Instant Takes: No. 21 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Nebraska (3-1) lost its first game of the season and fell to No. 21 Michigan 30-27, squandering a big opportunity. The Huskers have lost 28 straight games to AP top-25 ranking opponents.
A 52-yard hail mary touchdown by Jacory Barney Jr. ended a wild first half in a 17-17 tie. The Huskers did not find the endzone again until 1:34 remaining in the game.
Quarterback Dylan Raiola finished 30-of-41 for 308 passing yards. Barney led NU with six catches for 120 receiving yards, with 96 in the first half. Linebacker Javin Wright paced the defense with 10 tackles and one TFL. Elijah Jeudy forced a fumble, which DeShon Singleton recovered.
Here are three instant takes from Matt Rhule’s squad’s immensely disappointing loss.
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Michigan rushing defense blows up Husker offense
Michigan’s rushing attack was lethal against the Huskers. The Wolverines recorded seven sacks for a loss of 49 yards and 10 total tackles for loss.
Gunnar Gottula spent the majority of the game at left tackle but continued to struggle. NU put Elijah Pritchett in at LT, but he was pulled after a false start in the first quarter. On the other end, right tackle Teddy Prochazka had several costly mistakes.
To combat his lack of time in the pocket, Raiola needed to get the ball out quicker. His line was not giving him much time. Yet he held onto the ball too long too often. When he was getting the ball out fast, the offense was typically rolling.
Nebraska had three drives inside the 25-yard line killed due to sacks.
Wolverine explosive plays, Husker missed tackles are the difference
Michigan had three scoring drives of two plays or fewer. Nebraska gave up three runs of over 35 yards and 11 plays of over 10 yards.
QB Bryce Underwood broke free for a 37-yard scramble for U of M’s first touchdown. Justice Haynes went untouched on a 75-yard touchdown to go up 17-10. Both plays were the first of the drive. Jordan Marshall scored a 54-yard touchdown on the second play of a third-quarter drive to take a 30-20 lead.
The Huskers’ defense struggled to tackle. Michigan slipped many tackles, making moves in space or bouncing off defenders.
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The Wolverines averaged 8.7 yards per carry with three rushing touchdowns. They had 286 rushing yards and 391 total yards.
Red zone offense needs to be much better
Nebraska’s red-zone offense is a problem. The Huskers went 3-of-5 inside the 25-yard line. They scored two field goals and one touchdown inside the 25. Their first red-zone TD was not scored until under two minutes left in the game.
NU’s first-half touchdown was a 26-yard catch from Barney to tie the game 10-10 with two minutes left. Barney captured a 52-yard Hail Mary pass to tie the game 17-17 at halftime.
Four plays of over 10 yards helped the Huskers to the red zone on the first drive of the game. They could not convert a 4th-and-one after hitting 2nd-and-three. They had an opportunity to take an early lead and set the tone. They didn’t set a positive tone in the red zone.
The Huskers took three trips inside the 25-yard line and came away with three points in the first quarter. Kyle Cunanan missed a 46-yard field goal wide right and made a 39-yarder after Raiola was sacked for a loss of seven in the red-zone.
Nebraska’s first trip to the red zone in the third quarter ended with a 38-yard field goal by Cunanan. They came away with 13 points from five drives inside the 25.
The Huskers need to be better in the red zone if they want to compete in the Big Ten.
