Nebraska Cornhuskers Defeat Ohio State Buckeyes 72-69
Monday, January 5, 2026, 6:30 PM ET · Schottenstein Center
Nebraska Cornhuskers 72, Ohio State Buckeyes 69, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Ohio State Buckeyes?
Nebraska Cornhuskers beat Ohio State Buckeyes 72-69 at Schottenstein Center on January 5, 2026.
Who was favored in Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Ohio State Buckeyes?
Ohio State Buckeyes were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -166 (about 62% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Nebraska Cornhuskers edged out the Ohio State Buckeyes with a final score of 72-69 at the Schottenstein Center. This victory marked Nebraska's impressive continuation of their undefeated season, improving their record to 16-0 overall, while Ohio State fell to 10-5. The game was pivotal not just for the standings but also highlighted the contrasting trajectories of both teams this season.
Nebraska's recent form has been remarkable, boasting a perfect record of 10-0 in their last ten games, with an average of 78.8 points scored and only 64.9 points allowed. Their last outing was a narrow 58-56 victory against the Michigan State Spartans on January 3, 2026. The Cornhuskers have demonstrated strong performances both at home and on the road, maintaining an 8-0 record at home and a 2-0 record in away games. Their last five games show a scoring average of 79.0 while allowing only 61.2 points, indicating a solid defensive effort alongside their offensive capabilities.
On the other hand, Ohio State has shown resilience with a record of 7-3 over their last ten games, including a two-game winning streak before this matchup. They averaged 82.8 points scored and 71.3 points allowed during this stretch. Their most recent win was an 80-73 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on January 3, 2026. At home, the Buckeyes have a record of 5-2, while their away record stands at 2-1. In their last five games, they averaged 81.6 points scored and 76.6 points allowed, indicating a competitive offensive output but also some defensive vulnerabilities.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the teams were evenly matched with a record of 1-1 in their previous encounters during the 2025 season. Nebraska won their last meeting on February 9, 2025, with a score of 79-71, while Ohio State triumphed earlier in the season with a thrilling 116-114 victory on March 5, 2025.
The game featured a few notable scoring plays in the second half that contributed to Nebraska's victory. Devin Royal made a pivotal 7-foot turnaround jump shot, extending Nebraska's lead to 67-63. Christoph Tilly followed up with a 2-foot dunk, bringing the score to 67-65. Braden Frager added a layup and a free throw, pushing Nebraska's score to 70-65. Ohio State's Bruce Thornton responded with a jumper, narrowing the gap to 70-67, but Nebraska's Royal scored again, making it 70-69. Jamarques Lawrence then sealed the game with two free throws, finalizing the score at 72-69.
The betting market had Ohio State favored by 2.5 points according to DraftKings, with a total set at 155.5. The odds reflected a competitive nature of the matchup, with Ohio State's money line at -166.0 and Nebraska's at 140.0, indicating that the Cornhuskers were seen as the underdogs despite their strong performance this season.
The conditions in the Schottenstein Center were conducive for a high-energy game, with both teams showcasing their strengths. Viewers were treated to a display of skill and determination as both teams fought hard for every point. The game was a testament to Nebraska's ability to maintain composure under pressure, while Ohio State's efforts to rally back showcased their competitive spirit.
Overall, this matchup not only highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of both teams but also set the stage for the remainder of the season. Nebraska continues to assert themselves as a formidable force in college basketball, while Ohio State will look to regroup and address their defensive issues as they move forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | OSU -2.5 | 155.5 o -108 / u -112 | Nebraska Cornhuskers +140 · Ohio State Buckeyes -166 |
Leaders
- PointsJohn Mobley Jr.22Ohio State Buckeyes
- AssistsBruce Thornton7Ohio State Buckeyes
- ReboundsAmare Bynum9Ohio State Buckeyes
- PointsBraden Frager15Nebraska Cornhuskers
- AssistsSam Hoiberg4Nebraska Cornhuskers
- ReboundsSam Hoiberg9Nebraska Cornhuskers
Recent form
Ohio State Buckeyes
Last 10: 7-3Streak W282.8 scored · 71.3 allowed per game5-2 at home
- W80-73at Rutgers Scarlet KnightsJan 3
- W89-63vs Grambling TigersDec 23
- L70-71vs North Carolina Tar HeelsDec 20
- W89-88vs West Virginia MountaineersDec 14
- L80-88vs Illinois Fighting IlliniDec 10
- W86-82at Northwestern WildcatsDec 6
- L66-67at Pittsburgh PanthersNov 29
- W113-60vs Mount St. Mary's MountaineersNov 25
- W91-58vs Western Michigan BroncosNov 21
- W64-63vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishNov 16
Nebraska Cornhuskers
Last 10: 10-0Streak W1078.8 scored · 64.9 allowed per game2-0 away
- W58-56vs Michigan State SpartansJan 3
- W86-55vs New Hampshire WildcatsDec 31
- W78-55vs North Dakota Fighting HawksDec 22
- W83-80at Illinois Fighting IlliniDec 13
- W90-60vs Wisconsin BadgersDec 11
- W71-50vs Creighton BluejaysDec 7
- W72-63vs South Carolina Upstate SpartansNov 29
- W80-73vs Winthrop EaglesNov 26
- W86-85vs Kansas State WildcatsNov 22
- W84-72at New Mexico LobosNov 21
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Ohio State Buckeyes |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-57 | 26-57 |
| Field goal % | 44 | 46 |
| Three-pointers | 8-29 | 9-26 |
| Three-point % | 28 | 35 |
| Free throws | 14-17 | 8-13 |
| Free throw % | 82 | 62 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 4 |
| Defensive rebounds | 30 | 25 |
| Assists | 12 | 13 |
| Steals | 5 | 5 |
| Blocks | 1 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 17 |
| Fast-break points | 6 | 10 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 30 |
| Fouls | 12 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 14 | 3 |
| Lead changes | 8 | 8 |
| Time in front | 88 | 9 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half41-31Pryce Sandfort makes 26-foot three point jumper (Berke Buyuktuncel assists)
- 2nd Half41-34Bruce Thornton makes 24-foot three point jumper (John Mobley Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half41-35Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-35Berke Buyuktuncel makes layup (Rienk Mast assists)
- 2nd Half43-36Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half43-37Devin Royal makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-39John Mobley Jr. makes 17-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half43-41John Mobley Jr. makes 18-foot jumper
- 2nd Half45-41Jamarques Lawrence makes layup (Pryce Sandfort assists)
- 2nd Half47-41Sam Hoiberg makes driving layup
- 2nd Half47-43Bruce Thornton makes driving layup
- 2nd Half47-45Amare Bynum makes 4-foot alley oop dunk (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half48-45Jared Garcia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-47Devin Royal makes driving layup
- 2nd Half48-48Bruce Thornton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-49Bruce Thornton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half50-49Rienk Mast makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half50-50Devin Royal makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-53Bruce Thornton makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half52-53Braden Frager makes layup (Cale Jacobsen assists)
- 2nd Half55-53Rienk Mast makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half55-56John Mobley Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half56-56Pryce Sandfort makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-56Pryce Sandfort makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-58Bruce Thornton makes 6-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half59-58Rienk Mast makes 7-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half60-58Rienk Mast makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half63-58Pryce Sandfort makes 30-foot three point jumper (Sam Hoiberg assists)
- 2nd Half65-58Braden Frager makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half66-58Braden Frager makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half66-61John Mobley Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half67-61Braden Frager makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-63Devin Royal makes 7-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half67-65Christoph Tilly makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half69-65Braden Frager makes layup
- 2nd Half70-65Braden Frager makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half70-67Bruce Thornton makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half70-69Devin Royal makes layup (Bruce Thornton assists)
- 2nd Half71-69Jamarques Lawrence makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-69Jamarques Lawrence makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Ohio State Buckeyes, below favours Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Venue
- Schottenstein CenterColumbus, OH
- Attendance10382
- OfficialsRon Groover, Kipp Kissinger, Keith Kimble
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond