COLUMBUS – Sixth-ranked Ohio State struggled for the second straight week and were deadlocked in the fourth quarter of a home game until Curtis Samuel scored on a three-yard run with 9:43 left to send the Buckeyes past Northwestern, 24-20.
Mike Weber rushed 14 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns as OSU (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) bounced back from last Saturday’s loss to Penn State.
“It was a pretty good chess match back and forth, and I just loved the way we finished it off,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.
J.T. Barrett finished the day 21-of-32 for 223 yards but didn’t complete a pass over 19 yards until the fourth quarter.
The Buckeyes’ offense struggled, having to punt out of five straight drives at one point before they finally started to click.
Up next for Ohio State: No. 7 Nebraska (7-1, 4-1), which dropped a 23-17 overtime decision at Wisconsin.