LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska muscled past Rutgers 14-7 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, failing to fulfill a hope that Week 6 would deliver the most clear answers yet about the Huskers — who they are and where this season is headed.
Was it full speed ahead into the bye week before a second half for Nebraska stocked with opportunities to reach territory undiscovered over the past eight seasons? Or would this October line up as a slog, the precursor for another fight deep into November to achieve bowl eligibility?
This windy afternoon in Lincoln, as the temperature soared to 97 degrees at kickoff, was set to serve as a crossroads. It was a test of the Huskers’ readiness to clear an obstacle that has tripped them for too long.
Nebraska passed the test, building a two-touchdown halftime lead. It won despite an ugly offensive performance and more troubling special teams play. Rutgers blocked a pair of Brian Buschini punts.
Still, there’s much left to learn about Nebraska, which struggled mightily on offense and allowed Rutgers to stick around until the final minute. A defensive stand by the Blackshirts ended it deep in Rutgers territory with less than 77 seconds to play.
Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola endured his most difficult day for Nebraska, completing 13 of 27 passes for 134 yards and one interception.
Here’s what we learned on Saturday:
• Go ahead and call it the Buschini Game. Nebraska’s senior punter could have called it quits for the day after he lay on the turf injured in the aftermath of his first punt. It traveled 10 yards after he took a hard hit.
But back Buschini came. Another punt was blocked.
He walked with a pronounced limp. True freshman punter Kamdyn Koch warmed up on the sideline. Buschini wouldn’t leave. With the Nebraska offense struggling to gain its footing early in the fourth quarter, the Huskers dialed up a fake punt on fourth-and-8 from their 33. Buschini lofted a pretty ball to Isaiah Neyor for a gain of 30 yards.
His 69-yard punt after Nebraska’s three-and-out late in the game pinned Rutgers at its 11.
An incredible day for Buschini.
• Coach Matt Rhule has pushed back recently against narratives spun in the media and in public about these Huskers.
There’s a narrative that Nebraska can’t win close contests. It is 2-6 in one-score games under Rhule and has won just nine of 40 games decided by eight points or fewer since the start of the 2018 season. The Huskers played a close game last week at Purdue, Rhule said, taking a 7-3 lead into the fourth quarter before scoring 21 consecutive points to put it away.
Nebraska promotes narratives, too, through social media, with its “Chasing 3” documentary series and in Rhule’s commentary. Since early in the offseason this year, a theme exists about the ferocity with which Nebraska trains. It strives to practice as hard as any team nationally, Rhule said, to build a level of physicality that stacks it up well in the Big Ten.
In Nebraska’s Big Ten opener two weeks ago, Illinois controlled the line of scrimmage in the decisive second half.
Saturday against Rutgers, the Huskers fared better at the point of attack. They controlled the line of scrimmage at times on offense with a ground game that gained 86 of its 97 yards before halftime. And the defense was borderline dominant. In the second half, Nebraska stopped five plays from inside the 2-yard line after the second Rutgers punt block.
Consider it a statement performance in the trenches for Nebraska on a day when former defensive great Ndamukong Suh led the Huskers out of the tunnel.
• Nebraska needed to be 5-1 at this point to remain on track. It is. The Huskers are 2-1 in Big Ten play and one win from bowl eligibility. The overtime loss against Illinois removed much of the Huskers’ margin for error, especially with an upstart Indiana up next before a visit to No. 3 Ohio State. The Hoosiers improved to 6-0 on Saturday with a 41-24 win at Northwestern. IU, ranked No. 23, will be a top-20 team when Nebraska visits Bloomington on Oct. 19.
Nebraska has lost 25 consecutive games, dating to 2016, against ranked opponents, a streak that promotes another pesky narrative. Next up are two chances to beat a ranked team on the road before Nebraska returns to Memorial Stadium on Nov. 2 against UCLA.
• These Huskers are better than Rhule’s first team at Nebraska. Progress is hard to chart, though, without the victories to prove it.
Nebraska entered November 5-3 a year ago before it lost three games by three points apiece and another in overtime to finish 5-7. The November schedule is more difficult this year as the Huskers swap Michigan State and Maryland for UCLA and USC.
The win Saturday ensured an opportunity for some level of calm in the bye week ahead at Nebraska and for momentum to build before consecutive road trips.
• Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” featured Greg Sharpe, Nebraska’s radio play-by-play voice, in a moving piece by Tom Rinaldi on Saturday morning. Sharpe is battling pancreatic cancer. He has called Nebraska games since 2008.
Sharpe revealed his diagnosis in April and took time off in the spring and summer to receive treatment. He set a goal to return to the booth in August for the Nebraska season opener. Sharpe made it. He missed the Sept. 20 Illinois game but has called the remainder of the Huskers’ games this season.
“My next goal is going to be to try to make it to my daughter’s wedding in February,” Sharpe said in the TV piece. “I don’t know if I’ll make it, but I’m sure going to give it a go.”
Sharpe’s battle is inspiring. It provides a dose of perspective this fall.
Fans at Purdue on Sept. 28 paid tribute to Sharpe. Nebraska students displayed a #SharpeStrong banner in the southeast corner of Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Kudos to Fox and Rinaldi for capturing the essence of Sharpe’s impact.
(Top photo of Dylan Raiola (15): Dylan Widger / Imagn Images)
