Nebraska vs. Ohio State highlights: Buckeyes get choppy, 21-17 win

A wild and wacky fourth quarter drew to a close when Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was attempting to mount a game-winning drive, tossed an ill-advised throw into double coverage down field. The pass was picked off by Ohio State defensive back Jordan Hancock over the middle, his sliding pick with a little more than one minute remaining helping seal a 21-17 win that was anything but comfortable for the Buckeyes.

The last-ditch turnover preserved a game in which Ohio State's high-octane offense largely vanished in the second half. The rushing attack was ineffective. The pass blocking was porous without starting left tackle Josh Simmons, whose backup, Zen Michalski, later dropped out with an injury of his own. Quarterback Will Howard threw a bizarre interception. Linebacker Arvell Reese was ejected for targeting. And head coach Ryan Day was penalized for his reaction to an official review that didn't go the Buckeyes' way.

Somehow, someway, Ohio State survived. But Day and his staff have plenty to fix between now and next week's showdown with No. 3 Penn State at Beaver Stadium.

4Q: 1:25 - Ohio State 21, Nebraska 17

Nebraska was unable to take advantage of an Ohio State targeting penalty, as Dylan Raiola was intercepted by cornerback Jordan Hancock. The Buckeyes then took a knee to end the game.

4Q: 3:21 - Ohio State 21, Nebraska 17

Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese was called for targeting, giving Nebraska the ball at its own 46-yard line, which resulted in Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day being penalized for his reaction.

4Q: 6:13 - Ohio State 21, Nebraska 17

The Buckeyes' offense went to work after the Cornhuskers took the lead, as QB Will Howard and WR Carnell Tate hooked up for a 37-yard completion to start the ensuing drive. Eight plays later, Howard hit an open Quinshon Judkins for a 9-yard touchdown, regaining the lead for Ohio State.

Will Howard connects with Quinshon Judkins on a 9-yard TD to help Ohio State grab a 21-17 lead over Nebraska

4Q: 10:52 - Nebraska 17, Ohio State 14

Dylan Raiola hit TE Thomas Fidone II for a 33-yard pickup to kick-start Nebraska's first drive of the fourth quarter. The two then hooked up for a completion to move the sticks on third down. Four plays later, RB Dante Dowdell — who began the drive with a 19-yard run — leaped over the goal line for a go-ahead touchdown. Nebraska then converted a two-point conversion.

Dante Dowdell punches in a 1-yard TD, giving Nebraska a 17-14 lead over Ohio State

Try as it might, the sound from Ohio State's famous marching band couldn't drown out the smattering of boos that rang around Ohio Stadium as the third quarter drew to a close. Clinging to a five-point lead, the Buckeyes' offense had just gone three-and-out for the third time in this quarter alone — a stanza in which head coach Ryan Day's team failed to pick up a first down and also turned the ball over on an interception by Will Howard. By the time tailback TreVeyon Henderson was stopped on third-and-1 to force yet another Ohio State punt, a segment of the fans had seen enough and let their opinions be heard.

Another field goal from Nebraska whittled the lead to less than a touchdown as quarterback Dylan Raiola oversaw a lengthy and effective opening drive. The Cornhuskers covered 58 yards in 12 plays before an untimely breakdown along the offensive line resulted in a sack of Raiola that forced a kick. Nebraska had another opportunity to take the lead later in the quarter following the interception from Howard, who badly overthrew wideout Emeka Egbuka. But tailback Dante Dowdell was stuffed at the goal line on fourth down in what could well be remembered as the play of the day for Ohio State, a vicious and vital goal-line stand.

3Q: 4:58 - Ohio State 14, Nebraska 9

Nebraska got the ball back when defensive back Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted QB Will Howard and ran the pick back to the Ohio State 7-yard line. However, the Buckeyes defense held on four straight plays, with the Cornhuskers turning the ball over on downs at the 1-yard line.

3Q: 7:33 - Ohio State 14, Nebraska 9

Ohio State went three-and-out to open the second half, and then Nebraska got the ball into the red zone. That said, Buckeyes defensive end JT Tuimoloau stunted the Cornhuskers' drive with a third-down sack. John Hohl made a 47-yard field goal for Nebraska.

It appeared, at least momentarily, that Nebraska might respond to Ohio State's score in the waning seconds of the first quarter with an emphatic touchdown drive of its own. Quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was once committed to the Buckeyes, broke free on a 38-yard scramble that punished defensive coordinator Jim Knowles for an aggressive blitz call, flipping the field and nudging the Cornhuskers into the red zone. But back-to-back negative plays robbed Nebraska of any momentum, and Knowles redeemed himself with a creative pressure that confused Raiola with A-gap motion and a late blitz from the slot. The failed conversion forced the Cornhuskers to settle for a field goal.

A second lengthy touchdown throw from quarterback Will Howard restored the Buckeyes' advantage as true freshman Jeremiah Smith, who is fast becoming one of the best receivers in the nation, broke free down the middle of the field for a 60-yard score. The big play, which appeared to be a blown coverage by Nebraska, papered over the ongoing issues at left tackle without Josh Simmons, the former San Diego State transfer. Backup Zen Michalski was beaten with speed, beaten with power and seemed largely overwhelmed by whichever Cornhusker defender lined up across from him. It will be interesting to see if the Buckeyes stick with Michalski in the second half. Another option might be to move left guard Donovan Jackson out to left tackle and find a new replacement along the interior. The leaky protection in front of Howard, who completed all nine of his passes for 167 yards and two scores, contributed to Ohio State's missed field goal late in the second quarter.

Nebraska pulled within 14-6 as the clock expired at the end of the first half, a 54-yard field goal from kicker John Hohl pummeled through the uprights with plenty of room to spare. His successful kick spared head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield from an embarrassing gaffe that nearly cost the Cornhuskers points. An ill-advised deep throw from Raiola toward wide receiver Isaiah Neyor in the final seconds resulted in an offensive pass interference that briefly knocked Nebraska out of field goal range. Raiola needed to complete a last-ditch pass to tight end Thomas Fidone II just to give Hohl a chance.

2Q: 0:05- Ohio State 14, Nebraska 6

Jayden Fielding missed a 42-yard field goal for Ohio State, and Nebraska proceeded to get the ball into opponent territory. On the final play of the first half, kicker John Hohl knocked through a 54-yard field goal for the Cornhuskers.

2Q: 8:35 - Ohio State 14, Nebraska 3

Just four plays after Nebraska got on the board, Ohio State stretched its lead to two scores when QB Will Howard hit star freshman WR Jeremiah Smith downfield for a 60-yard touchdown.

Will Howard links up with Jeremiah Smith for a 60-yard TD, extending Ohio State's lead over Nebraska

2Q: 10:32 - Ohio State 7, Nebraska 3

On the sixth play of Nebraska's fourth possession, QB Dylan Raiola took off for a 38-yard run, as shown below, getting it into the Ohio State red zone. That said, the Cornhuskers ultimately settled for a 39-yard field goal from John Hohl.

The breakthrough for Ohio State took nearly 15 minutes, but the Buckeyes finally opened the scoring with :29 remaining in the opening quarter. An early turnover on downs and some shoddy play from left tackle Zen Michalski, who is replacing starter Josh Simmons following a season-ending knee injury, left a portion of the Ohio Stadium crowd restless against what many presumed to be an overmatched opponent. But quarterback Will Howard delighted the OSU faithful with a beautiful 40-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Carnell Tate on the Buckeyes' third possession to surge in front, 7-0.

On the opposite sideline, where Nebraska arrived in Columbus on the heels of an embarrassing blowout loss to then-No. 16 Indiana last week, the lapses in focus and execution that perturbed head coach Matt Rhule appeared unresolved. The Cornhuskers bobbled the opening kickoff, botched a handoff between quarterback Dylan Raiola and tailback Dante Dowdell and shanked a punt in the first few minutes alone. And Nebraska's second possession began with a dropped screen pass in the flat. That's not the recipe for pulling a massive upset on the road.

1Q: 0:45 - Ohio State 7, Nebraska 0

Ohio State failed to get a first down on each of its first two drives. That said, the Buckeyes broke through on the sixth play of their third drive when QB Will Howard hit WR Carnell Tate for a 40-yard touchdown.

Will Howard finds Carnell Tate for a 40-yard TD to give Ohio State a 7-0 lead over Nebraska

1Q: 11:14 - Nebraska 0, Ohio State 0

Nebraska began the opening possession at its own 9-yard line after Kwinten Ives fumbled and recovered his own fumble on the kickoff. Then, the Cornhuskers went three-and-out, and Brian Buschini's punt went just 31 yards, giving Ohio State the ball at Nebraska's 36-yard line.

That said, Nebraska later forced Ohio State to turn the ball over on downs, as linebacker MJ Sherman stuffed Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson on fourth-and-1.

The Buckeyes' head coach spoke to Jenny Taft ahead of the Big Ten tilt.

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer reunited with members of the Buckeyes' 2014 national championship team.

Ohio State 2014 National Championship reunion: Urban Meyer, Devin Smith & More

Ohio State fans went WILD when former Buckeye coach Urban Meyer was introduced. 

Urban led an O-H-I-O chant with Buckeye fans on the set of "Big Noon Kickoff."