Having a Fields day
OSU QB completed 20 of 21 passes for 2 TDs, ran for a TD
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Justin Fields and No. 5 Ohio State shook off the rust in the first half and then buried Nebraska the rest of theway.
Fields completed 20 of 21 passes for two touchdowns and ran for another, Master Teague III rushed for a pair of scores and the Buckeyes rolled over Nebraska 52-17 Saturday in the Big Ten teams' pandemicdelayed opener.
Fields, a Heisman Trophy finalist last season, completed his first 12 passes and threwfor 276yards. He ranfor another 52— including a stunning 17-yard third-quarter touchdown scramble around the left side that saw him spin past a defender and into the end zone.
His 42-yard touchdown pass to slot receiver Garrett Wilson on Ohio State's second driveof thegamecouldn'thavebeen prettier. The only pass he missed on, in the second quarter, may have been catchable, but Chris Olave couldn't hold on in the end zone.
“Youguys sawthearmwe saw,” Nebraska linebacker Collin Miller said. “He's making throws guys on Sundays make.”
Olave caught sixpasses for 104yards, and Wilson had seven for 129.
The Ohio State defense took most of the first half to figure out a way to contain quarterback Adrian Martinez, who marched the Huskers down for a touchdownin the opening 2 minutes of the game.
Nebraska (0-1, 0-1 Big Ten) tied the score at 14in the second quarter, butanOhioState (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) field goal, a defensive stop and Teague's second TD run gave the Buckeyes a 24-14 lead at the half. Then came Fields' nifty touchdown run and a 55-yard scoop and score by Buckeyes cornerback Sevyn Banks, and Ohio State had it under control.
“That's one heck of a run right there,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “It's the bestway you can end a half and start a half, and I thought it flipped the game.” THETAKEAWAY
Nebraska: Effective against the Ohio State defense to start the game, theHuskers couldn't keep up. But Martinez showed flashes of his excellent freshman season in 2018, rushing for 88 yardsanda touchdown.
“The first half I thought we did a pretty good job,” Martinez said. “We came out aggressive, and I think we continued to do that in the second half but made mistakes that we can't make team in Ohio State. ”
Ohio State: Once they got going, Fields made good decisions and Buckeyes receiverswere terrific.
The defense gave up some chunk plays that kept Nebraska in the game early but tightened up. against
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Nowthat voters have finally gotten a look at the stacked Buckeyes, there could be some more love on theway.
RUNGAMESTUCK
a really good
If there was a concern offensively for Ohio State, it was the inability to get running backs to the second level for significant gains. Oklahoma transfer Trey Sermonwas the leading rusher with just 55 yards, although Teague got the touchdown carries, scoring from1 yard and 6 yards. TRAINER’SROOM
Olave went out after a hard hit in the third quarter and did not return. Day didn't have any information on his condition after the game.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Ohio State players wore “Equality” helmet stickers and a specially designed pre-game tshirt. Stickers on Nebraska helmets paid tribute to George Flippin, the first African American football player for theUniversity ofNebraska.