Nebraska football seemed destined to finally end its seven-year drought after an interception by junior cornerback Tommi Hill with 31 seconds left. However, Iowa returned the favor, picking off sophomore quarterback Chubba Purdy and ultimately drilling a 38-yard field goal as time expired, effectively ending the Huskers’ season.
Nebraska had a chance to win several times on Friday, but it was the Hawkeyes who took home the three-point victory and the Heroes’ Trophy.
Here are four takeaways and one question regarding the Huskers’ heartbreaking loss:
Chubba Purdy should have been QB1 all year
After a strong performance against Wisconsin last week, Purdy once again got the nod at signal-caller. He followed up with another good day, completing 15 of 28 passes for 189 and a touchdown. Purdy also led Nebraska with 42 rushing yards.
While he had his gaffes – two embarrassing fumbles and the late-game interception – other Husker quarterbacks would have done the same and even then some. Down the stretch, Purdy made throws that neither sophomore Heinrich Haarberg nor junior Jeff Sims would have even come close to making. With Iowa’s defenders living in the backfield, Purdy kept his composure, leading to several key third-down conversions.
While each of the last three games ended in a pick, Purdy has still proven to be Nebraska’s most capable passer during the 2023 season. It is justified to think that with Purdy under center all year, at least one of the Husker defeats turns into a victory.
Iowa’s running game is effective while the Huskers fail to use theirs
For the first time in years, Nebraska entered Black Friday with a higher-ranked rushing offense and defense than the Hawkeyes. However, you would think that Iowa had the upper hand in how they used their running backs.
The Hawkeyes finished with 163 rushing yards, surpassing their season average of 119.27. Like previous losses, big plays tormented the Husker’s otherwise dominant run defense, with junior running back Leshon Williams hauling in a 53-yard run in the first half and a late 22-yard run to put Iowa on the range.
Meanwhile, Nebraska only managed to muster 75 rushing yards despite being by far the best team on the field in the Big Ten. Most of that comes down to playmaking, with the Hawkeyes running the ball 10 more times than the Huskers.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Emmett Johnson finished with just 11 carries for 27 yards, even fewer attempts than last week against the Badgers. Johnson was good for, at minimum, a four-yard gain on most of his carries, but Nebraska instead opted for several first passes that fell incomplete.
The Huskers finish the season with a great running game that could have been elite if the players had given running backs like Johnson more of a chance to show off.
Special teams were the most important unit on both sides
In true Big Ten West fashion, many of the game’s biggest plays came on special teams. It started in the first quarter with freshman defensive back Ethan Nation completing a punt return that gave Iowa excellent starting field position. However, it was Nebraska’s field goal blocking unit that stepped up with junior defensive lineman Ty Robinson getting his hands on a 30-yard attempt. Junior defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher added to the block party with his team late in the first half, keeping a total of six points off the board.
Both teams each threw the ball seven times, with junior punter Brian Buschini rebounding after a lackluster performance against Wisconsin. Buschini had his best punt of the season in the fourth quarter, pinning the Hawkeyes on theirs.
Freshman kicker Tristan Alvano tied the game with a 44-yard field goal in the third, but couldn’t duplicate it in the fourth, missing a 44-yard kick into the wind. With sophomore kicker Drew Stephens going 1 of 3, Iowa turned to senior kicker Marshall Meeder for the win. The Central Michigan transfer narrowly made his first field goal attempt of the season to cement the victory for the Hawkeyes. While each team had its ups and downs with its third unit, it was Iowa’s specialists who finished on a high note.
Jaylen Lloyd’s speed shows optimism about Nebraska’s future
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the only reason the Huskers had a chance was because of Lloyd.
Nebraska looked like it was going to hit rock bottom offensively with nothing working. That was until Purdy spread it to freshman receiver Jaylen Lloyd, who caught it in stride for a 66-yarder. landing. The score brought not only the offense but Husker fans to life and gave them something to cheer about as well.
Lloyd scored three touchdowns in his freshman campaign, his other two being deep runs of 58 and 73 yards, respectively. The track star served as a sparkplug in what had been a Nebraska offense that lacked explosiveness all year. With head coach Matt Rhule valuing speed in his offense, Lloyd will be a catalyst for the Husker’s aerial attack for years to come.
What’s next for the Huskers as they have a long offseason ahead of them?
Nebraska enters the offseason with a rotten taste in its mouth after losing its last four games and failing to reach a bowl game. Several questions surround Rhule and the team moving forward.
Several Huskers who walked on Senior Day have the opportunity to return for one more year. With defensive playmakers like Robinson and Hutmacher already agreeing to move back, others could follow in their footsteps.
Defensive coordinator Tony White has attracted attention in head coaching searches across the country. With Rhule advocating for him to take advantage of the best opportunity available, Nebraska may soon need a new coordinator.
The transfer portal remains a hot topic in the college football world, with the Huskers certain to win and lose players there. Will they stick it out with Purdy after his three solid games, or will they look to get a new signal caller from the portal? Whatever happens, expect a busy offseason in Lincoln.
