Two weeks ago, the road loss to Oregon was one issue.

An unexpected home defeat to Nebraska would have posed a much bigger problem for Ohio State’s aspirations for the College Football Playoff.

This tense situation loomed for the fourth-ranked Buckeyes as they faced Nebraska in the fourth quarter, with 104,832 fans at Ohio Stadium feeling increasingly uneasy.

Yet, when it truly mattered, Ohio State rose to the occasion and secured a 21-17 win.

With just 6 minutes remaining, Will Howard threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Quinshon Judkins, putting the Buckeyes ahead after Nebraska had taken its first lead on their prior drive.

Ohio State (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) then managed to force a quick three-and-out. However, their offense struggled once again, failing to secure a first down, allowing Nebraska another chance.

The Cornhuskers were awarded a first down at their 46 due to a targeting penalty on linebacker Arvell Reese, which sparked strong reactions from Ohio State’s coach Ryan Day and led to some bottles being thrown from the stands.

Nevertheless, the Buckeyes didn’t let Nebraska advance any further. On a crucial third-and-19, Jordan Hancock intercepted a pass thrown by Dylan Raiola, ensuring the victory.

This marked the 44^th straight victory for Ohio State over unranked teams under coach Ryan Day, although this one was particularly nerve-wracking. Nebraska (5-3, 2-3) had just come off a devastating 56-7 loss to Indiana, and Ohio State was looking to make a strong rebound after their recent 32-31 defeat to the current top-ranked Oregon.

While the Buckeyes didn’t deliver the statement they wanted, they at least managed to win. However, the upcoming matchup against No. 3 Penn State promises to be an even greater challenge.

Second half struggles for Ohio State until decisive moments

Ohio State aimed to build on its 14-6 halftime lead but instead struggled through most of the second half. They began the third quarter with a three-and-out and allowed Nebraska to cover 58 yards for a field goal.

Immediately after, Howard threw a deep pass to Emeka Egbuka that was intercepted by Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog Jr., who returned it 34 yards to the Ohio State 7-yard line.

Nebraska faced fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, and while Dante Dowdell attempted to leap over the Buckeyes’ defense, cornerback Davison Igbinosun managed to stop him short of the end zone.

Despite the offensive issues, the defense held its ground. Nebraska found itself at the Ohio State 32 on its subsequent possession when Ty Hamilton recorded a crucial sack on third down, forcing the Cornhuskers to punt.

However, Ohio State couldn’t contain Nebraska forever. Raiola, previously committed to Ohio State, led the Cornhuskers on a 74-yard drive, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Dowdell and a successful 2-point conversion to take the lead, with 10:52 left in the game.

Ohio State offense finally comes alive

While Howard had an impressive first half, connecting on all nine of his passes, he struggled in the second half, and the running game couldn’t compensate. Yet, the offense rose to the occasion when it counted.

Howard connected with Carnell Tate for a significant 37-yard completion to kick off a crucial drive. Emeka Egbuka contributed with a 3-yard catch on fourth-and-1 to maintain the drive. Howard then scrambled for 10 yards before finding Judkins for the decisive touchdown.

Howard concluded the game with a stellar performance of 13 completions out of 16 attempts for 221 yards.

Ohio State offense sluggish in the first half, except for standout plays

In the first three quarters, Ohio State’s offense struggled significantly save for two notable plays. The Buckeyes began the game with three-and-outs on their initial two possessions.

However, they eventually moved to the Nebraska 40 before Howard connected with a slightly underthrown deep ball to Carnell Tate, who was wide open for a touchdown.

Ohio State’s other touchdown in the first half came from a perfectly executed 60-yard pass to freshman Jeremiah Smith, who found space down the middle of the field.

Aside from these highlights, the Buckeyes’ offense had little success. With Zen Michalski stepping in, the struggles continued. Ohio State’s running game was ineffective, as TreVeyon Henderson managed just a 15-yard run, and overall, he and Quinshon Judkins combined for only 17 rushing yards on eight attempts.

Their only other scoring opportunity in the first half ended with Jayden Fielding missing a 42-yard field goal attempt just before halftime.