Evaluating Nebraska’s offense, defense and special teams in the heartbreaking last-second loss to Iowa

Nebraska played like the better team for three quarters and even most of the fourth quarter, outgaining Iowa by 334 total yards to 164, but three plays changed the game for Iowa and saw the Hawkeyes score a game-winning field goal as time expired stealing a 13-10 win.

The cold weather could have limited Nebraska’s downfield passing attack, but Dylan Raiola found a way to get the ball to his playmakers while maintaining efficiency, completing 22 of 32 pass attempts for 190 yards and hitting nine different pass catchers. His grade took a serious hit because he couldn’t hold onto the football in the cold. He fumbled three times, two of which he bounced, but the third, picked off by Max Llewelyn, set Iowa up for a walk-off play. winning field goal.

Emmett Johnson was Nebraska’s lead back on Saturday, but Dante Dowdell was effective in his own right as the two combined for 117 yards and a touchdown against a stout Iowa defense. Rahmir Johnson got a few touches and provided a spark, adding another 26 yards from scrimmage on limited snaps. As the game progressed, the holes narrowed, but the trio ran hard and did their part to give Nebraska a chance to take the win.

Nine different players intercepted passes from Dylan Raiola. Jacory Barney, Jahmal Banks and Nate Boerkircher made some crucial calls when offside, as did Thomas Fidone with an impressive performance. Isaiah Neyor had a critical drop on a supposedly explosive play that went through his hands, and there were a few errors from the unit throughout the day that could have put Nebraska in a position to put this game out of reach, which ultimately but were missed. Productive day, but there were still yards and points on the line on Saturday.

Nebraska’s offensive line gave Raiola time and opened up gaps for the defense early, putting together a mostly solid performance early on. But as the game progressed, the gaps closed for the Huskers and Raiola came under more and more pressure as the game went on. The rookie was sacked four times, the worst coming in the game’s final offensive moment when Max Llewellyn stripped him to set up the game-winning field goal. Two false starts from Micah Mazzccua and Gunner Gottula each hurt Nebraska in short-yardage situations. Nebraska’s front started well, but a handful of errors led to another heartbreaking loss for the Hawkeyes.

Led by Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher, Nebraska’s defensive line turned on Kaleb Johnson and limited him to 45 rushing yards. When Jackson Stratton was forced to throw, the Blackshirts made it difficult for him, limiting him to 115 passing yards, 72 of which came off a single play.

While the front line took care of business, John Bullock, Mikai Gbayor and MJ Sherman huddled on Kaleb Johnson at the line of scrimmage, limiting him to just 2.6 yards per carry, his worst average of the season. Johnson’s 72-yard catch-and-run changed the game, and the linebackers are not innocent of their missed tackles on that play, but overall it was a strong day for Bullock and company.

Nebraska’s secondary wasn’t tested particularly hard, but when it did, they kept Iowa’s pass catchers in check. Until Kaleb Johnson turned the game around with a 72-yard catch-and-run and broke several tackles downfield in the fourth quarter to tie the game. The tackling effort on this single play changed the game significantly, but aside from this play, the second team’s tackling was solid. DeShon Singleton, Isaac Gifford and Malcolm Hartzog combined for 14 tackles and three tackles for a loss.

On a bitterly cold evening in Iowa City, Nebraska’s special teams came back down to earth after a few weeks of positive play. Brian Buschini had a few punts below his standard, although the punt protection wasn’t exactly solid. Nebraska allowed a couple of notable returns to Kaden Wetjen, while snap problems once again plagued Nebraska’s field goal unit, causing John Hohl to miss his first field goal attempt since the Purdue game due to a snap, who rolled onto the ground before his attempt. An unfortunate whiff on a punt return by Isaiah Garcia-Castenada led to Iowa getting the ball at Nebraska’s four-yard line and scoring its first points of the day. In a game where margins mattered, two special teams plays made the game a more difficult game than it should have been for the Huskers.