Sports

Nebraska Football Is Allergic To Winning, Finds Atrocious Way To Lose Again

#Nebraska Cornhuskers
by
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule

Getty Image / Steven Branscombe


Nebraska’s inability to win close games under Scott Frost had become a meme. With a chance to shed that reputation in their season-opener against Minnesota on Thursday, the Cornhuskers instead found another way to lose.

Coming into this season, the team was a remarkable 2-13 over the 2021–22 seasons in games decided by one score or less. Statistically, that doesn’t even make sense, as it’s a few standard deviations worse than how a computer model would say they would do those games.

But, sequences like the end of the first half is how teams continuously lose close games.

After Nebraska impressively drove down the field in the two-minute drill, down 3-0 late in the 2nd quarter, they shot themselves in the foot. This play was ruled short of the goal line on the field, and replay dubiously let the call stand.

The Huskers had a false start, moving them back and forcing them to use a timeout, and then this happened. It was one of quarterback Jeff Sims’ three interceptions.

After a Nebraska touchdown on a broken play to start the second half and a field goal early in the 4th quarter, Nebraska led by seven.

And, Nebraska was executing in the four-minute offense to try to waste time with five minutes left in the 4th quarter as they looked to put the game on ice. Then, disaster struck.

At this point, I think everyone knew how the story would end. Despite Minnesota quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis’s best efforts, Nebraska dropped what would’ve been a huge interception in the end zone before this insane catch by Daniel Jackson helped tie the game at 10, after the extra point.

One of the best catches you’ll see all year on a truly terribly thrown ball.

Still, Nebraska had a chance to drive for the win, and got the ball to midfield. But, disaster struck in a major way.

Jeff Sims, what in the world?

Naturally, Minnesota made a game-winning field goal to sink Matt Rhule and Nebraska in his first game in charge of the program.

If you’re a Nebraska fan, does it get any easier to continually lose like this? Will you be able to go into work tomorrow? Sports are the worst.