Ohio State needed everything it had to escape Indiana with a 19-15 win on Saturday, and the narrow victory over a Husker team's recent opponent should give Nebraska fans real hope for the Nov. 21 meeting in Lincoln.
The Buckeyes survived a back-and-forth game in Bloomington that ended Indiana's unbeaten run and kept Ohio State unbeaten in Big Ten play at 6-1 overall, 4-0 in the conference. The Hoosiers rallied late and missed a potential winning touchdown pass by about a foot, according to Sports Illustrated.
What Ohio State's Close Call Means for Nebraska
The Buckeyes arrive in Lincoln on Nov. 21 carrying an aura built on a roster of four- and five-star recruits, quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, a potential Heisman Trophy candidate. But Saturday showed the defending national champions can be pushed to the brink, even by a team Nebraska nearly beat a week earlier.
Nebraska, now 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten, dropped a 17-14 heartbreaker at Oregon in which Dylan Raiola and the Huskers battled to the final minute. The Huskers sit at 5-2 and enter their bye week with three games to play before Ohio State comes to Memorial Stadium.
ESPN's analysis of the Week 7 slate noted that Indiana has won only 59 percent of its third and fourth downs this season, and that rate fell to 39 percent against Nebraska. The numbers suggest the Huskers' defense has already gone toe to toe with one of the Big Ten's hottest teams.
Sayin Injury Adds Intrigue to the Matchup
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder against Indiana and will miss multiple weeks, according to Sports Illustrated. That timeline leaves his status uncertain for the trip to Lincoln, though every team deals with injuries and Nebraska would rather face the Buckeyes at full strength.
The Buckeyes are off next week before traveling to USC on Halloween, giving Sayin time to heal before the November stretch.
Finishing Games Remains the Huskers' Problem
The loss in Eugene stung, but the pattern is what matters. Oregon scored 11 points in the fourth quarter to beat Nebraska, one week after Indiana hung 14 on the Huskers in the final period. Good teams close out games, and Nebraska has not done it two weeks running.
Still, the bigger picture is encouraging. Oregon, even without starting quarterback Dante Moore, is a talented team with a winning history, and Nebraska took the Ducks to the wire on the road. The Huskers could have and probably should have beaten Indiana in Lincoln the week before.
The Rest of the Big Ten Picture
The conference leaderboard has a surprise at the top. UCLA, at 6-0 and 4-0, is the Big Ten's only undefeated team after grinding out a 17-7 win over Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl. Backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach completed 22 of 33 passes for 264 yards with starter Nico Iamaleava out with a leg injury.
Michigan also won with a freshman backup, as Tommy Carr, the younger brother of Notre Dame starter C.J. Carr, replaced Bryce Underwood at halftime and rallied the Wolverines past Penn State 21-18. Penn State has now lost four straight and sits at 0-4 in conference play.
USC (6-1, 3-1), Illinois (3-3, 1-2) and Iowa (5-1, 2-1) all had byes. CBS Sports noted in its Big Ten power rankings that if Oregon doesn't right the ship quickly, Nebraska could hand the Ducks a third loss that would derail their playoff hopes.
Huskers' Remaining Schedule
- Oct. 31: Washington at Memorial Stadium. The Huskies snapped a three-game skid with a 38-26 win at Purdue behind Elijah Brown, who threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns in his first start. Washington lost to Iowa earlier this season.
- Nov. 6: Illinois at home. The Illini were off Saturday and face Oregon next.
- Nov. 14: Rutgers at SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights beat Maryland 37-30, with receiver KJ Duff hauling in nine catches for 113 yards and two scores.
- Nov. 21: Ohio State at Memorial Stadium.
- Nov. 27: Iowa at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes, ranked as high as a No. 8 seed in early playoff projections, come off a bye before visiting rival Minnesota.
What the Buckeyes' History Against Nebraska Shows
Ohio State has dominated the series historically, and the game-by-game results are documented by Winsipedia. But history doesn't block a pass or convert a third down. Indiana nearly proved that on Saturday, and Nebraska has the defensive front to cause similar problems.
Had Ohio State rolled into Bloomington and won 42-14, the preseason assumptions about the Buckeyes would have held. Instead, the tape Nebraska's coaches will study shows a team that can be beaten in the fourth quarter.
Three games stand between the Huskers and that November afternoon. Win them, and Memorial Stadium could host one of the biggest games of the Big Ten season with a berth in the conference race still alive.
FAQ
When does Ohio State play Nebraska in 2026?
Ohio State visits Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Nov. 21, 2026, in the Huskers' fourth-to-last game of the regular season.
Why was Ohio State's win over Indiana so close?
Indiana rallied late and missed a potential winning touchdown pass by about a foot, and the Buckeyes needed a strong finish to escape with a 19-15 win, according to Sports Illustrated.
Who is Ohio State's starting quarterback?
Julian Sayin starts at quarterback for Ohio State, but he suffered a throwing shoulder injury against Indiana and is expected to miss multiple weeks.