It’s about noon in Columbus, and the air feels like it’s vibrating. If you’ve ever stood in the middle of a sea of scarlet and gray, you know that sound. It’s not just noise; it’s a physical weight. On paper, the games between Ohio State and Nebraska usually look like a forgone conclusion. The Buckeyes have historically treated the Cornhuskers like a speed bump on their way to the Big Ten Championship.
But football isn't played on paper.
Honestly, the 2024 meeting in the "Shoe" changed the vibe of this entire series. Most people expected a blowout. Nebraska was coming off a soul-crushing 56-7 loss to Indiana, and Ohio State was ranked No. 4 in the country. The spread was massive—over three touchdowns. Then, the game started.
What Really Happened with Ohio State and Nebraska in 2024
The final score was 21-17. Ohio State won, sure, but they didn't win the way they wanted to. They got booed by their own fans. Think about that for a second. A top-five team wins a conference game and their own supporters are letting them have it.
Nebraska’s defense, coached by Tony White, absolutely suffocated the Buckeyes' run game. Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, arguably the best backfield duo in the nation, were held to a combined 64 yards rushing. That’s unheard of for a Ryan Day offense.
The Raiola Factor
Dylan Raiola is the name every Nebraska fan is pinning their hopes on. He was once an Ohio State commit, which adds a layer of "what if" that makes this rivalry spicy. In that 2024 clash, he wasn't perfect. He went 21-of-32 for 152 yards and threw a late interception that basically sealed the deal for the Buckeyes.
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But he showed grit.
He ripped off a 38-yard scramble that left Jim Knowles—Ohio State’s defensive coordinator—scrambling to adjust his blitz packages. It was a "welcome to the big leagues" moment. Raiola didn't look like a freshman; he looked like a guy who belonged on that stage.
Why the "Moral Victory" Label Stings in Lincoln
If you ask Matt Rhule about moral victories, he’ll probably give you a look that could melt steel. Nebraska has been the king of the "close loss" for nearly a decade. Between 2016 and 2024, the Huskers faced Ohio State while the Buckeyes were ranked in the top 10 every single time.
The record is lopsided. Ohio State leads the all-time series 10-1. The only time Nebraska tasted blood was back in 2011, a 34-27 comeback win that remains the largest comeback in Husker history. Since then? It's been a lot of pain.
- 2016: 62-3 (A total nightmare in Columbus)
- 2017: 56-14 (Not much better)
- 2024: 21-17 (The game that proved the gap is closing)
Rhule’s record against ranked teams is a point of contention. By the end of 2025, he was sitting at roughly 2-25 against Top 25 opponents throughout his career. It’s a stat that critics love to throw in his face. Yet, anyone watching that 2024 game saw a Nebraska team that was more physical, more disciplined, and frankly, hungrier than the Buckeyes for three and a half quarters.
The Offensive Line Crisis
For Ohio State, the struggle against Nebraska exposed a massive vulnerability: depth at left tackle. Josh Simmons went down with a season-ending injury against Oregon, and Zen Michalski had to step in.
It was a disaster.
Nebraska’s front four lived in the backfield. Will Howard, the Buckeyes' quarterback, spent most of the afternoon running for his life or throwing hurried passes. Howard finished with three touchdowns, including a 60-yard bomb to freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, but the offense felt "choppy," as the pundits like to say.
This is the nuance of the Ohio State and Nebraska matchup. While the talent gap is real, the coaching battle is becoming a chess match. Rhule knows how to build programs. Day knows how to maintain them. When those two philosophies clash, the scoreboard doesn't always tell the whole story.
Key Stats That Matter
- Time of Possession: Nebraska held the ball for 35 minutes in the 2024 game. That's how you beat a high-powered offense—you keep them on the sideline.
- The Blackshirts: Nebraska’s defense held Ohio State to 285 total yards. For context, the Buckeyes were averaging over 500 yards per game going into that Saturday.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
A lot of folks think Nebraska is just another Big Ten West team (back when divisions existed) that can't keep up with the speed of the East. That’s old thinking. Nebraska’s agricultural heartland vibe translates to a specific kind of "corn-fed" physicality that bothers Ohio State.
The Buckeyes are built for speed and space. Nebraska wants to turn the game into a wrestling match in a mud pit.
Even in 2025, as the Big Ten expanded and the schedule got weirder, this game remained a circled date. Why? Because the pressure is always on Ohio State. If they beat Nebraska by 40, everyone says "they were supposed to." If they win by 4, the "Fire Ryan Day" tweets start flying before the players even get to the locker room.
Actionable Insights for the Next Matchup
If you’re betting on or just watching the next time Ohio State and Nebraska meet, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Trenches: Don't look at the star wide receivers first. Look at the Buckeyes' offensive tackles. If they aren't winning the point of attack by the second quarter, Nebraska is going to hang around.
- Raiola’s Progression: Dylan Raiola's ability to minimize turnovers is the "X" factor. In 2024, his one big mistake cost them the game. If he plays a clean sheet, the upset is inevitable.
- Special Teams Matter: John Hohl hit a 54-yard field goal for Nebraska in 2024. In tight games between these two, a kicker with range is worth his weight in gold.
- The "Big Noon" Curse: Most of these games kick off at noon ET. Ohio State historically starts slow in these windows. If Nebraska can jump out to a 7-0 or 10-0 lead, the pressure on the Buckeyes becomes a heavy cloak.
The narrative that Nebraska is "back" gets thrown around every year, usually prematurely. However, the 21-17 scare in 2024 proved that the Buckeyes can no longer sleepwalk through this game. It’s no longer a guaranteed blowout; it’s a dogfight.
To keep up with the latest roster changes or injury reports heading into the next season, check the official Big Ten availability reports released two hours before kickoff. Monitoring the transfer portal moves for both teams in the spring will also give you a clearer picture of whether Ohio State has fixed its offensive line depth or if Nebraska has added the explosive playmakers Raiola needs to finish the job.