Seven minutes from 7-0, and Nebraska somehow walked out of it 5-2.
That was the mood after the Huskers’ 17-14 loss at Oregon, a finish that turned what should have been a straightforward postgame conversation into something far more pointed.
Nebraska had been in this spot before, and that’s what made it sting. Against Indiana, the Huskers carried a 17-6 lead into the fourth quarter.
At Oregon, they opened the final period ahead 14-6. In both games, the hard part was already done.
The team had done enough to win. What it needed next was competence and calm.
Instead, the fourth quarter unraveled.
Nebraska drifted away from the run and from the short, underneath passing game that had helped build the lead. Against Oregon, that meant leaning on a passing attack that put more strain on an offensive line already struggling in protection. The result looked less like a team trying to salt away a win and more like one acting as if it were trying to erase a bigger deficit.
The running game wasn’t dominant, and nobody was pretending otherwise. But protecting a lead is about chain-moving plays, clock control and keeping your defense on the sideline.
Nebraska did the opposite. The offense got hectic, the defense kept being sent back out, and Oregon kept getting fresh cracks at the game.
That part was especially frustrating because the coaching decisions kept feeding the problem. Nebraska seemed to abandon the simplest answers.
Luke Lindenmeyer? No.
Throw to the backs? No.
Short, useful plays that would have let the clock work in Nebraska’s favor? Not enough of them.
Instead, the Huskers kept reaching for longer-developing concepts that only made life harder for the quarterback and the line.
The Blackshirts deserved more support, even if they weren’t spotless either. Once Oregon switched to Raiola, Nebraska never really changed its approach.
The Huskers know Dylan Raiola can work through coverage when he has time. They also know his feet aren’t exactly a threat that should keep a defense honest.
Still, Nebraska never dialed up a blitz.
SMQ wanted pressure. Make him move. Letting him get comfortable felt like an awfully generous welcome back.
Special teams added its own headache with a bad punt snap, the knee on the ground and a short field that cost Nebraska dearly.
Bob wants a new offensive coordinator. Matt Rhule is the one who kept trusting this one, and he’s the one who owns what happens when fourth-quarter leads don’t get turned into wins.
Jay is right that there’s still plenty left to play for. But these were two chances to give Nebraska fans something they’ve been waiting years to see.
The players got the Huskers close enough. The coaching had to finish the job.
In Other News...
Nebraska Lands A Huge Blackout Spotlight As Backfield Concerns Grow
Nebraskas Halloween Blackout game against Washington now has a stage to match the atmosphere, with the Cornhuskers set for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on Big Ten Network. The broadcast details also are in place for upcoming games against Illinois and Iowa, while the television plans for Rutgers and Ohio State will come later as kickoff draws closer. For a fan base that has circled this stretch on the calendar, the schedule rollout adds another layer of anticipation to a month already built for prime-time attention.
The timing matters even more because Nebraskas backfield picture is getting thinner. Fullback Vincent Genatone is done for the season, and running back Isaiah Mozee will be out for an extended period, leaving the Huskers to sort through depth and roles as the schedule tightens. With Washington set for a national audience on Halloween, Nebraska will have a spotlight to go with the questions it is still trying to answer in the run game. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Suddenly Has A Big Defensive Line Opening
Nebraskas defensive front took a hit against Oregon when Anthony Jones suffered a broken foot, and the injury will keep him out for an extended period. Jones had started all seven games this season, giving the Cornhuskers a steady presence up front and a player whose impact went beyond the box score.
Former Nebraska lineman Jay Moore pointed to Jones leadership and maturity as qualities the defense will miss on the field, while also naming Kade Pietrzak as the player expected to step into the starting spot. Pietrzak has appeared in all seven games but has not started yet, so this becomes a meaningful chance for him to take on a bigger role at a time when Nebraska needs the depth to hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Bye Week Just Raised One Big Question About This Team
Nebraska heads into its bye week at 5-2, and Matt Rhules message has been pretty direct: this team is close to looking like a top-10 group, but only if it cleans up the week-to-week swings that still show up too often. The Cornhuskers have reasons to feel good about where they are. Anthony Colandrea has played well enough to spark real conversation about his future with the program, the offensive line has been sturdier in pass protection, and the defense has kept opponents in check in recent games.
Still, the bye arrives with one area demanding the most attention. The running back room has not been as dependable once conference play started, and that leaves Nebraska with a clear question to sort through before the season tightens up even more. For a team that believes it can climb higher, the next stretch may hinge less on talent than on whether the Huskers can turn that improved overall profile into something steadier on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]