Matt Rhule unpacks third-quarter decision vs. Indiana

A fourth down stared back at Nebraska midway through the third quarter Saturday. Decision time to define the rest of a game that was getting away.

Needing 8 yards from the Indiana 13-yard line, the Huskers could have attempted a 31-yard field goal to cut into a 28-7 deficit that still would have remained at three scores. They opted to follow the analytics — which said to go for it out to fourth-and-11 anywhere in Hoosier territory in that situation — to try for a comeback.

Indiana safety Shawn Asbury jumped the Dylan Raiola pass and brought it back 78 yards, setting up another Hoosiers touchdown and a full-fledged blowout.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said Monday that defensive players were adamant about trying to score and not simply staying respectable. “Screw that, Coach,” players told Rhule in a meeting this week. “Play to win.”

Rhule said the decision had nothing to do with Nebraska’s struggles kicking field goals — reserve kicker John Hohl is 1-for-5 this season and the Huskers haven’t attempted a kick in the last two games.

NU could have run the ball and kept the final margin smaller, Rhule said. The team instead opted to get quarterback Dylan Raiola more reps and let its No. 2 unit compete.

Had Rhule known the deficit would grow as large as it did — 49 points is the second most lopsided Nebraska defeat in the Big Ten era — he said he might have reconsidered.

“Maybe hindsight, just the impact that loss has on the players,” Rhule said. “The visual of it.”