Indiana walked out of Memorial Stadium with a 20-17 win over Nebraska, and the Hoosiers had to do it the hard way.
Nebraska owned the first half, controlled the clock and kept Indiana on its heels with two long opening drives. After the Huskers took the opening kickoff, Anthony Colandrea guided a 13-play, 66-yard march that ended with Kyle Cunanan’s 28-yard field goal. Indiana answered with a field goal of its own, but Nebraska immediately regained control with another methodical drive, this one covering 75 yards in 10 plays and finishing with Nyziah Hunter’s 10-yard touchdown run.
By halftime, the numbers told the story: Nebraska had outgained Indiana 216-115 and held the ball for 22:19 compared with the Hoosiers’ 7:41.
Indiana trailed 17-6 in the fourth quarter after Colandrea capped a 39-yard touchdown drive, and Nebraska looked ready to close it out. Instead, Josh Hoover and Nick Marsh flipped the game in one snap. On the first play from Indiana’s own 25, Hoover hit Marsh for a 75-yard touchdown, and Nico Radicic’s extra point pulled the Hoosiers within 17-13 with 11:51 left.
Nebraska managed only one first down on its next possession, then punted after Indiana’s defense forced another stop. That set up the drive that decided it.
Facing 4th-and-1 at the Nebraska 44, Hoover found Marsh again, this time with the Huskers selling out against the run. Marsh had all the room he needed, took it to the end zone and put Indiana ahead 19-17.
The Hoosiers added the extra point and led 20-17 with 7:21 remaining.
That was the finish. Indiana shut Nebraska down on its final three possessions and moved to 6-0, extending its winning streak to 22 games.
Hoover wasn’t sharp for long stretches, but he delivered when the Hoosiers needed it most. He finished 12 of 22 for 263 yards and two touchdowns, both to Marsh.
Marsh was the difference-maker all afternoon, catching six passes for 187 yards and those two scores. Charlie Becker added three catches for 52 yards.
Indiana’s defense came through with four sacks. Stephen Daley had two, Tobi Osunsanmi delivered a big one to end a Nebraska possession in the fourth quarter, and Byron Baldwin Jr. added the other. Amare Ferrell and Isaiah Jones each finished with nine tackles, and Jamari Sharpe picked off a pass.
The Hoosiers head back to Bloomington next for Ohio State. The Buckeyes are 4-1 entering today’s matchup against Maryland in Columbus, and next weekend’s kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on FOX.
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