**Ohio State Scrapes Past Nebraska to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive**

In front of a tense crowd of 104,832 at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State's College Football Playoff aspirations were hanging in the balance Saturday during a nail-biting matchup against Nebraska. Despite a tumultuous performance, the Buckeyes managed to edge out a 21-17 victory, avoiding a second consecutive season-threatening defeat.

Ohio State, ranked No. 4 and holding a 6-1 record (3-1 in the Big Ten), faced a daunting fourth quarter after Nebraska (now 5-3, 2-3) took an unexpected lead. Quarterback Will Howard emerged as the clutch performer, throwing a decisive 9-yard touchdown pass to Quinshon Judkins with six minutes remaining. This pivotal moment reversed the Cornhuskers' brief advantage and put the Buckeyes back on top.

The latter part of the game highlighted the Buckeyes' resilient defense as they forced Nebraska into a three-and-out, despite their own offense's struggles. Nebraska's final chance to reclaim the lead was thwarted by a crucial interception from Jordan Hancock on a third-and-19 situation, sealing Ohio State's victory.

While their defense held firm, Ohio State's offense faced considerable challenges. Howard’s efficient first half, including a seamless performance with nine completed passes, was offset by a faltering second half. The Buckeyes only managed a meager total of 64 rushing yards throughout the game.

Despite their offensive struggles, Howard connected with receiver Carnell Tate for a critical 37-yard gain, setting up the go-ahead score. Howard’s perseverance was evident as he scrambled for necessary yardage and maintained composure under pressure to find Judkins in the end zone.

Ohio State’s confrontation with Nebraska proved to be their 44th consecutive win over unranked opponents under coach Ryan Day. However, this victory was far from convincing, especially considering Nebraska’s previous 56-7 loss to Indiana.

Looking ahead, Ohio State faces a significant challenge in their next game against No. 3 Penn State. The Buckeyes must address their offensive shortcomings to have a hope of securing another victory, a sentiment echoed by Coach Day in his post-game remarks. “On offense, we’ve got to do a better job in a few different areas and get back to the drawing board and figure that out because we’ve got a big challenge against Penn State,” Day said.

Ohio State's first-half offensive highlights were sparse but included two significant plays. Howard completed a touchdown pass to Carnell Tate, following it up with a 60-yard touchdown pass to freshman Jeremiah Smith. However, beyond these explosive moments, the Buckeyes' offensive game lacked continuity and effectiveness.

With a crucial victory under their belt, Ohio State aims to refine their strategy and execution before facing the heightened challenge of Penn State. The Buckeyes' ability to adapt and improve will be critical as they strive to secure their spot in the College Football Playoff.