Nebraska Football: Biggest Comeback in School History Against Ohio State

For Nebraska Cornhusker fans, you just have to believe. Stay faithful to your team no matter what. That was exactly the mood set for tonight's Nebraska victory.

This game wasn't pretty for the Cornhuskers, taking on the dominating reputation of an Ohio State team. The history of the Buckeyes coming into this game is to be respected.

Their Heisman winners, their conference titles and their national titles are all a reminder to Nebraska that this was going to be a tough match.

Dominating is just how it started out. Nebraska allowed 204 yards and 17 points on the board in the first 17 minutes. The Blackshirts were missing in the first half. Ohio State's freshman quarterback Braxton Miller was making them miss.

This game wasn't looking pretty to the Husker fans as they booed their team and coach when the final seconds ticked off the clock in the second quarter.

Going into halftime, Ohio State led 20-6. When Nebraska's Bo Pelini was asked about his team in the first-half performance, he said, "we just have to get better."

And get better they did.

Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead had 10 carries for 11 yards in the first half. Adjustments clearly needed to be made.

The Huskers recruited Stanley Jean-Baptiste as a wide receiver and moved him to cornerback just three weeks ago. Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini had to realign his defense in order to resolve the problem in the secondary.

Jean-Baptiste had an interception in tonight's game.

As the third quarter started, Nebraska linebacker LaVonte David stripped the ball from Braxton Miller and Ohio State had a turnover with 8 minutes remaining. This was the game changer. Martinez followed by scoring a rushing touchdown in just two plays.

David went to the sidelines and wanted to get the benches and the fans back into the game. Waving his arms and getting the crowd back into the fight. Momentum was starting to rear its head. Huskers have to believe.

On the next series, Taylor Martinez threw back-to-back first down passes and then landed a 36-yard strike with WR Quincy Enunwa for a touchdown to make it 27-20.

Burkhead had 16 more carries for 108 yards in the second half as well as two touchdowns. After Burkhead's 30-yard receiving touchdown, the score was tied at 27. Nebraska went up 34-27 after Burkhead scored again, leaving the Buckeyes to stand in awe of 28 unanswered points.

Nebraska's defense only allowed Ohio State 104 yards in the last 30 minutes of the game.

The Huskers responded to what ever was said in the locker room at halftime. They came out to pouring down rain and perhaps some pride was overflowing as well.

As the Memorial Stadium crowd started to get fired up, momentum shifted for the Cornhuskers and they prevailed with a victory over a historically top-ranked Big Ten team.

In recent weeks, nay-sayers have been harsh on Taylor Martinez and the defense.It may be noted that there were no fumbles on Nebraska's side of the ball tonight. This is good improvement from the sophomore quarterback.

However, Martinez bears the responsibility for his play on the field, but he could "really care less what people say."

Even so, Nebraska fans have to be experiencing quite the roller coaster of emotions. A loss to Wisconsin last week and then being down to Ohio State, 27-6 just a couple minutes into the third quarter.

No, it may not have been pretty, but if you were to ask Bo Pelini (over and over) what he thought of Taylor's performance, he would answer you.

However, if the same reporter (Dirk Chatelain at Omaha World Herald) starts prodding for drama-based answers and repeats another Taylor Martinez question, Bo would then interrupt you and say, "I'm done with you... let's get somebody to ask a question that's worth answering."

Ouch! Guess that's what happens when you doubt Pelini and his football players. They aren't perfect, not by a long shot. However, they are young, they played with heart, they responded, they executed and they won.

It isn't just Taylor Martinez (16-of-22, 293 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT) who wins or loses. The Nebraska Cornhuskers, as a whole, win games.

After the biggest comeback in school history (21-point deficit) Nebraska now goes 5-1 on the season and 1-1 in their conference, respectively.

Ohio State is now 3-3 (0-2 in the Big Ten).