Will Howard threw three touchdown passes, but No. 4 Ohio State needed an interception from cornerback Jordan Hancock with 1:16 left to secure their 21-17 victory over Nebraska on Saturday.
The Buckeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) bounced back after losing to Oregon two weeks ago, but they did not play like the strong team they are expected to be against a nearly four-touchdown underdog.
“It wasn’t perfect, but a win’s a win,” Howard said. “And we were able to show that when the going gets tough, and when maybe things aren’t going our way, we’re able to win in the fourth quarter.
I think our defense did an unbelievable job of getting some stops, making some really big plays in that fourth quarter and getting us a chance to go down there and put that last one in and give us the lead.”
The Cornhuskers (5-3, 2-3) kept the game close throughout. John Hohl kicked three field goals, and Dante Dowdell’s touchdown early in the fourth quarter briefly gave them the lead.
Ohio State converted only 1 of 10 third downs, punted five times, turned the ball over on downs, missed a field goal, and managed to survive an interception thrown by Howard.
Dowdell’s 1-yard run and a 2-point conversion put the Huskers ahead 17-14. The Buckeyes regained the lead with 6:04 remaining when Howard connected with Quinshon Judkins for a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Nebraska had the ball near midfield on their last possession after Arvell Reese was ejected for a targeting penalty for his hit on receiver Jahmal Banks. The Huskers were penalized for a false start and lost yards on two straight plays before Dylan Raiola missed a pass aimed at Isaiah Neyor, allowing Hancock to make the interception.
Howard then knelt three times to run out the clock.
The Huskers had a chance to take the lead in the third quarter when Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards, putting them at the Ohio State 7. On fourth-and-goal from the 2, Davison Igbinosun and Cody Simon stopped Dowdell just short of the goal line.
“Yeah, that’s definitely a drive that we wish we could have finished off,” Raiola said. “I think we had our best play called. We just came up a little short and that’s what it is right now. And we’ll make sure that we hit those plays coming in the future.”
