The Ohio State football team isn’t suddenly going to morph into a bomb-heaving outfit like something from the old AFL days. But Nebraska beware: Coach Urban Meyer has a newfound confidence in the Buckeyes’ ability to complete deep passes.

Quarterback Braxton Miller connected on a 63-yard TD heave to Devin Smith against Michigan State last week. It was one of only two times the Buckeyes aired it out during the game, but Meyer hinted he might take a few more shots downfield Saturday.

“To throw the ball deep now, I have no issues,” he said Wednesday.

Meyer was reluctant previously because an incompletion would put the Buckeyes, as he put it, “behind schedule,” meaning they would have trouble overcoming an empty play and making a first down. But the development of Smith, who also is a track standout, has Meyer rethinking that low-risk approach.

On the TD play, the sophomore from Massillon beat the bump-and-run coverage of Johnny Adams, one of the top cornerbacks in the nation, and that’s something Meyer wouldn’t have envisioned during spring practice six months ago.

“I love Devin Smith. Great kid, great family, and he’s grown up. But if you would have said (he’d do that) on April 14, I would have looked at you like you had seven heads,” Meyer said. “But he’s earned that right. That’s our whole mantra around here. You’ve got to earn it, and he earned it.

“He’s a serious guy now. … To take on bump-and-coverage, especially against who he beat, that was not by accident. He worked his tail off.”

Smith said he spent much of the offseason hauling in long-range passes from Miller, who also has made major leaps in the aerial game.

“He’s gotten a lot better,” Smith said. “This summer, we really worked on that. I told him how to throw it — just throw it to me in stride where I can get it. And he put it on the money (against the Spartans).

“Last year to this year is light years. He’s gotten way better. His arm strength is out of this world.”

Meyer agrees.

“Braxton throws a very nice deep ball. … I would imagine you’ll see more of it,” he said.

Back-up plan: OSU doesn’t want to find out what it’s like to play without Miller for an extended period, but Meyer believes his team is better equipped to handle a punch to the solar plexus like that than it was last season.

Miller rushed for 91 yards and passed for 95 before suffering an ankle injury in the third quarter at Nebraska, helping the Buckeyes to a 27-6 lead. But the struts broke off after that. The Cornhuskers stormed to the biggest comeback in school history in a 34-27 win.

But while Miller is taking plenty of punishment this season, Meyer is confident in backup Kenny Guiton, who subbed for three plays when Miller was hurt on the opening drive against Michigan State and led the Buckeyes into the end zone from 14 yards out.

“On the road against that team in that environment — it’s a little different when you’re up by 30 points in the third quarter against someone, and, hey, we need you to go into the game. Lots of guys can do that,” Meyer said. “But three plays, and we’re in — and he checked one of them at the line (changed the play). That tells you how he did. … That is a game manager.”

Guiton has earned his teammates’ respect for how he’s handled being an understudy.

“God willing, (Miller) doesn’t go down again,” receiver Philly Brown said. “But if he does, Kenny may not be able to get the production Braxton gets on the ground, but as far as throwing the ball, I feel like Kenny will be able to come in and do a really, really good job.”

Injury update: Meyer said Wednesday running back Jordan Hall is out this week after suffering a partial ligament tear in his knee during the second quarter against Michigan State.

Safety C.J. Barnett, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, is questionable.