As the #4 Buckeyes get ready to host the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the 11th time, let's go back and take a look at What Happened Before:
- This is the 10th meeting between these two teams with Ohio State leading the series 9-1, with an average score of 43-19.
- The first meeting took place in 1955 with the Buckeyes winning 28-20. The teams didn't meet for 65 years from 1956-2011.
- Most points by Ohio State - 63 (OSU 63-38, 2012). Largest Margin of Victory by OSU - 59 (62-3, 2016)
- Most Points by Nebraska - 38 (OSU 63-38, 2012). Largest Margin of Victory by Nebraska - 7 (34-27, 2011)
- Ryan Day is 3-0 vs Nebraska. This is Matt Ruhle's first time coaching against Ohio State as a head coach.
2011:
The Luke Fickel lead Buckeyes had things going their way in Lincoln as the 3-2 Buckeyes held a 27-6 lead over the #14 Cornhuskers mid way through the 3rd Q. Then, with Ohio State holding a 27-13 lead with 4:46 to go in the third quarter, Braxton Miller was hurt and his day was done. Insert Joe Bauserman. Bauserman then went 1-10 for 13 yards and an interception as Rex Burkhead led Nebraska to their largest comeback victory ever at that time, 34-27. Before Miller was injured, he was 5-8 for 95 yards and a TD, and rushed for another 91 yards on 10 carries. The Buckeyes would finish a disappointing 6-7 that season.
2012:
Enter Urban Meyer. The 2012 game was a high scoring affair with 101 total points, 594 total yards rushing, 935 total yards and 17 kickoffs. When the dust settled, the Buckeyes had outscored the Cornhuskers, 63-38. The Buckeyes scored first on a Bradley Roby 41 yard pick six , But Nebraska answered with 17 straight points. The Buckeyes then scored the next 14, with the help of another Bradley Roby interception of Taylor Martinez (yes, it seems there was a Martinez quarterbacking the Huskers for 80 years) to lead 21-17. More back and forth with the Bucks holding a 35-24 halftime lead. Nebraska scored on their first drive of the second half to pull with 4 at 35-31, but that's as close as they would get. The Buckeyes scored twice, one being a 76 yard punt return by Philly Brown, to lead 56-31, before Nebraska scored and the Buckeyes added a late Carlos Hyde touchdown with 48 second to play (Urban with the kill shot!). I think at that point, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini's head exploded, lol. On the day, Braxton Miller ran 16 times for 186 yards, including runs of 72, 24 and 31 (TD) to go along with his 127 yards passing. The Buckeyes (ineligible for post season games) finished the season undefeated.
2016:
Dressed in their throwback uniforms with the "cannonball" helmets, the #6 ranked (7-1) Buckeyes boat raced the #9 ranked Cornhuskers (7-1), 62-3, in a game that saw Joe Burrow come in with 12 minutes to play and go 6-6 for 62 yards passing in a preview of what was to come, though not for the Buckeyes. On Nebraska's first possession, Damon Webb intercepted Tommy Armstrong's (no, not a Martinez) pass and returned it 36 yards for a score to begin the onslaught. The Buckeyes scored on a1 yard jump pass from JT Barrett to Curtis Samuel to end the first half (31-3) and then opened the second half with a 75 yard Barrett to Samuel pass to put the last nail in Big Red's coffin. Malik Hooker had a 48 yard pick six before Burrow finished the scoring bonanza with an 8 yard touchdown run with 7:19 to play. 62-3. The Buckeyes outgained the Huskers 590 yards to 204. Total domination. Let's hope Saturday's game is more of the same!!
- This is the 10th meeting between these two teams with Ohio State leading the series 9-1, with an average score of 43-19.
- The first meeting took place in 1955 with the Buckeyes winning 28-20. The teams didn't meet for 65 years from 1956-2011.
- Most points by Ohio State - 63 (OSU 63-38, 2012). Largest Margin of Victory by OSU - 59 (62-3, 2016)
- Most Points by Nebraska - 38 (OSU 63-38, 2012). Largest Margin of Victory by Nebraska - 7 (34-27, 2011)
- Ryan Day is 3-0 vs Nebraska. This is Matt Ruhle's first time coaching against Ohio State as a head coach.
2011:
The Luke Fickel lead Buckeyes had things going their way in Lincoln as the 3-2 Buckeyes held a 27-6 lead over the #14 Cornhuskers mid way through the 3rd Q. Then, with Ohio State holding a 27-13 lead with 4:46 to go in the third quarter, Braxton Miller was hurt and his day was done. Insert Joe Bauserman. Bauserman then went 1-10 for 13 yards and an interception as Rex Burkhead led Nebraska to their largest comeback victory ever at that time, 34-27. Before Miller was injured, he was 5-8 for 95 yards and a TD, and rushed for another 91 yards on 10 carries. The Buckeyes would finish a disappointing 6-7 that season.
2012:
Enter Urban Meyer. The 2012 game was a high scoring affair with 101 total points, 594 total yards rushing, 935 total yards and 17 kickoffs. When the dust settled, the Buckeyes had outscored the Cornhuskers, 63-38. The Buckeyes scored first on a Bradley Roby 41 yard pick six , But Nebraska answered with 17 straight points. The Buckeyes then scored the next 14, with the help of another Bradley Roby interception of Taylor Martinez (yes, it seems there was a Martinez quarterbacking the Huskers for 80 years) to lead 21-17. More back and forth with the Bucks holding a 35-24 halftime lead. Nebraska scored on their first drive of the second half to pull with 4 at 35-31, but that's as close as they would get. The Buckeyes scored twice, one being a 76 yard punt return by Philly Brown, to lead 56-31, before Nebraska scored and the Buckeyes added a late Carlos Hyde touchdown with 48 second to play (Urban with the kill shot!). I think at that point, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini's head exploded, lol. On the day, Braxton Miller ran 16 times for 186 yards, including runs of 72, 24 and 31 (TD) to go along with his 127 yards passing. The Buckeyes (ineligible for post season games) finished the season undefeated.
2016:
Dressed in their throwback uniforms with the "cannonball" helmets, the #6 ranked (7-1) Buckeyes boat raced the #9 ranked Cornhuskers (7-1), 62-3, in a game that saw Joe Burrow come in with 12 minutes to play and go 6-6 for 62 yards passing in a preview of what was to come, though not for the Buckeyes. On Nebraska's first possession, Damon Webb intercepted Tommy Armstrong's (no, not a Martinez) pass and returned it 36 yards for a score to begin the onslaught. The Buckeyes scored on a1 yard jump pass from JT Barrett to Curtis Samuel to end the first half (31-3) and then opened the second half with a 75 yard Barrett to Samuel pass to put the last nail in Big Red's coffin. Malik Hooker had a 48 yard pick six before Burrow finished the scoring bonanza with an 8 yard touchdown run with 7:19 to play. 62-3. The Buckeyes outgained the Huskers 590 yards to 204. Total domination. Let's hope Saturday's game is more of the same!!
