#6 Ohio State 62, #10 Nebraska 3
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MORE: Pick Six University | Run Stoppers | Bright Lights, Big Wins | No Punts | Huskers in the Shoe | Dubgate Moves to 7-0 | Freshman Tracker
The first Ohio State pick-six came a little over a minute into the Buckeyes' curb stomping of Nebraska, when Raekwon McMillan tipped a Tommy Armstrong Jr. pass into the hands of Damon Webb, who zagged 36 yards to put Ohio State up 7-0.
It was the first interception of Webb's career and set an early tone for the beating that would unfold in Ohio Stadium Saturday night.
It was also the Buckeyes' first interception return for a touchdown since Jerome Baker returned a Baker Mayfield pass 68 yards at Oklahoma nearly two months ago.
The second pick-six of the night came with a little under a minute remaining in the 3rd quarter. Nebraska quarterback Ryker Fyfe, in the game for the injured Armstrong, stared down wide receiver Bryan Reimers on the right sideline before delivering a ball that cornerback Denzel Ward tipped into the arms of a waiting Malik Hooker.
Like any great ballhawk, Hooker followed his blockers 48 yards to the end zone, giving Ohio State a 55-3 lead at the end of three.
It was Ohio State's second game with two interceptions returned for touchdowns this season – matching the two that Hooker and Lattimore returned in the week two blowout of Tulsa.
The two were also pick-six No. 5 and No. 6 for the season, setting a new program record, bettering the mark of four for a season set by the 1987 team and then later matched by the 1996 squad. Ohio State notched four in its first three games and then went six weeks before getting another, but Saturday night, they ended that drought with authority.
| Date | Game | Player | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEP. 3, 2016 | OHIO STATE 77, BGSU 10 | RODJAY BURNS | 75 YARDS |
| SEP. 10, 2016 | OHIO STATE 48, TULSA 3 | MALIK HOOKER | 26 YARDS |
| SEP. 10, 2016 | OHIO STATE 48, TULSA 3 | MARSHON LATTIMORE | 40 YARDS |
| SEP. 17, 2016 | OHIO STATE 45, OKLAHOMA 24 | JEROME BAKER | 68 YARDS |
| NOV. 5, 2016 | OHIO STATE 62, NEBRASKA 3 | DAMON WEBB | 36 YARDS |
| NOV. 5, 2016 | OHIO STATE 62, NEBRASKA 3 | MALIK HOOKER | 48 YARDS |
In fact, the six defensive scores from Ohio State this season – all in the form of interception returns – are the most of any Big Ten team in the last 10 years, matching the six another Ohio State team, the championship-winning team of 2014, recorded.
And then there's Hooker, owner of two pick-sixes this season. Saturday night, he became only the second Buckeye in program history with two for a season, matching Neil Colzie's feat from 1973.
Hooker, and his mates in the Ohio State secondary, have at least four remaining games to firmly establish their team and personal marks in the books.
