Nebraska Football: 3 key takeaways from Huskers loss to Ohio State

The defense is taking steps toward respectability

One reason why it was hard to be too optimistic heading into the Ohio State game was the way the Buckeyes offense has owned Nebraska in recent years. In the last two meetings, Ohio State had averaged 60 points a game against the Huskers and didn’t even have to punt.

Well, this time around was certainly different — much different.

The Nebraska defense still gave up more than 450 yards and 36 points, yet the Blackshirts did force Ohio State into four punts and the Huskers also forced three turnovers. Luke Gifford got a strip sack,  one of two in the game for Nebraska, while Lamar Jackson intercepted Dwayne Haskins in the end zone in the third quarter.

The run defense kind of wilted in the second half, as the Buckeyes racked up 229 yards on the ground, when they came in averaging 171, but at the same time, the fact that Nebraska had a shot to win in the fourth quarter was a big improvement on the last two games against Ohio State. Mainly, it was a much better day for the defense, which continues to get better and better.