COLUMBUS, Ohio — Having an open date after a close loss in a high-profile game could be the perfect opportunity for a football team to reset and come back even better.
Or there’s another way it can go.
Will Howard tossed three touchdown passes, but No. 4 Ohio State needed an interception by cornerback Jordan Hancock with 1:16 left to seal its 21-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday.
The Buckeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) bounced back from their loss to Oregon two weeks ago — when Ohio State was No. 2 and Oregon was No. 3 — but sure didn’t look like the well-oiled machine they are supposed to be in scuffling with a nearly four-touchdown underdog.
“It wasn’t perfect, but a win’s a win,” Howard said. “And we were able to show that when the going gets tough, and when maybe things aren’t going our way, we’re able to win in the fourth quarter.