No. 5 Ohio State travels to Nebraska on Saturday in the next Big Ten matchup that will shape the conference race.
The Buckeyes (4-0) have once again emerged as the dominant team in the conference under first-year coach Ryan Day. Ohio State ranks third in the FBS in both scoring offense (53.5 points per game) and scoring defense (9.0 ppg). But — and with all due respect to Indiana — this is Ohio State’s first true road test.
Nebraska (3-1), meanwhile, gets the “College GameDay” spotlight, and a chance for a signature victory under second-year coach Scott Frost. The Cornhuskers average 38.0 points per game, but the defense allows 25.3 points per game. They will have to be better than that to slow down Ohio State.
With that said, here’s everything you need for Saturday's matchup between the Buckeyes and Huskers:
MORE: Get the latest college football odds at Sportsbook Review
How to watch Ohio State-Nebraska
Ohio State and Nebraska starts at 7:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. The game will be televised on ABC.
Betting odds for Ohio State Nebraska
Ohio State is a 17.5-point favorite according to odds at Sportsbook Review, and 59 percent of the wagering has come in favor of the Badgers.
All-time Ohio State-Nebraska series
Ohio State is 6-1 all time against Nebraska, including a 4-1 record since the Huskers joined the Big Ten. The Buckeyes won 56-14 in the last meeting in Memorial Stadium on Oct. 14, 2017.
Three trends to know
— Since beating No. 6 Michigan State on Nov. 7, 2015, Nebraska has lost its last five games against top-10 opponents, by an average of 27 points per game. That includes two losses to Ohio State.
— Nebraska is 4-5 against the spread at home under Scott Frost, but they are 0-1 against the spread as the home underdog.
— Since 2017, when Day was hired as an assistant, Ohio State is 5-5 against the spread as an away favorite and 11-10 against the spread in conference games.
WEEK 5 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread
Three things to watch
Ohio State’s offensive machine
In seven games under Day (which includes last year’s three-game stint), the Buckeyes have averaged 54.7 points per game. Justin Fields has 13 touchdowns and no interceptions through four games but has faced no real adversity as the starter. Can Nebraska’s defense do anything to disrupt that? Cam Taylor-Britt and Eric Lee Jr. have two interceptions each for the Huskers.
Adrian Martinez the runner
For Nebraska to have a chance to neutralize the Ohio State pass-rush, Martinez has to be a factor with his legs. He averages just 3.8 yards per carry. That’s not enough against a deep defensive line that features Chase Young, who has seven sacks and is the most dominant defensive lineman in college football so far.
Scott Frost
This is Frost’s biggest game at Nebraska so far, and if not for a late meltdown at Colorado the Huskers would be undefeated here. Nebraska kept it close in Columbus last year in a 36-31 loss because of an aggressive game plan, but the Buckeyes’ defense is better this time around. Watch his decision-making closely, especially in the first half.
Stat that matters
Ohio State has outscored opponents 49-8 in the first quarter and 49-3 in the third quarter. That means the Buckeyes are ready to start fast and make the right half-time adjustments, and that’s a reflection of the job Day has done in Columbus so far. Nebraska must survive the first punch.
Ohio State-Nebraska prediction
Nebraska has not had this stage in a while, and the atmosphere in Lincoln will be a throwback to Frost’s time as a player there. The Huskers might even get a few defensive stops early, but Fields will settle in against a defense that has allowed too many points in the second half to teams such as Colorado and Illinois. The Buckeyes leave Lincoln with a 5-0 record.
Final score
Ohio State 43, Nebraska 27
