Instant Takes: Iowa 13, Nebraska 10
Nebraska’s season comes to an end after Iowa won on a last-second field goal to win 13-10. The Huskers finish the 2023 season 5-7. Iowa is heading to the Big Ten Championship as the Big Ten West champs.
Here are three instant takes from the game:
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Nebraska QB turnover problems largely define season
You feared Nebraska’s season would be defined by the Huskers quarterbacks’ turnover problems.
Well, it’s hard to say otherwise now.
Chubba Purdy’s interception in the final minute doomed Nebraska in its 13-10 loss to Iowa on Saturday.
Nebraska played three quarterbacks this season. All three struggled mightily in the turnover category.
In this case, Nebraska’s turnover problem caused it a bowl berth. It was a berth within its grasp right up until Purdy gunned a pass over the middle that Iowa linebacker Ethan Hurkett picked off and returned to Nebraska’s 37.
Leshon Williams broke free for a 22-yard run on the next play, and the Hakweyes’ 38-yard field goal sailed (barely) through the uprights.
Purdy will learn from this game. But it’s a terribly hard lesson for him and everyone else invovled.
-Steven Sipple
Nebraska’s defense bent, then broke when it mattered the most
There was a point in the second quarter where Iowa was getting everything it wanted against Nebraska’s defense. The Hawkeyes got big runs up the middle, timely third-down conversions, and a hefty advantage in time of possession.
But outside of one first-quarter drive, the Blackshirts bowed up in the red zone. Two blocked field goals helped their cause, but NU’s defense once again kept the game within reach as its offense found its footing. Iowa went three-and-out on its first four possessions of the second half and threw a pick to Tommi Hill on its fifth drive.
But after Purdy’s killer interception in the final seconds at midfield, Leshon Williams broke a 22-yard run that set up the game-winning field goal. Williams’ run was more yards than Iowa had gained the entire fourth courter to that point.
Still, the Blackshirts have been the program’s backbone all season. While it didn’t result in nearly enough victories, NU had a chance almost every week because of its defense, with Friday’s finale included.
-Robin Washut
Nebraska finishes November with an 0-4 record
This game played out exactly how everyone thought it would. It was low scoring, as points and yards were at a premium.
It was going to come down to field position and getting off the field on third downs. Iowa controlled the first half, but two blocked field goals by Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher kept the game at 10-7 instead of 16-7
That allowed the Huskers to stay in the game and the Blackshirt defense finally found its step.
In the end though, it was Iowa’s defense that came up with the big play when it mattered. The Hawkeyes picked off Purdy in the final 20 seconds of the game to set up a game-winning field goal to end the Huskers season at 5-7.
Yes, there’s an outside chance the Huskers could make a bowl with a 5-7 record, but for all intensive purposes the season is over. NU closes out the month of November 0-4 with its fourth straight one-score loss. It’s going to be another long winter in Nebraska.
-Sean Callahan
