Jaylen Lloyd takes blame for interception, credits defender

The referees determined Marshall had possession of the ball — the first interception of Raiola’s young college career. The play was reviewed and confirmed. A full Memorial Stadium disagreed with the call, but Lloyd thought it was correct.

“I should have did a better job going up for the ball,” Lloyd said. “I had my hands low. I should have went up for the ball with my hands high. I do think he got an interception. It was a great job by him.”

Nebraska allowed three points on Saturday, but the details left the Blackshirts unsatisfied with their performance.

Northern Iowa entered NU territory on the first series of the game and ended up with a field goal. The Panthers had six drives that lasted at least four minutes and didn’t have a three-and-out until the fourth quarter. Tackling was inconsistent against UNI’s physical rushing attack, especially in the first half.

Compared to the swarming, dominating performance Nebraska delivered a week earlier against Colorado, it was a slight step back, a good night from a unit that wants to be great.

“Tonight wasn’t really our standard,” lineman Ty Robinson said. “Us older guys and a lot of us on the defense were still pissed going into halftime just with our performance.” 

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule wasn’t sure how to pronounce Aidan Flege’s name on Thursday, but, by Saturday, the Lincoln Southeast graduate was NU’s starting snapper.

The Iowa Western transfer had been in a weeklong competition with Camden Witucki for the job after Nebraska’s wobbly snaps in a 28-10 win over Colorado.

Flege arrived at NU this spring, Rhule said at his Thursday press conference, as a “normal student,” although he had been in contact this summer with Husker special teams coordinator Ed Foley about potentially joining the team.

“We brought him to camp with two weeks (left),” Rhule said.

While Rhule said Husker kicker Tristan Alvano “was letting the snaps affect you too much” in the Colorado game, Alvano also “almost had to stop” to attempt one of his field goals.

“So we opened up that competition this week,” Rhule said.

— Sam McKewon, Omaha World-Herald