COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard tossed three touchdown passes, but No. 4 Ohio State needed an interception by cornerback Jordan Hancock with 1:16 left to seal its 21-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday. The Buckeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) bounced back from their loss to Oregon two weeks ago but sure didn't look like the well-oiled machine they are supposed to be in grappling with four-touchdown-underdog Nebraska.
The Cornhuskers had kept it close all day with three field goals by John Hohl. Ohio State punted five times, gave up the ball on downs, missed a field goal and survived a Howard interception. Dante Dowdell gave Nebraska its first lead in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown, and the Huskers converted the 2-point conversion to go up 17-14 with just under 11 minutes left.
Howard wrested the lead back with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Quinshon Judkins with 6:04 left. Nebraska got the ball back for a last drive with 3:36 and had the ball near midfield after Arvell Reese was ejected for targeting for his hit on receiver Jahmal Banks. The Huskers were called for a false start and lost yards on consecutive plays before Dylan Raiola was off target with a pass intended for Isaiah Neyor and Hancocked picked it off.
Howard knelt three times to run out the clock. Nebraska: The Huskers surely played better than last week when they were drubbed 56-7 by Indiana but were denied a sixth win that would have made them bowl eligible for the first time since 2016. Nebraska has lost 27 s.