Instant Takes: Nebraska 14 - Rutgers 7
Nebraska (5-1, 2-1) handed Rutgers (4-1, 1-1) its first loss of the season with a 14-7 victory in Lincoln at Memorial Stadium.
The Huskers battled past more special team woes and their offense stalled out in the second half. NU’s defense changed the game with two takeaways and nine tackles for loss.
Nebraska is one win away from their first bowl game since 2016.
Here are three instant takes from the game:
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Ed Foley’s seat is getting warmer
The Huskers’ special teams had two blocked punts against Rutgers after two blocked field goals vs. Purdue. Nebraska special teams coordinator Ed Foley‘s job is in danger.
On the first punt, the dam broke, and Flip Dixon hammered NU punter Brian Buschini. The punt was tipped and traveled just 10 yards. Buschini lay on the field face down for a while before getting up. For the rest of the game, he jogged tenderly on and off the field after punts.
Rutgers blocked another punt in the third quarter. Nebraska lined up with two in the shield and an extra player on the line. Jamier Wright-Collins slipped through and blocked the punt on the side short of a man.
Foley and Head Coach Matt Rhule are desperately searching for answers on why the punting and field goal teams are disastrous.
There were a couple of redeeming moments. Rather than punting, Buschini threw a dime to Jaylen Lloyd for a 30-yard pickup in the third. Outside of the two blocked punts, Buschini was great, especially for someone sore. He had five punts for an average of 50.2 yards per punt. Buschini rocketed a 69-yarder in the fourth quarter.
Huskers win late downs
Nebraska’s third and fourth downs were the difference between winning and losing. Both the offense and defense made huge plays on late downs.
The Huskers converted 7-of-19 third down attempts and 3-for-3 on fourth downs. The Blackshirts allowed two third-down conversions out of 14. Rutgers was 2-for-6 on fourth down.
On offense, Nebraska’s early downs set them up for short third and fourth downs. NU brought in offensive lineman Micah Mazzccua for roughly half a dozen third and fourth downs. The Huskers converted each down.
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The Husker offense went 5-for-10 on third down in the first half. They struggled in the second half, converting 2-of-9 third downs.
The Blackshirts had three sacks and six tackles for loss in the second half. Those plays shut down drives and tanked Rutgers’ late-down conversion numbers.
Blackshirts bail out Husker special teams, offense
Once again, Nebraska’s defense had the back of its other two phases.
The Husker’s special teams had two blocked punts and a banged-up punter. NU’s offense and quarterback, Dylan Raiola, struggled for most of the game. They needed Buschini to punt eight times to bail them out.
Nebraska had 55 offensive yards in the second half after 206 in the first. Raiola played arguably his worst game as a Husker. He finished going 13-for-27 with 134 passing yards. The freshman made a horrible choice in the second quarter, which resulted in an interception.
Luckily for NU, their defense earned two interceptions. Marques Buford Jr. earned a pick on the drive after Raiola’s giveaway. Ceyair Wright came up with another interception on Rutger’s next drive.
The defense suffocated Rutgers’ rushing attack. After averaging 237.8 rushing yards per game over their first four games, the Scarlet Knights had 78 rushing yards vs. Nebraska. Nebraska shut down 2023 Big Ten Second Team running back Kyle Monangai after the first quarter. After 64 yards in the first quarter, Monangai finished with 78 rushing yards on 19 carries.
With the Huskers’ offense and special teams struggling, Tony White’s defense came up big-time and secured another win.
