Stats dont win ball games. Key plays do. For Nebraska’s regular season finale, three key plays in the second half and a game winning field goal won the game for the Hawkeyes, 13-10.
Nebraska’s regular season ends at 6-6, eligible for a bowl game for the first time since 2016. Attention now turns to what the bowl game could be for the Huskers, having last been at the 2016 Music City Bowl and last winning the 2015 Foster Farms Bowl.
The first half of the contest was very reminscent of Big Ten football, with ten punts in the first half, nine of them consecutive after the Huskers opening drive 31 field goal from John Hohl. Nebraska’s defense was able to shut down Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson, who was only held to 15 yards in the first half. Dante Dowdell would cap off the half with a 1 yard punch in.
The issues started for Nebraska in their first drive when Nebraska burned the first nine minutes of the half but came up short, with Hohl’s field goal going wide left. The Blackshirts initially forced an Iowa punt after a 6 play, 30 yard drive. The punt return, fielded by Vincent Shavers, was muffed at the 4, and Iowa was confirmed to have the ball after a lengthy video review. Iowa was forced to settle for a field goal after recieving the ball at the Nebraska 4.
Four straight punts ensued, with neither team able to get a lot of momentum. The Huskers would get the ball back with 1:42 left at their own 20. Six plays later, Max Llewellyn would find Dylan Raiola behind the line of scrimmage for a strip sack, and the Huskers regular season ending was Déjà vu from last year.
Overall, Nebraska outgained Iowa (334-164), had more first downs (20-5), and was better on third down conversions (Nebraska 8-17, Iowa 0-10).
