THE RUNNING START
When: Saturday, October 14, 2017
Where: Lincoln, Nebraska, Memorial Stadium
TV: 7:30 p.m., FS1
Announcers: Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft
This is the sixth time Ohio State and Nebraska will play each other in football. The Buckeyes are 4–1 all-time against the Cornhuskers. Mike Riley's team enters this contest with a 3–3 record in 2017.
Below you will find some interesting facts about the teams, key offensive player stats, coach information, and team stats.
THE LAST TIME...
- Ohio State played Nebraska, the Buckeyes won 62-3.
- Nebraska crossed the goal line against Ohio State was the fourth quarter of the 2012 game.
- The Buckeyes played the Cornhuskers in Lincoln, the Huskers won 34-27.
- Ohio State defeated Nebraska in Lincoln was...never.
- A ranked Buckeye team lost on the road to an unranked Big Ten team at night was last year. That was the only time an Urban Meyer coached Ohio State team lost a game in that scenario.
- The Cornhuskers defeated a ranked Big Ten East team was 2015. Nebraska edged Michigan State 39-38 in Lincoln.
- Memorial Stadium was not sold out, was Nov. 3, 1962. The sell out streak is up to 359 games.
ON THE HORIZON
- Ohio State has scored at least 50 points in three consecutive games. The 2014 team set the program record with four straight games of 50 or more points.
- Sean Nuernberger has made a school record 140 consecutive extra points. He is one away from tying the Big Ten record of 141. Note, the fumbled snap last week did not count against Nuernberger it was listed as team miss.
- J.T. Barrett (10,670) is 20 yards away from passing Tommy Armstrong and 75 yards away from passing Denard Robinson on the Big Ten's all-time yardage list.
- This is the 201st game in Urban Meyer's career. Among active coaches, he has the highest winning percentage (.850) and is ranked third in the history of Division I history.
- Since 1890, the Buckeyes are 96–25–3 (.786) in the seventh game of the season and 40–13 (.755) on the road.
- Ohio State is 12–2 when ranked and facing an unranked Big Ten opponent on the road at night.
- In 2017, the Buckeyes have only allowed 14 first quarter points.
- Urban Meyer led Ohio State teams are 25–1 when playing in the opponent's stadium.
GET TO KNOW NEBRASKA
- The University of Nebraska is located in Lincoln, NE.
- The university was established in 1869.
- The Cornhuskers are 3–3 this season.
- Nebraska is 47–25 (.653) since 2012.
- Mike Riley's team lost to undefeated Wisconsin 38-17 last week.
- This is the first time in Nebraska history that the team is hosting teams ranked in the top-10 in consecutive weeks.
- Since joining the Big Ten, the Cornhuskers are 33–19 (.635) against conference opponents.
TODAY'S TRIVIA QUESTIONS:
- Is Nebraska a member of the Association of American Universities?
- Can you name at least two of the three Cornhuskers who have won Heisman Trophies?
- How many national championships has Nebraska won?
Answers at the bottom of today's article.
OFFENSIVE LEADERS | ||||
J.T. BARRETT | 1,502 YDS // 16 TD // 1 INT | PASSING | TANNER LEE | 1,406 YDS // 11 TD // 10 INT |
J.K. DOBBINS | 669 YDS // 7.6 YPC 4 TD | RUSHING | DEVINE OZIGBO | 327 YDS // 4.9 YPC // 1 TD |
PARRIS CAMPBELL | 388 YDS // 2 TD | RECEIVING | STANLEY MORGAN JR. | 510 YDS // 5 TD |
DEFENSIVE LEADERS | ||||
DAMON WEBB | 29 | TACKLES | AARON WILLIAMS | 40 |
NICK BOSA | 4.0 | SACKS |
CARLOS DAVIS KHALIL DAVIS LUKE GIFFORD |
1.5 |
DAMON WEBB | 2 | INTERCEPTIONS | AARON WILLIAMS | 2 |
SPECIAL TEAMS | ||||
K.J. HILL | 3.5 YPR | PUNT RETURNER | DEMORNAY PIERSON-EL | 7.5 YPR |
PARRIS CAMPBELL | 39.0 YPR | KICKOFF RETURN | JD SPIELMAN | 34.4 YPR |
DRUE CHRISMAN | 42.6 | PUNTING | CALEB LIGHTBOURN | 42.5 |
6 | EDGE | 4 |
THE COACHES
This is the second time Urban Meyer and Mike Riley have squared off as head coaches.
Urban Meyer
- 66–7 (.904) at Ohio State (6th year)
- 170–30 (.850) overall (16th year)
Mike Riley
- 18–14 (.563) at Nebraska (3rd year)
- 111–94 (.541) overall as a college coach (17th year)
CLIFF CLAVEN'S LITTLE KNOWN FACTS CORNER
- Ohio State held Maryland to 16 passing yards. The last time an opponent had less? 1989, Wisconsin finished with zero.
- The Buckeyes' defense has held the last four opponents to less than 100 yards passing.
- Ohio State teams under Urban Meyer have scored 50 or more points 22 times. The Buckeyes won all of those games.
- Nick Bosa has 10.0 tackles for loss and leads the Big Ten in that category.
- The Buckeyes have not allowed any opponent to return a punt this season.
- The last unranked Big Ten team to defeat Ohio State in a road night game was Penn State last year. That is the only Big Ten road loss in Urban Meyer's Ohio State career.
- 2013 was the last time the Buckeyes played Game 7 during the day.
- When playing the seventh game of the season on the road, the Buckeyes are 40–13.
- In the history of the NCAA, Nebraska football is the only team in any sport to have 100 athletic All-Americans and 100 academic All-Americans.
- Parris Campbell is ranked third in the nation by averaging 39.0 yards per kickoff return.
- Amir Riep has recorded three tackles on kickoff coverage inside the opponent's 20-yard line this season.
- 15 different players have caught a pass this season. 10 different player have a receiving touchdown.
- The Buckeyes' last game on October 14th was a 29-17 loss to unranked Minnesota in 2000.
- Ohio State is 14–3–2 on the 14th of October, but have lost three of the last six played on that date.
OFFENSE | ||||
45.8 | 4th | POINTS FOR | 27.8 | 77th |
245.8 | 18th | RUSHING OFFENSE | 148.5 | 79th |
322.2 | 14th | PASSING OFFENSE | 235.8 | 63rd |
568.0 | 4th | TOTAL OFFENSE | 384.3 | 85th |
.447 | 35th | 3rd DOWNS | .411 | 55th |
.857 | 57th | RED ZONE | .783 | 91st |
DEFENSE | ||||
15.7 | 10th | POINTS ALLOWED | 26.7 | 73rd |
120.5 | 29th | RUSH DEFENSE | 147.0 | 61st |
170.2 | 17th | PASS DEFENSE | 208.8 | 47th |
110.9 | 26th | PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE | 126.0 | 67th |
290.7 | 14th | TOTAL DEFENSE | 355.8 | 43rd |
.293 | 16th | 3rd DOWNS | .413 | 90th |
.667 | 8th | RED ZONE | .773 | 42nd |
SPECIAL TEAMS | ||||
3.1 | 111th | PUNT RETURN | 7.0 | 64th |
30.7 | 3rd | KICKOFF RETURN | 29.1 | 6th |
41.6 | 18th | NET PUNTING | 38.5 | 52nd |
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
+ 1.0 | 17th | TURNOVER MARGIN | - 0.5 | 92nd |
7.5 | 104th | PENALTIES | 5.2 | 30th |
16 | EDGE | 2 |
TODAY'S TRIVIA ANSWERS
Is Nebraska a member of the Association of American Universities?
Answer: No, they were removed in 2011. Nebraska is the only institution to have its membership removed from the AAU by a vote. The other schools voluntarily resigned.
Can you name at least two of the three Cornhuskers who have won Heisman Trophies?
Answer: Johnny Rodgers (1972), Mike Rozier (1983) and Eric Crouch (2001).
How many national championships has Nebraska won?
Answer: Five. 1970, 1971, 1994, 1995 and 1997.