Arvell Reese targeting suspension vacated after Ohio State files Big Ten appeal

Ohio State sophomore linebacker Arvell Reese will no longer be suspended for the first half of this week’s road game against No. 3 Penn State.

According to an Ohio State spokesperson, the No. 4 Buckeyes filed an appeal to the Big Ten after Reese was called for targeting against Nebraska this past weekend and subsequently disqualified from the game with close to three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of a narrow win.

The Big Ten went to the NCAA Football Secretary Rules Editor, and, after review, Reese’s tackle and forced fumble on Nebraska wide receiver Jahmal Banks weren’t deemed as targeting, per an Ohio State spokesperson.

As a result, Reese won’t have to serve a first-half suspension at Penn State this weekend.

At the time, Nebraska received 19 yards for the reception Banks made and an additional 15 yards because of the targeting penalty, which negated the fumble Reese forced and fellow Buckeyes linebacker Sonny Styles recovered. All of a sudden, the Huskers were at their own 46-yard line with a fresh set of downs, 3:14 remaining, one timeout left and a four-point deficit to erase.

The confirmation of the targeting penalty caused uproar in Ohio Stadium. Head coach Ryan Day was furious, boos rained down onto the field, as did bottles thrown into the end zone by Ohio State students.

Ohio State didn’t allow Nebraska to gain another yard, though.

Ultimately, on 3rd-and-19, Buckeyes defensive back Jordan Hancock picked off Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola from a deep safety position, and Ohio State emerged victorious, 21-17.

Big Ten issues statement on spot error in Nebraska-Ohio State game

Officiating caused frustration and head scratching for both Ohio State and Nebraska during their Week 9 matchup.

The Big Ten issued a statement Monday on a spot error that affected the Cornhuskers late in the second quarter.

“During Nebraska’s final drive of the first half, on second down with two yards to gain on the Ohio State 39-yard line, the ball was incorrectly spotted after a run by Cornhusker RB Emmett Johnson. The ball carrier crossed the 37-yard line and a first down should have been awarded to Nebraska. Replay should have stopped the game to review the spot since it involved the line-to-gain.”

In a one-score game that appeared to include additional incorrect spots and that featured an assortment of pass interference penalties, the error the statement addressed — albeit an important one that cost Nebraska valuable clock — wasn’t the most consequential of the bunch.

After all, the Huskers converted the subsequent 3rd-and-1 with a three-yard run from fellow running back Dante Dowdell.

But later that drive, on a 3rd-and-5 from the Ohio State 30-yard line, Nebraska wideout Isaiah Neyor was called for a controversial offensive pass interference on a deep shot from Raiola. That infraction pushed the Huskers back 15 yards. Nebraska gained nine back on the replayed third down, and kicker John Hohl drilled a 54-yard field goal before intermission to make it a 14-6 game.

Nebraska staked itself to a 17-14 advantage in the fourth quarter after Raiola orchestrated a nine-play, 74-yard touchdown drive, and after the Huskers cashed in a two-point conversion.

That said, Ohio State — despite all of its offensive struggles versus Nebraska Saturday — answered with a touchdown drive of its own, the game-winning kind.

Eventually, the Buckeyes defense sealed the deal with Hancock’s interception.