Despite being inactive, Nebraska still got into the Top 10 of the AP Poll. After a 6-7 season where they had terrible luck in close games, this season has been a complete 180. While they’ve been in some close games, they’re able to pull away in the fourth quarter with their great offense.
Facing an impressive Indiana team next week, it is absolutely imperative that the Cornhuskers can stay undefeated by the time they face Wisconsin in Week 9.
As Ohio State tries to get back to the College Football Playoff after last year’s disappointing season, their great start to the season is due to J.T. Barrett. Having set a school record for most passing touchdowns in just 27 games, he is playing like a Heisman candidate, although he’d much rather see his team succeed instead of just him.
But against Indiana, he struggled. Barrett finished 9-of-23 with just 93 passing yards. He threw a touchdown, but still turned it over twice. However, that hardly let him get deterred, as he was able to get it done on the ground. He rushed it 26 times, a career high, and got 137 yards and a touchdown.
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Curtis Samuel and Mike Weber were able to take the pressure off of him. The two of them combined for three rushing touchdowns on fewer carries than Barrett.
On special teams, Parris Campbell balled out. His 91-yard return near the end of the first half may have been a turning point, since it set up a rushing touchdown for Barrett, and a seven-point game after the first half would’ve been a lot more manageable for the Hoosiers instead of a 14-point game.
Ohio State had a lot of chances to run away with this game, but Indiana stayed in it longer than they should’ve. Still, Indiana is perhaps the one team not named Michigan State that has given Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes the hardest time. And after they came within one score in the second half, the Buckeyes’ defense held them scoreless the rest of the way.
This was far from a vintage performance for the Buckeyes, but they’ll take it. While some may have thought that they would blow out Wisconsin, this game will certainly give the Badgers a lot of confidence. Facing that fearsome front seven will be these Young Bucks’ toughest test so far.