FOOTBALL: Samuel and No. 6 Ohio State Cruise Past No. 10 Nebraska, 62-3

H-Back racks up 178 yards and two touchdowns in romp —

Eric Smith (34)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – (Nov. 5, 2016) — Urban Meyer seemed to be feeling pretty good about his team in the week leading up to Ohio State’s game against Nebraska.

Despite three previous weeks of tight games – including a stinging loss – spotty offense and a general lack of ”explosiveness,” the Buckeyes coach exuded confidence.

”No, I’ve been going to acting school,” Meyer said. ”I was a mess.”

The Buckeyes expected another tight tussle with the tenth-ranked Huskers. Instead, they scored one of the most dominant victories in the storied history of the program.

Curtis Samuel had 178 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown reception on Ohio State’s first play of the second half, and the sixth-ranked Buckeyes pounded Nebraska 62-3 on Saturday night.

”There was a sense of urgency about everything we did,” defensive end Sam Hubbard said. ”If somebody made a mistake in practice we did that rep. It was just intense focus all week long.”

Marcus Baugh (85)

The Buckeyes (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 6) scored more points than Ohio State ever has against a top-10 team and handed the Cornhuskers (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten, CFP No. 10) their most lopsided loss since 2004.

”I didn’t see this one coming,” Meyer said. ”It is a little relief to know that right now I saw some explosiveness that we kind of have been lacking in some positions.”

Damon Webb got it started with a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown on Nebraska’s first drive of the game. J.T. Barrett led three long touchdown drives, including a 15-play, 85-yarder that ended with 1-yard jump TD pass to Samuel with 3 seconds left in the half.

Nov 5, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Damon Webb (7) is congratulated following his first quarter touchdown against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

”Everything was clicking. The run game. The pass game,” Samuel said. ”Everything was going great tonight.”

PICK-SIXES

Webb’s pick-six was Ohio State’s fifth of the season, setting a school record. In the third quarter, Malik Hooker added another one from 48 yards out.

NEXT

Ohio State: The Buckeyes face Maryland in the first of two straight away from Ohio Stadium. Ohio State’s next home game is Nov. 26 against No. 2 Michigan.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/110516aac.html