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Nebraska was ready to make a real leap to becoming a contender, but failed once again in the end

Nebraska was ready to make a real leap to becoming a contender, but failed once again in the end
Posted on | Posted on Jasper

LINCOLN, Nebraska – The pain lives.

Neither a freshman quarterback phenom, nor a veteran-led defense, nor a sense of renewal under second-year coach Matt Rhule, nor even the historic atmosphere created by the 400th consecutive sold-out Memorial Stadium crowd could lead Nebraska to victory in its Big Ten opener on Friday night.

Illinois defeated the Huskers 31-24 in overtime. For Nebraska, the game ended disastrously and dishearteningly, as the Illini struck twice in overtime and sacked quarterback Dylan Raiola three times.

Raiola, the new starter in his fourth game, carried the Huskers for much of Friday night, throwing for 297 yards and three touchdowns. But on fourth-and-29 in overtime, Raiola hit the turf hard as Illinois linebacker Dylan Rosiek put the final nail in this Nebraska loss.

“We had to make one more play in the fourth quarter,” Rhule said. “I know you’ve heard that a lot. But that’s where we are.”

Nebraska was 40 yards short of a first down in overtime. It was outgained 79 yards to 1 in the fourth quarter. Illinois put its physicality on the Huskers after halftime. Nebraska’s kicking game slacked. The Huskers’ defensive intensity dropped as the evening went on.

Nebraska looked tired.

It was assumed that this team had left much of that behind.

An opportunity presented itself on Friday. With a captive national audience on Fox and Rhule’s rebuild seemingly in full swing at a third school in the last decade, Nebraska missed the chance to announce its return as a contender.

So the wait continues. Nebraska (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) has yet to score in overtime since eight games in 2014. The team has yet to beat an AP-ranked team since 2016, a streak of 25 straight losses.

The No. 24 Illini seemingly offered No. 22 Nebraska the right opponent at the right time to make a jump, but before the Huskers could challenge Ohio State or USC, they had to overcome that hurdle.

It seemed manageable.

At the end?

“It felt like it normally feels,” said junior defensive back Marques Buford.

As 86,936 fans left Memorial Stadium, they felt the same sadness that has filled the stadium repeatedly during seven consecutive losing seasons. The fans played a major role in what was supposed to be a night of celebration on Friday.

Rhule said this week that he and the Huskers felt obliged to “do our part.”

Well, the fans were back, like they have been for 62 years. The drones and light show at the start of the fourth quarter have never looked better.

And the Huskers had no chance. The offensive line collapsed in overtime.

That’s hard, yes.

Nebraska played without left tackle Turner Corcoran, who was injured in the first quarter and did not return. Redshirt freshman Gunnar Gottula took his place and jumped early before the first OT snap, beginning the Huskers’ final retreat.

Their best cornerback, Tommi Hill, went down in the first half. Newcomer Ceyair Wright took Hill’s place and played a role in Nebraska’s weak coverage that allowed Illinois – the team converted 40 percent of its third attempts through three games – to convert 9 of 16 third- and fourth-down opportunities.

The defense allowed Luke Altmyer to complete 21 of 27 passes for 215 yards with four touchdowns. He threw a 6-yard touchdown to 335-pound offensive lineman Brandon Henderson on a fourth-and-2 rollout in the fourth quarter. Henderson reported to the referees several times as an eligible receiver before making the catch. With ten minutes left in regulation, the score was 24-24.

The Huskers can’t let him run free. Someone on defense didn’t do their job. Harsh? That’s true. That happened.

“It hurts because we beat ourselves,” said senior defensive end Ty Robinson.

During three Illinois drives that scored a total of 17 points, Nebraska’s defenders committed four 15-yard penalties – facemasks by Robinson and Buford, a hand-in-the-face foul on defensive lineman Vincent Jackson and unnecessary roughness on linebacker MJ Sherman.

Just as bad was the failure of the special teams. Nebraska allowed a 37-yard punt return that set up a touchdown for Illinois in the third quarter. Brian Buschini kicked the ball down the field, away from his coverage.

That can’t happen.

And when the defense finally came out on top in the fourth quarter, mistakes on offense and in the kicking game proved costly. The complementary style of football that had served Nebraska well and signaled a program on the right path failed the Huskers in their time of need against Illinois.

Case in point: After Wright and linebacker Mikai Gbayor stripped Altmyer of his ball and recovered his fumble at the Nebraska 38-yard line with eight minutes left in an even game, Raiola drove the Huskers to the Illinois 21-yard line.

On third downs against a packed penalty box, Luke Lindenmeyer was able to break free behind the Illinois defense. Raiola spotted him, but his throw sailed just past the arms of the diving tight end.

“I missed the shot,” said Raiola, who made 24 of 35 shots and led a masterful two-minute drill at the end of the first half. “I’m going to take this game on my shoulders. I have to be better. I have to get better for our team and give us a chance to win.”

Substitute kicker John Hohl then missed the left goal from 39 yards, an attempt that would have given Nebraska the lead with three minutes left. Perhaps a successful kick would have prevented overtime. Perhaps it would have won the game in the end.

Maybe it was that close. But after a terrible overtime, it didn’t feel like Nebraska was close anymore.

Nothing is certain, as Nebraska travels to Purdue next week, then hosts Rutgers at home and Indiana on the road before a huge final stretch.

“I know we can overcome adversity,” said senior wide receiver Isaiah Neyor. “Tough loss, but I believe in the guys we’ll forget.”

Neyor, a transfer from Texas, caught two touchdown passes.

Jahmal Banks, who came over from Wake Forest, caught eight passes for 94 yards. Dante Dowdell, who came over from Oregon, was the Huskers’ leading rusher with 72 yards. The future of Raiola, the former five-star talent, looks as bright as it did before Friday.

Before the momentum turned against him, Raiola was able to read Illinois’ defense well and pick it apart at times.

“We’re not a bad football team,” Rhule said.

But despite the promise and hope of a long offseason and three early wins, they are still not a winning football team.

(Photo of Illinois offensive lineman Brandon Henderson scoring as an eligible receiver against Nebraska: Steven Branscombe / Getty Images)

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