A grade card on Ohio State’s 26-17 win over Nebraska, which resembled its win over Penn State last week.
OFFENSE: C-
C.J. Stroud was 36 of 54 for 405 yard and two touchdowns. It was the third time he has passed for more than 400 yards this season. But his two interceptions were more than he had thrown in any other game and he had another pass that was nearly picked off early in the game.
Ohio State is struggling to run the ball. Defenses seem to have developed ways of frustrating TreVeyon Henderson’s explosive runs. Maybe now Ohio State has to make some adjustments. Maybe the offensive line needs to play better. Or maybe Rutgers, Maryland and some of the other teams Ohio State played earlier in the season just aren’t very good.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a huge game with 15 catches for 240 yards. OSU played without receiver Garrett Wilson, who was out with an unspecified injury.
DEFENSE: B
Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs and defensive play caller Matt Barnes all praised Ohio State’s defensive performance against Nebraska. The defensive line turned in another strong performance with five sacks. Steele Chambers had an interception to end Nebraska’s final possession. Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez connected with wide receiver Samori Toure for a 72-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and a 53-yard non-scoring play in the third quarter but OSU allowed only two other plays of more than 20 yards.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A+
Kicker Noah Ruggles was as outstanding in his role as Smith-Njigba was in his role. Ruggles went 4 for 4 on field goals for the second consecutive game and now is 15 of 15 on field goals in his first season as OSU’s kicker. His two 46-yard field goals were the longest he has kicked at Ohio State. His career best is 49 yards, which happened when he was at the North Carolina.
OVERALL: B-
Ohio State got some defensive stops when it needed them most when Nebraska made it a one-score game in the second half. Penalties were a problem that popped up again, especially in the third quarter when the Buckeyes had six of them.
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