With Senior Day and a last attempt at bowl eligibility for the Huskers, all was on the line for Nebraska. Despite a stout defense that was able to make major stops, the Blackshirts also missed several opportunities to stop the run, lending the Iowa offense to do better than it has for most of the season. On the other hand, the Nebraska offense faced a tough defense and did not play its best, having three turnovers on the game.
As a result, the Huskers lost in Big Ten fashion with a last-minute Hawkeye field goal ending the game and Nebraska season, 10-13.
“Credit to Iowa,” head coach Matt Rhule said postgame. “They are a really good football team. They play a certain way. Obviously had our chances down the stretch. We just weren’t able to make it happen. The things that affected us all year, affected us.”
The Blackshirts started out strong with a three-and-out on the Hawkeyes first drive, followed by another forced punt. However, the Nebraska defense really shined after a fumble by freshman defensive back Ethan Nation on a punt return turned the ball over to the Hawkeyes.
While Iowa sophomore wide receiver Kaleb Brown came out blazing with an 11-yard run, they were unable to make much movement after that after facing an illegal shift penalty on the next play. The Huskers were able to hold them off to fourth and goal and on the field goal attempt, junior defensive lineman Ty Robinson blocked the kick to keep the Hawkeyes scoreless.
The Nebraska offense, on the other hand, made little progress in the first quarter with two forced punts and a turnover. Sophomore quarterback Chubba Purdy opted to throw for most of the first quarter but couldn’t get past the Iowa defense.
On the last Husker punt of the first quarter, an unnecessary roughness penalty on Nebraska set up a nice drive for the Hawkeyes who were able to make gains down the field including a 37-yard pass to senior tight end Steven Stilianos. On third and one at the top of the second quarter, Iowa was able to overcome the Blackshirts for a one-yard rushing touchdown by sophomore quarterback Deacon Hill, putting them up 7-0 over the Huskers after a successful extra point.
Nebraska could not respond, however, with a fumble by Purdy on a first down of the next drive resulting in the second turnover of the contest for the Huskers.
The next Hawkeye drive was the longest of the half. Six minutes and 40 seconds of some of Iowa’s best offense saw two successful third-down conversions and even one on fourth and one. However, it made no gain on its last third down attempt, resulting in a successful 28-yard field goal attempt to extend their lead to 10-0.
After a disappointing last drive, the Husker offense started to come alive. At first, it seemed like it was going to be another forced punt but on third and 11, Purdy launched a deep pass to freshman receiver Jaylen Lloyd, who ran it to the house for a 66-yard touchdown with four minutes remaining in the half. A good extra point attempt by freshman kicker Tristan Alvano suddenly put them at 10-7.
The next drive was another good one for the Iowa offense, who was able to make huge gains on the ground, including a 53-yard run by junior running back Leshon Williams to put them at first and goal. After two incomplete passes by Hill, however, the Hawkeyes opted for a 24-yard field goal attempt. Once again, Nebraska was able to block the kick, this time by junior defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher. While the ball was recovered by Iowa, it was ruled as a dead ball and the call stood.
The end of the half was marked by another three and out for Nebraska. Once again, the Blackshirts showed out in the first half with two blocked kicks and career high tackles. Senior linebacker Luke Reimer had seven tackles in the first to reach third on the Nebraska career tackles list with 290 while junior defensive back Isaac Gifford had eight in the first half.
It was a slow start to the second half, with punts on each team’s first drives and Purdy and Hiil struggling to make passes. But on Nebraska’s next drive, a pass to freshman running back Emmett Johnson for a gain of 11 helped get a Husker first down. Continuing its momentum on third and 11, a pass to senior wide receiver Joshua Fleeks for 25 yards resulted in another first down. While they were unable to make the third down conversion, it set them up for a successful 44-yard field goal attempt by Alvano to tie it up at 10-10 with six minutes left in the quarter.
The remaining drives of the third quarter all saw three and outs, with each defense making major stops to stop the run. The Huskers’ last drive of the quarter saw a 14-yard rushing attempt by Purdy who then subsequently fumbled the ball. Instead of it being turned over again, it was recovered by senior wide receiver Billy Kemp IV, to the relief of the Huskers. Even so, Nebraska was forced to punt to end the drive.
After a great punt by junior punter Brian Buschini put Iowa at the one-yard line, the Blackshirts were able to hold off the Hawkeyes for another forced punt which put them at the 50-yard line. Despite a false start penalty, the Nebraska offense was able to make small gains with a series of successful passes to Kemp and sophomore wide receiver Alex Bullock. Even so, the Iowa defense was able to hold them to fourth and 11 for a 44-yard field goal attempt by Alvano, which was no good after flying wide left.
With five minutes left, there was a sense of urgency to score for both teams. On the next drive, the Iowa offense managed to convert on third down but didn’t do much after that. On the second third down of the drive, a pass from Hill to senior wide receiver Nico Ragaini was broken up by junior defensive back Tommi HIll to force another punt.
As the clock dwindled down, it was the Huskers’ chance to score with 2:18 left. After a nine-yard gain on first down, the Huskers received a false start penalty, prompting a timeout by Rhule. Nebraska came back on the field with a vengeance, resulting in a 15-yard pass from Purdy to freshman wide receiver Malachi Coleman for a first down. Despite this spark of hope, a series of incomplete passes left the Huskers to be forced to punt with 55 seconds on the clock.
The Iowa offense was unable to make any progress on its first couple of attempts which ended in an incomplete pass and a sack on Hill for two yards. On third and 12, a pass by Hill was intercepted by Tommi Hill, giving the ball back to the Huskers with 30 seconds remaining.
It was set up to be a fairy tale ending for Nebraska. Purdy rushed for three on his first attempt, followed by a Rhule timeout. With the game on the line, it was the Huskers chance to put it away one way or another.
The Hawkeyes had other plans. On the next play, Purdy was intercepted by Iowa junior defensive lineman Ethan Hurkett to which he returned for 10 yards. A stunning play that left Husker fans speechless.
On what happened on the pick, Rhule said he wouldn’t be able to say and would have to watch the tape.
“There were obviously no timeouts left,” Rhule said postgame. “They were trying to take a shot over the top of Jaylen [Lloyd] again. There was a three-level flood there. They blitzed all three of those downs there. We looked like we picked it up…must not of seen the defender there.”
With 15 seconds left, Iowa’s Williams rushed for 22 yards for first down, followed by a kneel to set up for a 38-yard field goal attempt. In the final seconds, in front of 86,000 fans, the kick was good for a 13-10 Iowa win.
Despite the devastating loss, Rhule is still optimistic about the future of the program and believes the consistent mistakes will be fixed.
“It’ll all be improved,” Rhule said. “Maybe this is about where we are right now. Sometimes people see it from the outside and they think, ‘Wow they really messed that up’ or ‘Another short loss.’ I see it as, ‘Man these guys, how many guys go down and continue to put guys in, and we just battle right?’”