Nebraska walked into the fourth quarter with a real chance to knock off No. 7 Indiana, and for a while it looked like the moment was finally theirs.
The Huskers led 17-6, the crowd had something to hold onto, and the upset path was right there. Then Josh Hoover hit Nick Marsh for two long touchdown passes, and Indiana ripped the game away on its way to a 20-17 win.
That finish stung because Nebraska had done so many things well. The Huskers finished with more total yards, more passing yards, more rushing yards and nearly twice as many plays.
They controlled the ball, but they couldn’t turn that edge into enough points. Drives stalled.
Penalties piled up. A missed field goal loomed large in a game decided by three points.
The final two Nebraska possessions would have looked very different if the score had been tied.
Still, the broader picture was not hard to see. Nebraska was the better team in a lot of the places that usually matter, except the one that matters most. The Huskers were in command for long stretches, and even with the loss, that reality can’t be brushed aside.
Up front, Nebraska held its own. Indiana found some pressure late, especially in the fourth quarter, but the Nebraska offensive line was effective enough to keep the offense moving.
The Huskers ran for 128 yards, much of it from Anthony Colandrea, and they were not pushed around. On the other side, Nebraska’s run defense stood up to a serious test and limited Indiana to under three yards per rushing attempt.
Hoover’s longest run went for just 16 yards.
That’s the kind of performance Nebraska needed to see against top competition, and this one offered it. The question about how the Huskers would hold up in the trenches got answered, at least for one night, and the response was encouraging.
They still have to close the deal next time, but they did not look out of place against a heavyweight. This looked like a team capable of winning 9-10 games.
A ranked win is still coming, too. Maybe it happens against Oregon next week.
Maybe it’s Ohio State or Iowa. The losing streak against ranked teams has dragged on long enough, and Saturday’s ending was brutal, but the first 50 minutes were some of the best football Nebraska has played in 25 years.
The last stretch was a gut punch. The larger trend, though, still points up.
In Other News...
Dylan Raiola Just Changed The Feel Of Nebraska's Oregon Showdown
Dylan Raiolas path into Nebraskas matchup with Oregon suddenly looks a lot different than it did just a week ago. Oregons quarterback situation has been thrown into flux after a rough outing against UCLA, and the ripple effect matters for the Cornhuskers because it could change the tone of a game that already had plenty of attention attached to it.
Raiolas performance led to a late benching, while Brock Thomas steadied Oregon in relief and gave the Ducks something to think about if Dante Moore is not fully recovered from a concussion. For Nebraska, that means preparing for a showdown without a clear idea of which Oregon quarterback it will see, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already compelling matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Let A Huge Opportunity Slip Away Against Indiana
Nebraska spent much of the afternoon doing enough things to put itself in position to win against Indiana, controlling the ball longer and piling up more yards in a game that felt very much there for the taking. Still, the Cornhuskers came away empty, undone by a missed field goal, a handful of defensive coverage lapses and a few coaching choices that left plenty of room for second-guessing once the final whistle sounded.
Injuries and missing players only added to the challenge, and Nebraska never quite found the clean finish it needed when the game tightened late. For a team that seemed to have the edge in enough areas to separate itself, the result was a frustrating reminder that moving the ball and winning possession battles does not mean much if the critical moments go the other way. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Football Suddenly Has One More Thing To Watch At Oregon
Nebraska fans got a full weekend of reminders that sports mood can swing fast. The volleyball team kept its undefeated season rolling by sweeping No. 7 Wisconsin, while the basketball team used an exhibition loss to Saint Louis as an early measuring stick for Fred Hoibergs group. On the football side, though, the attention stays fixed on the Cornhuskers loss to Indiana and the questions it raised going into a trip to Oregon.
The quarterback situation is the part Nebraska will be watching closest. Dylan Raiola was benched in Oregons recent loss, and that adds a fresh layer to an already tricky matchup as the Cornhuskers try to bounce back. For a team that has already seen one setback, the next move under center could shape how it approaches the Ducks long before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]