Nebraska (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) coach Scott Frost says the program is going to “pop”.
“We’re doing too many good things right,” Frost said. “We’re putting ourselves in position to win too many games and just not making a play or catching a break.”
The team had a chance to pop again Saturday, hosting No. 5 Ohio State (8-1, 6-0 Big Ten). But just like every game against non-bottom dweller Power Five teams this season, the Huskers kept the game close to the end only to walk out with a 26-17 loss, ending the last hopes for the first bowl game of the Frost era.
“In my fourth year here and the past three years we haven’t made postseason play as well,” said Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez. “It hurts. There’s tons of guys sacrificing. The commitment we put into the this, the hard work.
“It’s not easy swallowing that result.”
The same issues that have plagued Nebraska this season reared their ugly head again: a dynamic offense in spurts that can’t score and inept special teams play.
William Przystup averaged 43.1 yards a punt on the day, including a 58 yarder. But he also had a 13 yard shank, setting up Ohio State in plus territory.
The Buckeyes took advantage of the short field and scored a touchdown.
Through three quarters, the Huskers had just 34 rushing yards. That, along with 232 passing yards equated to 17 points. But the fourth quarter would see just 16 yards through the air and 79 rushing yards, adding up to zero points.
Why the low number of points? An inability to score on special teams or convert third downs.
Chase Contrarez, who made his Husker debut a week ago making his only field goal attempt and both extra points, struggled Saturday. He made a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter, but missed a 45-yarder in the first and a 31-yarder in the fourth.
Nebraska place kickers for the season are 9-for-18 on field goals.
Until the fourth quarter, Nebraska didn’t convert a third down. They would get two in the final frame, but ended the day 2-for-13.
Not a recipe for success.
But with all of the that, Nebraska was in the game, once again because of the defense.
“We got caught in the act of being ourselves,” said Garrett Nelson. “That’s what we do. That’s what we practice everyday. We understand our jobs.
“I love playing with those guys.”
The sophomore linebacker notched a forced fumble that almost gave Nebraska a chance at the win late in the fourth. The rest of his unit helped to hold Ohio State, averaging more than 47 points a game, to their lowest scoring output of the season.
The last team to hold Ohio State to under 30 points? Alabama in last year’s national championship game. The last regular-season game where the Buckeyes scored under 30? Nov. 2019 against No. 9 Penn State.
JoJo Domann played his way up some draft boards with his performance. He was in on nine tackles, added two pass breakups, an interception, and a quarterback hurry.
“Domann has locked himself into be drafted at this point,” said Brian Johannes on Twitter, an analyst for NFL draft analysis site The Huddle Report. “But where he gets drafted will be based on his Combine/Pro Day times.”
Also playing well for the defense were Quinton Newson and Luke Reimer, each finishing with 10 tackles. Myles Farmer added seven tackles and an interception.
All in all, the bend but don’t break Blackshirts did enough to win a football game again, even with being on the field 19 more plays and 7:44 more than their counterparts from Ohio State.
Some of the offensive woes can be attributed to the lack of mobility by Martinez. Early in the game he was hesitant to take off with the ball in the same way he would do late in the game. Frost finally confirmed what was clear to everyone who had watched the last two games: Martinez is hurt.
“Adrian’s been playing with a broken jaw and a high ankle sprain,” Frost said. “He’s shown a lot of grit and toughness. Those (injuries) are obviously gonna make you a little bit different player.”
Martinez finished with 51 yards and a touchdown on the ground and 248 through the air, going 16-for-31 passing with one touchdown and an interception. He was sacked five times.
Even with the fourth-year starter banged up, Frost does not believe a change at quarterback would help the offense.
“You’re crazy if you don’t think I’m playing the guy that gives us the best chance to win the football game,” Frost said.
Receiver Samori Toure was the biggest benefactor of Nebraska throwing the ball more than average. The transfer caught four passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. This is his fourth game of the season going over the 100 yard mark, an achievement matched by seven other Huskers.
The nine point loss is the largest margin of defeat for the Huskers this season, who have outscored conference opponents 190-176. That score differential has only resulted in a single win.
The Huskers have plenty left to play for, both this season and historically.
“We’re trying to go get those trophies across the field from Wisconsin and Iowa,” said junior defensive back Cam Taylor-Britt.
Unless Nebraska wins out, this will be the worst conference record since 2007 (2-6 Big 12). Unless Nebraska notches at least one more win, this will arguably be the worst season for NU since the Bill Jennings debut season in 1957 (1-9).
The Huskers are off next week, but return to action Nov. 20 at Wisconsin. They’ll close the season at home against Iowa on Black Friday.
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