Will Howard tossed three touchdown passes, but No. 4 Ohio State needed an interception by cornerback Jordan Hancock with 1:16 left to seal its 21-17 win over Nebraska on Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

The Buckeyes (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) bounced back from their loss to Oregon two weeks ago but sure didn’t look like the well-oiled machine they are supposed to be in scuffling with a nearly four-touchdown underdog.

“It wasn’t perfect, but a win’s a win,” Howard said. “And we were able to show that when the going gets tough, and when maybe things aren’t going our way, we’re able to win in the fourth quarter. I think our defense did an unbelievable job of getting some stops, making some really big plays in that fourth quarter and getting us a chance to go down there and put that last one in and give us the lead.”

The Cornhuskers kept it close all day. John Hohl kicked three field goals before Dante Dowdell’s touchdown early in the fourth quarter gave them a brief lead. Ohio State converted just 1 of 10 third downs, punted five times, gave up the ball on downs, missed a field goal and survived a Howard interception.

Dowdell’s 1-yard run and a 2-point conversion put the Huskers up 17-14. The Buckeyes got the lead back with 6:04 left when Howard threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Quinshon Judkins.

Nebraska’s had the ball near midfield on its final possession after Arvell Reese was ejected for targeting for his hit on receiver Jahmal Banks. The Huskers were called for a false start and lost yards on consecutive plays before Dylan Raiola was off target with a pass intended for Isaiah Neyor and Hancock picked it off.

Oregon 38, Illinois 9 >> Dillon Gabriel threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, and top-ranked Oregon routed No. 20 Illinois in Eugene, Ore., to remain undefeated.

Gabriel finished 18-of-26 for 291 yards and Oregon racked up 527 yards of total offense. Tez Johnson caught six of Gabriel’s passes for 102 yards and a score.

The Ducks (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) haven’t started a season with eight straight wins since 2013. It was Oregon’s third win over a ranked team this season.

The Fighting Illini (6-2, 3-2) hadn’t faced the top-ranked team in the nation since 2007, when they beat Ohio State 28-21 on the road.

Luke Altmyer threw for 161 yards for Illinois, which was coming off a 21-7 victory over No. 24 Michigan last weekend. That win was the third for the Illini over a Top 25 opponent this season — most for the team since 2007.

Oregon blanked Purdue 35-0 last weekend. But it was a 32-31 victory over then-No. 2 Ohio State the week before that boosted the Ducks in their first season in the Big Ten.

Penn State 28, Wisconsin 13 >> Beau Pribula performed in relief of injured quarterback Drew Allar, Jaylen Reed scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 19-yard interception return and No. 3 Penn State rallied to beat Wisconsin 28-13 on Saturday night.

Allar went into the locker room before his teammates in the final minute of the first half after he landed a little awkwardly while getting sacked on Penn State’s last series of the second quarter. Allar came back onto the field for the second half wearing a brace around his left knee, but he remained on the sideline for the rest of the night.

Penn State (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) trailed 10-7 at the time of Allar’s exit. The Nittany Lions also played much of the game without star defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, who got hurt in the first half and briefly returned in the third quarter before leaving for good.

Reed and Pribula helped make sure the Nittany Lions remained unbeaten anyway.

Indiana 31, Washington 17 >> Quarterback Tayven Jackson threw for one touchdown and ran for another in his first start of the season, and D’Angelo Ponds’ two interceptions both led to scores as No. 13 Indiana pulled away from Washington.

The Hoosiers (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) have tied the 1967 Rose Bowl team for the best start in school history while staying atop the league standings.

Jackson replaced the injured Kurtis Rourke (right thumb) and went 11 of 19 with 124 yards, one TD pass and one interception, and his 2-yard TD run with 8:55 to play gave the Hoosiers a 31-14 lead. Justice Ellison carried 29 times for a season high 123 yards and one score.

The Huskies (4-4, 2-3) have lost three of four and still haven’t won outside their home stadium this season. Will Rogers was 19 of 26 for 202 yards with two interceptions. Jonah Coleman had 19 carries for 104 yards and one TD.

Iowa 40, Northwestern 14 >> Kaleb Johnson rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns, and backup quarterback Brendan Sullivan added another rushing touchdown as Iowa defeated Northwestern in Iowa City.

The Hawkeyes (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) scored 28 third-quarter points behind Johnson and Sullivan to take control.