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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After surviving an encounter a little too close for comfort against Northwestern last week, Ohio State remains at home to face another tough Big Ten opponent when No. 9 Nebraska invades the Horseshoe on Saturday night in a prime-time game.The Cornhuskers suffered their first loss after opening the season with seven straight wins, falling 23-17 in overtime last Saturday at Wisconsin. The Buckeyes also played an overtime game against the Badgers two weeks earlier in Madison but managed to come out on top.Our team actually will be mad, Nebraska coach Mike Riley said. You can be sad or you can be mad, and you can have a chip on your shoulder and know we can be better and we can play hard. Well have to play hard and well to win. Thats the approach I think our team will take.Ohio State was able to bounce back from its first loss of the year to Penn State on Oct. 22 with a solid effort against Northwestern.The offense was balanced against the Wildcats with 208 yards rushing and 223 yards passing. But the Buckeyes arent finding the end zone as easily as they did during the early portion of the season.Meyer sees that as a product of playing better defenses and a young offense going through some growing pains.Youve got a bunch of young cats going and swinging hard and practicing hard, he said. So I guess Im much more positive. Do I wish that we were (scoring) 56 points and all those kind of things, sure, but were a work in progress.Ohio States defense gave up more than 400 yards at home for the first time since 2014 but made a critical stand in the fourth quarter when Northwestern had a first down at the Ohio State 5-yard line trailing by seven and forced a field goal instead of a tying touchdown.Thats what we pride ourselves on, Ohio State linebacker Chris Worley said. Its not about guys getting interceptions or forcing turnovers or guys getting sacks. Its the complete defense when the team needed us, not when were up by 40.In those crunch times when its third- or fourth-and-goal, we have to get a stop to have a shot at winning the game.The defense has allowed 400 or more yards in two of the last three games and three times this season. Northwestern, ranked No. 93 in FBS in total offense last week, managed to sustain four long drives of 75, 82, 84 and 60 yards.But the Buckeyes are clearly bending but not breaking. Thats reflected in just 13 touchdowns allowed in eight games.This week, the Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) face a mobile quarterback that provides an added concern. Nebraskas Tommy Armstrong Jr. has rushed for 380 yards and six touchdowns in addition to passing for 1,764 yards and 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Running back Terrell Newby has rushed for 588 yards on 120 carries.The Buckeyes opened as a 16 1/2-point favorite over the Cornhuskers (7-1, 4-1) for Saturday nights clash (8 p.m. ABC), but that doesnt mean much lately. Ohio State was a 26-point favorite against Northwestern and eked out a four-point win.Very good team, Meyer said of Nebraska. Really impressed with our conference, with the quality of play, players and teams were playing, and these guys are really good.Saturdays victory was the 161st of Meyers career, setting a record for most wins by a coach in his first 15 seasons. He surpassed Oklahomas Bob Stoops, who had 160. Meyers 161-28 record gives him the highest winning percentage (.852) of any active FBS coach with 10 or more years of experience.Meyer, now a remarkable 57-5 in five seasons with the Buckeyes, has only lost twice at home in the past five years.Thats fine, but youre talking about the past right now, Nebraska wide receiver DeMornay Pierson-El said. Were in the present right now. Weve got to go out there and play our best game. And nothings going to be given. You stated their past history. Were talking about right now.Theyre a good team -- a bunch of good individuals -- but we still have to come out and play. Its still a game to be won. Its still a game to be played. Were going to focus on playing now.The two teams are in a dogfight in their respective Big Ten divisions. Ohio State is tied with Penn State a game behind Michigan in the East and Nebraska has a one-game lead in the West over four teams. The loser likely will fall out of College Football Playoff consideration.Theyre kind of a different animal, Ohio State, Cornhuskers wide receiver Jordan Westerkamp said. Theyve been so good for so long. This is a huge game for us. We know how good they are, but theyre beatable. Paul Krause Youth Jersey . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Brett Favre Youth Jersey . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. http://www.authenticvikingspro.com/Garrett-bradbury-vikings-jersey/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. John Randle Vikings Jersey . After slipping from the summit during the week, the Gunners overcame struggling Crystal Palace 2-0 on Sunday thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlains second-half brace. Garrett Bradbury Jersey . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Mike Golic, with Mike Golic Jr. and Robin Lundberg filling in for Mike Greenberg, will welcome NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson (7:00 a.m. ET), MLB Networks Brian Kenny (8:30) and ESPN NBA analyst Bruce Bowen (9:00) to the show on Tuesday.Get in touch with Mike & Mike by emailing (mikeandmike@espnnradio.dddddddddddd.com) or tweeting (@MikeAndMike) the guys -- we will be with you from 6-10 a.m. ET. Follow all of the action on ESPN2, ESPN Radio and ESPNRadio.com. ' ' '