeyes chewed up 47 yards on the ground during the 60-yard drive and grabbed a 14-0 lead with 4:37 to play in the first quarter.
Nebraska rolled out an old-school option look to gain some ground late first quarter, the most offensive success it had in the first half. It drove 49 yards in eight plays before Okudah secured his second interception — while lying on his back.
“That was a great job by our staff adjusting, because that was a curve ball,” Day said. “They did some things there, some throwback stuff, and they were coming downhill there for a second.”
Eventually, success on the ground opened up the downfield passing. Following a 17-yard dash by Dobbins, Fields went play action and found senior wide receiver Austin Mack running open down the left sideline. They connected for 38 yards, and if Mack kept his footing, it looked like an easy 75-yard score.
The play eventually set up junior kicker Blake Haubeil for a 23-yard field goal, and Ohio State increased its advantage to 17-0 with 9:32 to play in the first half.
Martinez overthrew his man the next drive, with senior safety Jordan Fuller securing Ohio State’s third first-half interception. A 41-yard dash by Fields and a touchdown run by redshirt freshman running back Master Teague later, Ohio State’s lead grew to 24-0 with 8:26 to play, second quarter.
Rather than turning it over, Nebraska went three-and-out its next possession. The Buckeyes responded by going 55 yards in three plays, all gained by Teague either receiving or rushing. His one-yard plunge extended the lead to 31-0.
Ohio State entered halftime up 38-0 after an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mack.
“I give a ton of credit to them and their coaching staff because they’re a lot better football team than a year ago,” Nebraska head coach Scott Frost said.
Haubeil tacked on three more to start the third quarter after a 57-yard drive, freshman wide receiver hauled in a six-yard touchdown pass over his shoulder the following drive and Ohio State’s substitutes entered with a 48-0 Buckeye lead.
Martinez scrambled for 56 yards and set up Nebraska’s lone touchdown, a 9-yard plunge by junior running back Dedrick Mills, the following drive.
Despite having outscored its first five opponents 262-43, Ohio State still isn’t thinking about its potential for postseason glory. Its trying to avoid an upset similar to those that occurred in 2017 and 2018.
“I’ve been on the other side where you look ahead and you lose to Iowa or Purdue,” Dobbins said. “I’m not gonna look ahead.”
Ohio State’s season continues at home against No. 25 Michigan State Oct. 5.