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Final score: #5 Ohio State 48 Nebraska 7
Brief recap: Honestly, it was pretty ugly from the start. Nebraska’s offense couldn’t do anything on the Ohio State defense from the get-go, throwing two interceptions on three of the first four drives. The Buckeyes turned those takeaways into quick points, building a 38-0 lead by halftime. Justin Fields had already accounted for three touchdowns by the time the first half ended and the Buckeyes had essentially wrapped up their 5-0 start.
Key moment: When Adrian Martinez threw his third interception in the second quarter and Ohio State marched 50 yards in three plays to take a 24-0 lead in Lincoln, it felt like it was over. Nobody thought Nebraska had a legitimate chance to crawl back into the game after that.
Key stat: This is a halftime stat, but it feels relevant. Martinez had two completions while Ohio State had three interceptions through three quarters. That is…the opposite of good.
Key player: Jeff Okudah was huge in this game, particularly early. Not only did he fly across the field to break up passes and deliver big its throughout the game, he registered two outstanding interceptions early in the contest. An outstanding effort from the defensive back.
What it means for Ohio State: In case you didn’t think it was true before, Ohio State is easily one of the four best teams in the country, if not the best. To go into Lincoln and completely embarrass an improved Nebraska team was pretty impressive. Next week should be an intriguing matchup against a good Michigan State defense, but would we really be surprised if the Buckeyes won in blowout fashion again?
What it means for Nebraska: This team is nowhere close to being a contender in the B1G. Is it still competitive in the West? Sure. But all the preseason hype about being in the elite category is out the window. Nebraska has a long way to go and was exposed against the Buckeyes. It’s back to the drawing board in Lincoln.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB