‘Hidden yardage stuff will kill you’: Huskers’ ST struggles vs. MSU go beyond key TD return | Football

Nebraska’s special teams meeting room was not a happy place to be on Monday morning.

In addition to giving up a critical, game-tying punt return touchdown to Michigan State’s Jayden Reed with 3 minutes, 47 seconds remaining on Saturday night, NU also surrendered a 41-yard kick return to Reed, netted an average of 28 yards on six other punts that weren’t returned for a touchdown, lost the net punting battle by a total of 190 yards and had a kick return stuffed after a penalty that should have helped.

The punt return score — set up by a wayward Daniel Cerni punt that hooked low and to the left to Reed rather than toward the right sideline — would have been enough on its own, but the laundry list this week was a long one.

“The special teams meeting (Monday morning) was tough, it was rough, but it was honest,” Frost said. “(Special teams coordinator Mike Dawson) did a great job. I think he got their attention. He’s had their attention all year, but I think he really got their attention this morning. I want to see guys respond.”

The punt return, of course, was the biggest play of the night on special teams.

“He shouldn’t have even been a factor in the play,” Frost said of Reed, who was lined up to Nebraska’s left across from receiver Jalen Nailor to the right in a two-returner look. “We’ve got to pay attention to where the ball goes, but people (put two returners back deep) when you have the potential for rugby punts and the punt can go anywhere, to try to get it fielded and not let it roll, but 7-yard punts don’t roll very far and punts that miss their mark by 35 yards, we didn’t have anybody over there.