Revisiting the win over Ohio State

It’s amazing what watching the replay of a game seven months later can do. I just got done watching the DVR recording of the Big Ten Network’s airing of Nebraska football’s thrilling, and frankly stunning, 34-27 come-from-behind win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on October 8.

You truly have to reassess the circumstances to appreciate the situation. Ohio State was a scandal-ridden program that had various players coming off of five-game suspensions because they were found to have sold awards, gifts and university apparel, plus receive improper benefits in 2009. In addition to missing five games in 2011, those players had repay money and benefits ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,500. The repayments needed to be made to a charity.

The Buckeyes entered the game 3-2 but looked like they couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time, especially on offense. Ohio State lost 10-7 at home against Michigan State (the same club Nebraska throttled 24-3 at home later in the month) the previous week. Nebraska, meanwhile, was 4-1 but coming off an embarrassing 48-17 loss at Wisconsin in its Big Ten debut on National TV. The Huskers as a team played a horrendous game and took a lot of heat (deservedly so in some cases) from local and national media alike. Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez especially took a lot of heat for his 11-of-22 passing performance with no touchdowns and three interceptions. Head coach Bo Pelini also took his share of slings and arrows.  

The victory over Ohio State was a psychological win for the Huskers. No matter how much Ohio State had become just another program, you don't rally from a 27-6 deficit to win without having some testicular fortitude. The Buckeyes finished 6-7 including a 21-14 Gator Bowl loss to Florida.

Entering the Ohio State game, negativity was at a fever pitch among Husker fans and media alike after the aforementioned loss to Wisconsin. After the Ohio State game, Nebraska had a bye week followed by a road game at Minnesota. If you thought negativity among the Nebraska fan base and media was bad entering the Ohio State game, one could only fathom how things would have been with consecutive losses going into a bye week.

In the first half, the Buckeyes ran through Nebraska like Roseanne Barr at an all-you-can-eat buffet to the tune of 246 yards of offense in the first half. OSU freshman quarterback Braxton Miller rushed for 79 and passed for 68. For the second time in as many weeks, the Huskers looked like stumblebums on defense. The offense certainly wasn't pulling its weight either.

Sometimes, however, one play can change a game if not the course of a season. Nebraska linebacker LaVonte David's play in the third quarter was the difference in Nebraska’s season. Granted, the Huskers finished 9-4 including a 30-13 Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina. However, without David’s brilliance, the Huskers very easily could have gone 7-6. In the first half of the Ohio State game, the Husker defense looked lost on defense, perhaps still reeling from the Wisconsin loss. OSU led 20-6 at halftime. Pelini, who is known as a defensive guru, seemed at a loss for solutions. That Nebraska deficit later became 27-6.  

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller made his way through traffic for a 7-yard gain but like a thief in the night, David ripped the ball from the hands of the 6-3, 210-pound quarterback. From there, it was all Huskers. Yes, Nebraska caught a break when the mobile Miller had to leave the game with an ankle injury. His replacement (Joe Bauserman) went 1 for 7 for 13 yards. However, it should also be pointed out that David made the play with Miller in the game. Also, Miller does not play defense.

With Martinez, you had to look beyond his numbers. Yes, he completed 16 of 22 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. He also added a rushing touchdown, 95 yards on 16 carries. However, besides his end-of-the-first-half interception, Martinez bounced back well from the previous week’s performance at Wisconsin. He did a better job of checking down to receivers this week, and overall he showed more poise and confidence. ABC color commentator Matt Millen kept harping on how Martinez lacks the ability to stretch the field. It's funny. Against Wisconsin, Martinez was being criticized for forcing the ball downfield into coverage and not checking down to underneath receivers. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

What more can you say about running back Rex Burkhead? 119 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown. Nebraska rushed for 144 yards in the fourth quarter, against the 13th ranked defense in the country.

What did the Ohio State win mean in the grand spectrum of things? Well, mathematically it meant the Huskers are 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten. What might have happened, however, had Nebraska lost that game? The Huskers went on to beat Minnesota (41-14) and Michigan State (24-3). Nebraska alternated outcomes the rest of the way with a home loss to Northwestern (28-25), a road win at Penn State (17-14), a road loss at Michigan (45-17), a home win against Iowa (20-7) and the aforementioned bowl loss to South Carolina.

So what did the win over Ohio State mean? Mathematically, not much because after that game the Huskers went 4-3. Without that win, Nebraska probably still beats God-awful Minnesota, which went 3-9 but maybe not by 27 points but that’s the only game with conviction you can say the Huskers win.  

As disappointing as 9-4 may seem, and no I don’t think it should be the Gold standard, just remember how truly disconcerting the season would have been without the Ohio State win.