Getty Image / Steven Branscombe
Nebraska fans, stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Cornhuskers had a chance to win their rivalry game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday and get to bowl eligibility, only to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and lose 13-10.
The loss brings Nebraska to 0-5 this year in one-score games. That comes a year after they fired former coach and program legend Scott Frost due to his poor record in one-score games. The hits just keep coming.
This one was especially painful. Two very bad offenses and two very good defenses squared off in a game that surprisingly saw seventeen total points and over 300 total yards of offense in the first half. Don’t worry, though, if you watched and bet the under, the second half was much more to your liking.
Up until the final minute of the game, only three points had been scored in a hilarious second half full of poor offense. But, Nebraska looked to have a chance to win the game when they intercepted Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill with 40 seconds remaining at their own 45.
But, two plays later, Chubba Purdy threw an interception, and after a big run, Iowa had a chip shot field goal, which they made to win.
That leaves Nebraska at 5-7, and will likely miss a bowl game for the seventh straight season. That’s unfathomable from one of the nation’s best programs that gets to play in a weak Big Ten West. But, that’s where that program is right now. They entered November at 5-3, and very much in the race to win the Big Ten West. Only one win was needed for bowl eligibility, and they couldn’t even get that.
And, their fans are not happy.
“New coach, same team. Can’t close out a game. Another loss on the last play of the game. I don’t know if there is a coach that can win again in Nebraska. I will always be a fan but I don’t have much hope,” Jannssen_Jeff said on Twitter.
ATROCIOUS offense play calling!!!!! It’s like they don’t want to win!!!!!! The absolute most complacent, conservative team the last 23 years NO MATTER who the coach is!!!!! It’s mind blowing!!!!! It’s “playing not to lose,” vs “playing to win!” @Omahahn said.
Thankfully, Nebraska football can now focus on winning the offseason, something they’re going to have to do, as the program needs a lot of help.