Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts missed Saturday’s game to be at his son’s wedding.
Good for the AD. Because Memorial Stadium in the second half and in postgame felt more like a funeral.
The Huskers (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) gave fans a few good moments to remember how good they can be, like quick scoring drive in the final few minutes to bring the deficit to five. But at the end of the service, everyone still felt the loss.
“I don’t know what could make this more disappointing, bye week or no bye week,” Nebraska coach Scott Frost said. “We’ve got a good enough team to win these games and we’re not winning them.”
Fresh off a bye week, Nebraska jumped out on Purdue (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) early, bowing up and holding the Boilermakers to a punt then turning that around into a touchdown drive.
The first of what would be four interceptions followed, which Purdue returned for a touchdown. Despite that and other issues, Nebraska still led 17-14 at the half, scoring on three of their four drives that didn’t end with the halftime whistle.
But that’s when the offense would disappear and the defense would get wore down.
Nebraska’s first seven possessions of the second half ended with four punts and three interceptions. The Huskers managed just 48 yards and a single first down.
Purdue, meanwhile, controlled the ball for more than 18 of the of the nearly 32 minutes played to that point. The Boilermakers also had run up 156 yards, scoring a pair of touchdowns.
The Huskers then marched 94 yards in 1:30 to score, but failed on the two-point conversion.
An onside kick, masterfully placed and timed by Connor Culp, went through the hands of Cam Taylor-Britt and was recovered by Purdue.
The Boilermakers ran out the clock to win 28-23, another one score loss for the Frost era.
“We played a really poor second half,” Frost said. “You can’t go minus four in turnovers and beat many people in the Big Ten.”
Less than half of the stadium saw the finish though, as fans had been quiet for most of the second half and were filing to the exits throughout the fourth quarter. The players noticed.
“It is what it is,” senior nickel back JoJo Domann said after the game. “Husker faithful stands by us. Fair weather (fans)—we don’t need you. That’s how its always been; always will be.”
Domann also gave an impassioned plea for fans to keep sticking with this team.
“We can’t be defined by these moments,” Domann said. “Even though we have this emotion attached to the win or loss, we play for Nebraska. I take pride in that.
“Hang with us. We’re doing our best. It’ll turn around eventually, and when it does it’ll be that much sweeter.”
For the second game in a row, an opposing quarterback dissected the Blackshirts. Aidan O’Connell through the ball 45 times, completing 34 for a two touchdowns.
The Boilermakers running game also had one of their best outings of the season. Led by King Doerue with 74 yards, Purdue amassed 131 yards on the ground. The only other team to give up more than 100 yards to the Boilermakers? 1-8 UConn.
Adrian Martinez struggled for much of the game after starting 6-for-9. He finished 14-for-29 for 269 yards, with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Despite the issues, Frost wasn’t looking to put someone else in at quarterback.
“Not really,” Frost said. “In my mind, I did. We didn’t talk about it.”
Frost called the idea of opening up the quarterback conversation “not a story.”
“We’re gonna play the guy that we think gives us the best chance to win. Period,” Frost said. “Right now, its Adrian.”
Omar Manning reeled in four catches for 75 yards, both career highs, adding one touchdown. Eight Huskers caught passes and finished with more than 10 yards receiving.
On the ground, Rahmir Johnson rushed for 52 yards, his fifth straight game of more than 50 yards rushing. Johnson also added a 12 yard touchdown reception.
Leading the backfield in rushing, though, was Jacquez Yant. The freshman ran the ball six times for 60 yards.
Getting his first action of the year, Chase Contreraz was perfect on the day with two extra-point attempts and a 33-yard field goal.
Theoretically, Nebraska could still make a bowl game. That would mean winning out against No. 5 Ohio State, at Wisconsin, and No. 9 Iowa. Frost is currently 0-3 against each of those teams while in Lincoln.
The Huskers host tOSU next week in a game that will have its kickoff time announced following the rest of the Big Ten’s games this Saturday.
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