Moment of the Game: Jordan Hancock sealed Ohio State’s win with game-saving interception

Dylan Raiola had the ability become a Big Red legend, but under-threw his target dramatically

With No. 4 Ohio State up 31-17 with just 1:23 remaining in regulation, Jordan Hancock sealed the Homecoming win for the Buckeyes. On 3rd-and-long, Nebraska quarterback (and one-time OSU commit) Dylan Raiola threw a ghastly interception that sealed the often perilous victory for the Scarlet and Gray.

With starting safety Lathan Ransom out for the game (and potentially longer), Hancock moved from his traditional nickel position to the back of Ohio State’s defense and ended up being in the perfect place when Ohio State needed him the most.

After nearly unforgivably timid offensive playcalling gave the ball back to Nebraska with 3:36 remaining, the Huskers’ true freshman quarterback had a chance to pull off an epic upset and cement himself in both Big Red and Buckeye Nation lore.

Penalties on three consecutive plays (Nebraska offensive pass interference and a false start calls sandwiched a ridiculous targeting penalty against Ohio State’s Arvell Reese) put the ball on Nebraska’s 41-yard line with just over two minutes remaining. The Huskers had one timeout, plus the two-minute break, so they had more than enough time to score and pull off the win.

However, after back-to-back negative completions for Raiola, Nebraska found itself in 3rd-and-19, forcing the young QB into a tough spot. He certainly didn’t need to get all of the yardage in one play, but he went for a big gain anyway, and it ended up costing him.

It appears that Husker wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd (I can’t fully see his number) beat Buckeye cornerback Davison Igbinosun on the third down, so if Raoila had hit him in stride deep, it could have resulted in the game-winner. Instead, the freshman inaccurately under-threw his man and OSU’s veteran DB secured the win. It appears that Raoila expected Lloyd to come inside after beating the corner, but instead, the WR was thinking end zone. Igbinosun did a good job of recovering, so a touchdown wouldn’t have been guaranteed even on a perfect throw, but it certainly wasn’t out of the question.

Nebraska’s offensive line had given Raoila a clean pocket, so it’s not like he was under pressure on the throw, but the errant pass might help explain why Nebraska only averaged 7.2 yards per completion on the game; if Raiola had been able to properly place a deep ball, the Huskers very likely would have left Ohio Stadium as winners.

Instead, Hancock comes up with a game-saving INT and the Buckeyes maintain the ability to control their own postseason destiny heading into Happy Valley next week. It might not have been pretty, and the game certainly brought up more questions than it answered, but a win’s a win. Hancock finished the day with five tackles, including three solo stops to go with this interception. So, if Ransom is out for a prolonged period of time, it seems like Hancock moving back, and Lorenzo Styles taking over the nickel might work for the Buckeye defense.