Samuel powers OSU to rout of Nebraska

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

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 dominated No. 9 Nebraska 62-3 on Saturday night.

After three straight weeks of close games and inconsistent offense, the Buckeyes (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) put forth their best performance of the season, led 31-3 at the half and handed the Cornhuskers (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) their most lopsided loss since 2004.

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.

The Cornhuskers were playing as a top-10 team in November for the first time since 2010, but proved to still be a long way from the elites in the Big Ten. Nebraska is still in the Big Ten West race, but a loss to Wisconsin last week means the Huskers will need help.

Nebraska lost quarterback Tommy Armstrong to a scary head injury in the second quarter, when the senior slammed the side of his helmet on the turf after being knocked out of bounds. Armstrong was taken from the stadium in an ambulance, but returned to the sideline in sweats in the third quarter.