No. 6 Buckeyes guard against slip-up against reeling Huskers

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — No. 6 Ohio State has outscored Nebraska by an average of 53-18 while winning six straight against the Cornhuskers.

The last thing Buckeyes coach Ryan Day wants his players to do is look at the recent history of the series and think they’re in for an easy afternoon Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

With the Buckeyes (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten) ranked No. 5 in the season’s first College Football Playoff rankings, they have no margin for error. No two-loss team has ever made the playoff.

Nebraska (3-6, 1-5) has lost three straight and five of its last six, but none of its six losses has been by more than eight points.

“A lot of things have happened this year, and so we can’t let that happen to us and we can’t have any regrets,” Day said. “The only way to do that is to focus on right now and not be distracted. If you start looking ahead, if you start worrying about tomorrow, that’s where you get distracted, and we’ve got to stay disciplined in that area of the game.”

The Huskers are reeling after playing an uninspired second half in a 28-23 home loss to Purdue, and pressure has increased on coach Scott Frost as he faces the prospect of a fourth straight losing season since taking over.

Nebraska enters the game as a 14 1/2-point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

“The biggest obstacle you have to overcome against them is they have a bunch of future NFL guys and good coaches,” Frost said, “and so you are going to have to execute really well and take advantage of opportunities you get. They have been putting up a lot of points, so you have to do a good job on defense, and you have to score when you get a chance.”

Ohio State, seeking a third straight playoff appearance and fifth consecutive Big Ten championship, is coming off a 33-24 win over then-No. 20 Penn State.

After Nebraska, the Buckeyes finish at home against Purdue and Michigan State and on the road against Michigan. Michigan State is No. 3 in the CFP rankings and Michigan is No. 7, and both are in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll.

Ohio State has won 13 straight November games since a loss at Iowa in 2017.

“We’ve got to really prove how consistent we are here in November,” Day said, “because this is where championships are won.”

DEFENSE CAN SCORE, TOO

Ohio State’s defense has scored six touchdowns, the most of any team in the nation. The Buckeyes have returned four interceptions and two fumbles for TDs. The latest was defensive tackle Jerron Cage’s 57-yard scoop-and-score against Penn State.

SEEKING A BREAKTHROUGH

Nebraska will be facing its fourth Top 25 opponent, including a third in the top 10 for the first time since 2008. The Huskers have lost 15 straight against ranked opponents since Mike Riley’s team beat then-No. 22 Oregon in September 2016.

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Ohio State head coach Ryan Day argues with a referee during during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Maryland 66-17. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/11/web1_127535161-b7a1d4c7cb1b49d3b97a6beb1944c88e-1.jpgOhio State head coach Ryan Day argues with a referee during during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State beat Maryland 66-17. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost walks the sideline between plays against Purdue in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
https://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2021/11/web1_127535161-d500822ffce046dd9cfb66cfc0bfa780-1.jpgNebraska head coach Scott Frost walks the sideline between plays against Purdue in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)

By ERIC OLSON

AP College Football Writer

COLUMBUS – After Ohio State’s 33-24 win over Penn State last Saturday night coach Ryan Day said the defense won the game for the Buckeyes.

A pronounced lean toward the defense was confirmed when the players who were designated as champions for their outstanding play in that game were announced.

Nine defensive players were champions and only one offensive player, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, received that honor.

To some people it appeared Day might be sending a message to the offense but he said it was just a matter of mathematics.

“In order to be a champion you have to play over 15 plays and grade over 80 percent and we had one guy over 80 percent,” Day said. “We can try to make you feel better but that’s not how this game works. Every guy has to be held accountable.”

Steele Chambers was one of the nine defensive players saluted as a champion even though he was called for targeting and ejected on Penn State’s first offensive play of the second half.

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