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Ohio State fans throw water bottles on field in protest of controversial targeting call vs. Nebraska

Stephen Samraby: Steve Samra10/26/24SamraSource
Ohio State
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Ohio State fans evidently took notes during last weekend’s game between Georgia and Texas, because they decided to throw wattle bottles onto the field after a controversial targeting call during their Week 9 clash against Nebraska.

During the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game, Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese was ejected for targeting for his hit on Cornhuskers wide receiver Jahmal Banks. Ohio State was clinging to a four-point lead when the flag came out, and the Cornhuskers went from being backed up deep in their own territory to having the ball near midfield.

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Ryan Day was livid on the sideline, and he received a warning. Fans quickly followed suit by voicing their displeasure via the throwing of various debris. Check out the video of the incident below, shared to X by Stephanie Otey of 97.1 The Fan.

“Ryan Day is not happy with the targeting call as Ohio State fans begin to toss water bottles onto the field calling for a reversal,” Otey posted on X, accompanying the video.

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Some theorized Texas fans set a dangerous precedent last weekend against Georgia, and they seem to have been vindicated. The Buckeyes weren’t penalized for the incident, but Nebraska players were moved away from their bench temporarily while security sorted the issue out.

As for Day, Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira explained why he was fortunate to not get a 15-yard penalty: “Ryan Day is lucky that he doesn’t have a 15-yard penalty associated with this, because a sideline warning is when people interfere with you — players or coaches interfere with you in the white,” Pereira said. “But if you come out on the field, if you come out on the field and voice your displeasure like he did and throw your headset, that should be an unsportsmanlike conduct, which would add another 15. 

“He catches a break here. You can’t be out on the field and do this. This has happened before.”

In the end, Ohio State picked off Dylan Raiola on the drive, leading to a razor-close victory for the Buckeyes. Their fans expected a big win on Saturday, and while they got the victory, Nebraska certainly was more than Ryan Day and company bargained for in Columbus.