Nebraska (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten) is set to take on No. 4 Ohio State (5-1, 2-1) this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, broadcast on FOX. BetMGM has placed Ohio State as a heavy favorite, giving them a 25.5-point edge in the matchup. Historically, Ohio State has dominated this series, leading 7-1.
Both teams come into this game with significant stakes. Ohio State is looking to bounce back after a narrow defeat, losing 32-31 to Oregon on October 12. The team is still in the running for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff but must navigate their remaining games carefully due to reduced margin for error. On the other hand, Nebraska is coming off a demoralizing 56-7 loss against Indiana, marking their worst defeat since a 62-3 loss to Ohio State in 2016.
A key aspect of the game will be the Ohio State passing attack against the Nebraska defense. The Buckeyes are currently ranked sixth in the nation, averaging 503 yards per game, with close to 300 of those coming through the air. Meanwhile, Nebraska’s defense has been vulnerable, allowing an average of over 200 passing yards per game, including a staggering 280 yards to Indiana last week.
Two players to keep an eye on include Nebraska’s freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who is under pressure following two lackluster games where he threw four interceptions and not a single touchdown. In contrast, Ohio State’s freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has been a standout performer, catching nine passes for 100 yards against Oregon, totaling 553 receiving yards and seven touchdowns over six games. He has also contributed with 33 rushing yards and a touchdown, making him a consistent highlight reel presence.
When it comes to historical context, Nebraska is struggling against ranked opponents, having lost 26 consecutive games against Top 25 teams since defeating Oregon in 2016. Their road record is dismal as well, with 17 straight defeats against ranked teams away from home since a victory at No. 12 Penn State in 2011. The struggles extend further, as they haven’t beaten a top-five opponent in 14 games. Raiola’s pass efficiency rating of 90.0 since Week 6 ranks as the third lowest among FBS quarterbacks who have made at least 35 attempts during this period, as reported by Sportradar. Strikingly, the Huskers allowed more than 400 yards for the first time in 13 games last week against Indiana, who racked up 495 yards in that contest.
For Ohio State, their running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson have together exceeded 900 rushing yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Additionally, wide receivers Smith and Emeka Egbuka have combined for 1,079 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Quarterback Will Howard had a noteworthy performance against Oregon, throwing for a season-high 326 yards and completing 80% of his passes.