Arvell Reese will no longer be suspended for the first half of Ohio State’s top-five showdown with Penn State.
Following Ohio State’s win over Nebraska, the program submitted an appeal to the Big Ten regarding Reese’s targeting penalty, arguing that he should not have been ejected for his hit on Nebraska wide receiver Jahmal Banks. The Big Ten went to the NCAA, who determined upon review that the play should not have been penalized for targeting and vacated Reese’s suspension, allowing him to play for the entire game against Penn State, an Ohio State spokesperson said Monday.
Ohio State is called for targeting on this play
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 26, 2024
Nebraska's offense stays on the field, trailing 21-17 with 3:14 to go in the 4th pic.twitter.com/D5mNZVskr9
While the penalty was not overturned after an in-game replay review, the call drew immediate scrutiny from Ryan Day and Ohio State fans. Day drew a sideline warning for protesting the call with the officials while several fans threw items on the field – drawing from Texas fans who did the same one week earlier after a pass interference call nullifying an interception that was ultimately overturned – leading to a stoppage in play before the game resumed.
Message on the scoreboard after the stoppage in play. pic.twitter.com/5VDt4Z4fAP
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) October 26, 2024
Once the game got going again, with the penalty moving Nebraska’s offense to Ohio State’s 46-yard line, Ohio State’s defense responded as Cody Simon made two consecutive tackles for loss before Dylan Raiola threw a game-sealing interception to Jordan Hancock, preserving a 21-17 victory for the Buckeyes.
The targeting call against Reese wasn’t the only officiating mistake from Saturday’s game that drew an official response from the Big Ten on Monday. In a separate statement, the Big Ten also determined that a run by Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson late in the first half was spotted two yards short, resulting in a third down – which the Cornhuskers ultimately converted on their way to a field goal – rather than a first down.
NEWS: The Big Ten has issued a statement regarding the incorrect spot of the ball for Nebraska on Emmett Johnsons run late in the second quarter.
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) October 28, 2024
Statement: pic.twitter.com/VJv8F7ZVy4
Reese has been a key contributor off the bench for Ohio State’s defense this season, collecting 19 tackles and two tackles for loss as the team’s No. 3 linebacker behind Cody Simon (33 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack) and Sonny Styles (43 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack).
On Saturday, the Cleveland native made his second start of the season between Simon and Styles as Ohio State opened the game in their 4-3 defense. Reese also saw action in the Buckeyes’ base 4-2-5 defense, replacing Simon for eight plays at Mike linebacker. Overall, Reese earned 24 snaps in the game before his ejection late in the fourth quarter.
