No. 9 Ohio State (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) at Nebraska (3-3, 2-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (FS1) Line: Wisconsin by 24. Series record: Ohio State leads 4-1. WHAT’S AT STAKE Ohio State has outscored four opponents by a combined 210-42 since
No. 9 Ohio State (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) at Nebraska (3-3, 2-1), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (FS1)
Line: Wisconsin by 24.
Series record: Ohio State leads 4-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Ohio State has outscored four opponents by a combined 210-42 since losing at home to Oklahoma. With hopes of getting back to the College Football Playoff, the Buckeyes don’t plan to slow down now against a team they beat 62-3 last year. Nebraska, beaten by three touchdowns by Wisconsin last week, is playing its second straight top-10 opponent and grasping for any positives in a disappointing third season under coach Mike Riley.
KEY MATCHUP
Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins vs. Nebraska defense. Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor ran for 249 yards against the Huskers. Dobbins must be licking his chops. A true freshman like Taylor, Dobbins averages 7.6 yards per carry and 111.5 per game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wisconsin: DE Nick Bosa leads the Big Ten with 10 tackles for loss and has a team-high four sacks. Nebraska’s offensive line hung in there against Wisconsin, but the Buckeyes are better than the Badgers up front. Their line has accounted for 35.5 of the team’s nation-leading 57 TFLs.
Nebraska: QB Tanner Lee is completing just 54 percent of his passes and has thrown 11 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. To keep this game close, he and his teammates need to finish drives, something they struggled with last week. Lee will be going against a pass defense that has allowed fewer than 100 yards in four straight games.
FACTS & FIGURES
Ohio State is 25-1 in true road games under coach Urban Meyer and 21-1 against Big Ten opponents. … The Buckeyes’ punt coverage unit has not allowed a return. … Their defense has allowed four touchdowns and an average of just 3.3 yards per play over the last 16 quarters. … This year marks the first time Nebraska has played two top-10 opponents at home in consecutive weeks. … The Huskers have five individual 100-yard rushing games, including three straight by Devine Ozigbo. Last season, Nebraska had four in 13 games.
———
More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP—Top25
