Nebraska walked out of Memorial Stadium with another gut punch on Saturday, this one a 20-17 loss to No. 7 Indiana that had all the familiar ingredients of heartbreak.
The Huskers were in control late, carrying a four-point lead into the fourth quarter and even pushing it to 17-6. But Indiana kept coming, Nebraska’s late communication problems piled up, and the result flipped in the final stretch.
Anthony Colandrea’s day in the passing game ended up as a mixed bag. He threw for 255 yards, but the efficiency never really matched the volume. Colandrea finished 25-for-43 with an interception, and much of that load came after Nebraska’s defense gave up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and the offense had to lean harder on the pass.
Jacory Barney Jr. was the clear target hog, especially from the slot. He saw a game-high 13 targets and turned them into nine catches for 108 yards. Nyziah Hunter also delivered his best game of the season, while Luke Lindenmeyer gave Colandrea a steady outlet in the first half, catching seven passes for 45 yards after helping chip Indiana pass rushers.
On the ground, Nebraska’s best moments came from creativity and a couple of decisive individual runs. The Huskers finished with 128 rushing yards and averaged 3.3 yards per carry, but the box score doesn’t tell the whole story. Dana Holgorsen’s early-game play design helped set the tone, including a reverse to Hunter at the 10-yard line for a touchdown after an opening-drive field goal.
Jamal Rule, Colandrea and Mekhi Nelson all got involved, but the biggest burst came in the fourth quarter. With Nebraska up 10-6 and facing Indiana from the 39-yard line, Colandrea kept a read-option, worked through traffic on the left side and cut back across the middle for a touchdown. That was basically the last major punch from the run game, as Nebraska leaned more heavily on the pass once it fell behind.
Indiana’s passing game eventually wore down the Huskers. Rob Aurich had a strong showing for long stretches, but Josh Hoover kept making the throws that mattered. The Hoosiers struck first with a 43-yard completion to Charlie Becker on the opening drive, taking advantage of a Nebraska defense with no help over the top on the play.
Hoover also hurt Nebraska with his legs, including a 16-yard run in the third quarter that nearly flipped the field after Indiana started at its own one-yard line. Vincent Shavers Jr. came through with a key coverage sack on third down to limit that series.
Then came the decisive fourth-quarter damage. After Colandrea’s touchdown run, Hoover answered with a 75-yard touchdown to Marsh on a skinny post run-pass option. Marsh struck again on the next drive, this time sneaking across the middle on a play-action pass for a 44-yard touchdown after Nebraska lined up for a 4th-and-1 near midfield.
Hoover finished 12-for-22 with two touchdowns and nearly 22 yards per completion, and he did it against a Nebraska pass defense that entered the day ranked 22nd in the country in passing yards allowed.
The one area Nebraska absolutely controlled was the run defense. Indiana came in averaging more than 250 rushing yards per game and ranked ninth nationally on the ground, but the Huskers smothered that part of the Hoosiers’ offense for long stretches. Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. were held to seven carries for 1.7 yards per attempt in the first half, and Indiana managed only 12 rushing yards before halftime.
The Hoosiers were better after the break, picking up 20 yards on their first third-quarter drive, but Nebraska still held firm overall. Indiana finished with 65 rushing yards on the day at three yards per carry, including just 53 yards over the final two quarters.
Special teams brought both the highs and the headaches. Archie Wilson turned in a standout performance at punter, beginning with a 60-yard boot in the second quarter and then dropping back-to-back punts at the one- and two-yard lines in the third. Kyle Cunanan opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal, but he missed wide right from 40 yards before halftime.
Nebraska now turns to No. 13 Oregon on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Autzen Stadium. Game time and television network will be announced later this evening.
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