SEC & Big Ten Week 5 Preview: Ohio State visits Huskers in primetime

No. 5 Ohio State (4-0) at Nebraska (3-1) at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Ohio State will face a stiff road test when it looks to extend its current 10-game win streak to 11 against Nebraska in Lincoln on Saturday.

The matchup — featuring a pair of former Chip Kelly protégés as opposing head coaches — is just the second in FBS history between two programs with 900 all-time wins, joining last year’s Ohio State-Michigan game at the Horseshoe. (Nebraska earned its 900th all-time win last week against Illinois.)

Now, let’s take a closer look at the teams:

Nebraska Quick Hits:

• Nebraska has played in front of an NCAA-record 370 consecutive sellouts at home — a streak that dates back to 1962. The Huskers are 311-59 during this run for a .840 winning percentage.
• The Nebraska offense topped 300 yards in both rushing and passing at Illinois last week. That marked just the second time in school history the Huskers have posted a 300-300 game.
• Nebraska will be looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since a victory over No. 22 Oregon in Lincoln in 2016.
• Click here for Nebraska’s complete game notes.
• Click here for the Huskers’ Week 5 depth chart.

Ohio State Quick Hits:

• Justin Fields has produced two more touchdowns through four games (19) than Dwayne Haskins did all of last year (17) as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
• Ohio State is 1-1 in games played in Lincoln at Memorial Stadium. The Buckeyes blew a three-touchdown lead in a 34-27 loss in 2011 and won 56-14 on a return trip in 2017.
• Ohio State’s 260.0 yards per game rushing average ranks No. 15 nationally and is No. 3 in the Big Ten.
• This will be the Buckeyes 45th all-time appearance on College Gameday, second to only Alabama (46) in total appearances.
• Click here for Ohio State’s complete game notes.
• Click here for the Buckeyes’ Week 5 depth chart.

Now, let’s take a look at some of the other top games from this weekend’s slate:

No. 12 Penn State (3-1) at Maryland (2-1) at 8 p.m. on FS1 (Friday)

Maryland is 4-1 in Big Ten openers since joining the league in 2014. The Terps (71.0) and the Nittany Lions (62.0) ranked first and second, respectively, in scoring offense after the first two weeks of the season, but both were held to 17 points in Week 3 by Pennsylvania teams — Penn State escaped Pitt 17-10, while Maryland lost to Temple 20-17. Both teams had Week 4 byes.

Northwestern (1-2) at No. 8 Wisconsin (3-0) at Noon on ABC

As part of the season-long celebration of college football’s 150th anniversary, the Badgers and Wildcats will take the field wearing historically-inspired uniforms from Under Armour.

Middle Tennessee (1-2) at No. 14 Iowa (3-0) at Noon on ESPN2

Iowa has won 10 straight non-conference games since the Hawkeyes lost to Florida 30-3 in the 2017 Outback Bowl.

Rutgers (1-2) at No. 20 Michigan (2-1) at Noon on BTN

This will be the sixth meeting between Michigan and Rutgers, two of college football’s oldest programs. The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 4-1, with victories in each of the past four match-ups.

Indiana (3-1) at No. 25 Michigan State (3-1) at 3:30 p.m. on BTN

Since 1950, the winner of the Michigan State-Indiana game has been presented the Old Brass Spittoon. The brass spittoon came from one of Michigan’s earliest trading posts and is believed to be nearly 190 years old. Legend has it that the spittoon was around when both institutions were founded – Indiana in 1820 and Michigan State (originally known as Agricultural College of the State of Michigan) in 1855. Since 1950, Michigan State leads the series 47-13-1.

Minnesota (3-0) at Purdue (1-2) at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Despite trailing for 21:49 in the fourth quarter this season, the Gophers are 3-0 with three fourth quarter comebacks. Minnesota won those games by seven (South Dakota State), three (at Fresno State) and three (Georgia Southern) points, respectively.

No. 23 Texas A&M (2-2) at Arkansas (2-2) at Noon on ESPN

The Aggies will look to extend a series-best seven-game win streak against Arkansas, as A&M boasts a 7-0 record against the Hogs since the two became SEC foes. The Razorbacks lead the overall series 41-31-3.

Ole Miss (2-2) at No. 2 Alabama (4-0) at 3:30 p.m. on CBS

Nick Saban is 11-1 in SEC openers since joining Alabama. The lone loss came against the Rebels in 2015, a 43-37 defeat in Oxford.

Towson (3-1) at No. 9 Florida (4-0) at 4 p.m. on SECN

Florida has thrown for at least 300 yards in each of its last three games (312 vs. UT-Martin; 300 at Kentucky; 313 vs. Tennessee), marking the first time it has done that since the final two games of 2002 and its 2003 season opener.

Mississippi State (3-1) at No. 7 Auburn (4-0) at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Auburn leads the SEC in rushing offense (259.5 yards per game) and ranks second in the SEC in rushing defense (89.5 yards per game).

Kentucky (2-2) at South Carolina (1-3) at 7:30 p.m. on SECN

The two SEC East rivals will each be starting backup quarterbacks (UK’s Sawyer Smith and Carolina’s Ryan Hilinski) after losing incumbent starters to long-term injuries in the first two weeks of the season.