In the 400th consecutive sellout, and a battle of two top 25 teams, the stage was set for Nebraska to show they were back with a win over a ranked opponent for the first time since 2016. The Huskers were unable to capitalize on this opportunity and lost in the same heartbreaking fashion they have for the last several years. The college football world does this thing every couple years where they all collectively jump on the Nebraska hype train, proclaim them back without a valid reason and rank them in the top 25 poll. 2024 was the year this happened again, and again the Huskers showed the world all the hype was not warranted on a Friday night game nationally televised on FOX. The defense needs a lot of work, and the special teams are outright holding this team back. Here’s a breakdown of the offense, defense, special teams:
Offense
Let’s put the overtime offensive debacle to bed for a moment and let’s talk about the rest of the game. I thought Marcus Satterfield called about a good of a game on offense as I had seen him do since being at Nebraska. Dylan Raiola is about as good of a quarterback as we have had here maybe ever, and he’s a true freshman. It’s incredible to watch him. His lone interception today was a ball the receiver had (Neyor) but was ripped out of his hands. Sound familiar? That’s because it happened last week too. Dowdell was the clear running back this game, and as suspected the committee has died down. He had 20 carries for 72 yards. All told, the offense only had 77 yards on the ground, which is surprising considering Kansas had over 150 on the ground against Illinois. Turner Corcoran, the backup left tackle filling in for the starter who was hurt in the fall camp, was injured. Matt Rhule said post-game he believed it to be serious. True freshman Gunnar Guttula made his start and will likely have to step up for maybe the rest of the season. Isaiah Neyor and Jahmal Banks were the Huskers two best receivers tonight, both with over 80 yards receiving. Neyor had two touchdowns. Thomas Fidone, the tight end, also made some noise with 46 yards. Raiola would miss a go-ahead touchdown to Boerkircher that would have likely have won Nebraska the game late in the fourth. In overtime, the play calling was atrocious. It looks like they haven’t ever practiced for that scenario. I mean, what else is there to say. It was ugly.
Defense
Let’s face it, the cracks in the defense were evident last week. I don’t know where they came, because the defense was solid against UTEP and Colorado. None the less, a lot of fans, and maybe coaches, wanted to say there was nothing to worry about because they won and held an FCS team to only three points. Ok. In comes BIG10 real boy football, and Luke Altmyer absolutely shredded the Nebraska secondary. He went 21/27, 215 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions. Nebraska started the game playing Tommi Hill and Marcus Buford Jr at corner. After the first drive saw Buford get cooked on a key third down and then touchdown, Ceyair Wright was playing opposite Tommi Hill. Hill would later exit the game due to Plantar Fashi inflammation, per Rhule. DeShone Singleton also went down with an injury, after causing a fumble earlier in the game. Later in the fourth quarter, a strip sack by Wright seemed to swing momentum. However, when the defense was needed most in overtime, it took two whole plays for Illinois to score. Again, do they even practice these scenarios? For all the praise Tony White got for his defense last year and to start this year, it’s time he takes a long hard look in the mirror and figures out where it’s gone astray. Because it has.
Special Teams
Ed Foley must be feeling pressure. Week after week, the special teams consistently raises eyebrows for the wrong reasons. Tristan Alvano was out for this game, so John Hohl filled his place. He made all his extra points and a 26-yard field goal. He missed a critical 34 yard field goal which caused the game to stay tied and ultimately go to overtime. Rhule blamed the placeholder postgame. I blame Ed Foley for not getting simple mechanics fixed. The punt return and kickoff return lanes were wide open for Illinois as well, often letting them flip field position with ease. Special teams will continue to hold this team back.