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No. 12 Ohio State overpowers Nebraska

Oct 7, 2012 - 6:34 AM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Braxton Miller rushed for a career-high 186 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and Carlos Hyde added four rushing scores as No. 12 Ohio State downed No. 21 Nebraska, 63-38, on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.

Miller added 127 yards and a touchdown pass on 7-of-14 passing and Hyde finished with 140 yards on 28 carries for the Buckeyes (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten), who slipped past Michigan State on the road last weekend to open conference play.

"I have to give all the credit to the offensive line," Hyde admitted. "If they didn't do their job, we wouldn't have been able to run for 300-plus yards. They were great tonight."

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez threw for 214 yards and one touchdown on 15-of-25 efficiency, but tossed a career high-tying three interceptions in the setback, which snapped Nebraska's (4-2, 1-1) three-game winning streak.

"We have to win out," Martinez remarked. "Our goal is to make the Rose Bowl and the only way to do that is to win the rest of the games on our schedule."

Rex Burkhead rushed for 119 yards on 14 carries, while Kenny Bell hauled in five passes for 133 yards in a losing effort.

Martinez's first interception of the night was returned 41 yards for a touchdown by Bradley Roby to give Ohio State an early 7-0 lead, but Nebraska responded quickly, as Burkhead's 73-yard run set up Ameer Abdullah's 1-yard plunge to knot the game at 7-7.

After a quick three-and-out from the Buckeyes, Abdullah took the ensuing punt 43 yards before being tripped up by punter Ben Buchanan at the Ohio State 28.

Four plays later, Abdullah finished off the 4-play, 28-yard drive with a 3- yard surge to give the visitors a 14-7 lead with just under two minutes left in the opening stanza.

The Buckeyes then faked a punt on 4th-and-7 in their own territory and Buchanan was taken down a yard shy of the first down marker to give Nebraska possession at the Ohio State 31.

Burkhead and Martinez moved the Cornhuskers inside the OSU 5, but they settled for a 26-yard field goal from Brett Maher to grab a 17-7 edge.

Miller took the first play of the Buckeyes' ensuing possession 72 yards, leaving a trail of Nebraska defenders in his wake before being knocked out at the Nebraska 3. Hyde's 1-yard touchdown run brought the Buckeyes within 17-14.

Roby then picked off Martinez for the second time to give Ohio State possession at the Nebraska 20 and two plays later, Miller rolled right and found Jeff Heuerman, who went 18 yards untouched into the end zone for a 21-17 lead.

Nebraska answered quickly, as Martinez found Bell for 74 yards before a face mask penalty gave the Cornhuskers possession at the OSU 4. A false start penalty pushed Nebraska back, but Martinez bounced off a pair of defenders en route to a 9-yard touchdown run to put the visitors back on top.

Ohio State countered with a 10-play, 75-yard march, converting a pair of third downs before Hyde's 7-yard TD surge restored the Buckeyes' advantage.

After a Nebraska three-and-out, Miller accounted for all the offense on a 6- play, 57-yard drive as he broke free on 4th-and-2 for a 31-yard touchdown scamper to send Ohio State into the locker room with a 35-24 lead.

Nebraska opened the second half with a 7-play, 77-yard scoring drive, as Martinez hit Ben Cotton for a 3-yard scoring strike to bring Nebraska within 35-31.

Miller and Hyde then led the Buckeyes on a 10-play, 75-yard trek before Hyde's 1-yard plunge gave the home team a 42-31 advantage.

After a quick three-and-out, Ohio State's Corey Brown took the ensuing punt 76 yards down the left sideline for a 18-point lead midway through the third.

Martinez was intercepted deep in OSU territory on Nebraska's next drive and Rod Smith added a 33-yard touchdown run early in the fourth to extend the margin to 56-31.

Martinez then led the Cornhuskers on an 11-play, 67-yard scoring march, which he capped with a 2-yard run, but Hyde's 16-yard touchdown rush late in the fourth sealed the victory for the Buckeyes.

Game Notes

Nebraska trails the all-time series, 3-1 ... It was Nebraska's first visit to Ohio Stadium since 1956 ... Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini is a graduate of Ohio State and was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back for the Buckeyes from 1987 to 1990 ... Ohio State finished with 371 rushing yards.