Kenny Larabee, NRG Media
For three quarters, Nebraska outplayed defending national champion and No. 7 Indiana. But in the end, it ended the same the last 30 against ranked opposition have ended, and with an achingly familiar script. Two fourth-quarter touchdowns by the Hoosiers (6-0/3-0 Big Ten) propelled IU to its 22nd straight victory, a 20-17 triumph that keeps Indiana in the national championship race while dealing the Cornhuskers (5-1/2-1) their first loss of the season.
A slashing, electric 39-yard yard touchdown run by Anthony Colandrea pushed Nebraska’s lead to 17-6 with 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Memorial Stadium rocked as the Huskers were less than one quarter from their first win over a ranked opponent since Sept. 17, 2016, when Nebraska beat No. 22 Oregon, 35-32. After the extra point, John Hohl kicked off through the end zone for a touchback. The Hoosiers took over at their 25, and IU quarterback Josh Hoover lasered a pass over the middle to Nick Marsh, just evading the grasp of NU defensive back Victor Evans, III, at the Indiana 40, then bolting down the middle of the field the rest of the way to pull the Hoosiers back within five. After lining up to try for a two-point conversion, Indiana instead opted to kick the PAT to cut the Huskers lead to 17-13 with 11:51 to go.
Nebraska went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, and Archie Wilson boomed a 68-yard punt into the end zone for a touchdown. The Hoosiers took over at their 20. Two Lee Beebe, Jr., runs and a Nebraska penalty took Indiana to the NU 47. After a second-down incompletion, Hoover hit Davion Chandler to gain three and set up fourth-and-1 from the 44. Hoover dropped to throw and found Marsh near the 25 wide open, and he cruised into the end zone for the touchdown to give the Hoosiers a 20-17 lead with 7:21 to go. Two Huskers possession came up empty, and a final, flailing attempt ended after three laterals with Mehki Nelson tackled at the 35 with no time remaining. Another loss to a ranked team, another heartbreaker.
The agonizing part was that Nebraska so totally dominated the first half and outplayed Indiana through three quarters. The Huskers outgained the Hoosiers in the first half, 216-115, running 43 plays to IU’s 16. Through three quarters, Nebraska was still winning the yardage battle, 261-186, and had run 56 plays to the Hoosiers’ 31. Two first half drives not fully capitalized loomed large as the game wore on. The Huskers opening possession marched from the 25 to the Indiana nine before sputtering, leading Nebraska to settle for a field goal after having 1st and goal at the nine, but gaining no yardage on any of the three plays.
The more painful missed opportunity came at the end of the half, when the Huskers had driven from the 26 to the IU 17 while burning almost seven minutes of second quarter clock. But after an incomplete pass on first down, a Tree Babalade false start on second down pushed Nebraska back to its 22. After two more incompletions, Kyle Cunanan missed a 40-yard field goal, keeping the Huskers’ lead at only 10-3. Indiana got the ball to start the third quarter and settled for a field goal, pulling to within 10-6 until Colandrea’s TD run early in the fourth quarter.
The stars of the day were the Blackshirts, holding the Hoosiers’ vaunted rushing attack to just 65 yards. well under their season average of 231 yards per game. But when Indiana broke free of Nebraska’s defense, they made it hurt. IU gained 199 of its 328 yards on just four pass plays, including the two Marsh touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The rest of the game, the Hoosiers gained 129 yards on 40 snaps, just over three yards per play.
Colandrea ended the day 25-for-43 with 263 yards and an interception. He also rushed 17 times for 47 yards and a touchdown while being sacked five times. Jamal Rule returned from injury to rush for 53 yards on 15 carries. Jacory Barney, Jr., was NU’s leading receiver, with nine catches for 108 yards. Meanwhile, Marsh had six catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Hoosiers. Hoover was 12-for-23 for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Beebe rushed nine times for just 31 yards to lead the Hoosiers’ ground game.
Nebraska will have to bounce back quickly, as the Huskers head to No. 13 Oregon Saturday. Kickoff time will be set later Saturday or Sunday. The game will be broadcast on KLIN and Froggy 98.