HUSKERS Recap – “The 7th Best Game in Lincoln This Week”: Iowa 40 NEBRASKA 16

I begin this post-game wrap-up with 9:37 left and the Huskers trailing 40-16. Should the greatest rally in Huskers history ensue, I will leave this intro up here, adjust accordingly and fully confess to saying it really didn’t look that good.

Sidebar: As I made a pit stop before diving into this recap, I overheard someone laughing as they commented today’s game was the 7th best Memorial Stadium this week following an always exciting (except for Class A) state football tournament. Many times, I struggle for an article title after a bad loss. Not today.

But with a 40-16 deficit, I want to point out a couple of interesting stats. One was that the Huskers ran for 189 yards on Iowa in the first half with 177 of those belonging to Emmett Johnson who finished with his first game over 200, something I hope the Doak Walker folks notice when discussing if next years finalists should be selected before regular season is even complete.

Also, it should be noted that having a running back put up a line of 29 c-217 yds and scoring the Huskers only touchdown while adding 22 yards receiving for 239 total yards while losing and losing badly is….unusual The Huskers may have been blown out 40-16 (the game has now ended) but Emmett Johnson did not lose a thing in anyone’s eyes.

But the defining stats were these:

1st Quarter: Points – Nebraska 10 Iowa 10. Total Yards – Nebraska 179 Iowa 612nd through 4th Quarters: Nebraska 6 Iowa 30. Total Yards – Nebraska 121 Iowa 318

The turning point appeared to happen in a stretch when the score was 7-3 Huskers after each team’s first two drives. Nebraska’s next four resulted in 3 field goals and a punt. Iowa’s?

Three touchdowns and punt. Iowa 24 Nebraska 16.

We could break it down to the minutiae but everyone watched the game. Beyond Emmett, there was very little going on offensively. T.J. Lateef was completely ineffective finishing 9-24 for 69 yards (0 TD’s or picks) and 2 yards on 1 carry. It was revealed he suffered a slight hamstring injury in the 1st quarter, but when exactly that happened, I couldn’t say as he never seemed comfortable. The only complaint I had regarding him, though, was what exactly he was still doing in there in the 4th quarter.

There was nothing to be accomplished by leaving him in and, as someone who spent a couple summer with hamstring issues, I can tell you that’s an injury which can absolutely go from pull to tear if pressed. Was potentially removing a further injured Lateef from a bowl game and the development those practices entail worth trying to cut the 40-16 lead? He appeared to escape further damage, but I leave my question on the table.

Someone whose stock appeared to keep rising in the face of those wanting him gone is Donovan Raiola and his offensive line. Their run blocking continued to shine despite the points production. The case for it? How about the Huskers first 200-yard rusher in over 11 years. (Ameer Abdullah’s 207 on 9/27/14 vs. Illinois)

Sacks allowed? Zero. With a hobbled quarterback.

Special teams was basically a wash. Jacory Barney and Kaden Wetjen each had one long return. And both had yeets as Barney muffed a previous punt return then picked it up and fumbled (after being targeted in the head to crickets from the foul swine wearing the stripes of the B1G) for what turned into an Iowa safety. Wetjen earlier froze as a high kickoff was allowed to hit the ground which the Huskers recovered and turned into one of their field goals.

Defense was the big question mark as they allowed Iowa’s non-threatening offense to score on 6 of 8 drives, 5 of them for touchdowns. The biggest surprise was the Hawkeyes only managed 379 yards – all their TD’s scored started from distances of 50 yards or more. Wetjen’s only long return for a short field resulted only in a field goal.

The vaunted pass defense which shut down USC, the nation’s top pass offense at the time, allowed 166 yards passing to Mark Gronowski, 30 over his paltry per game average, as he repeatedly found wide open receivers to keep drives alive when Husker pass rush failed to put any pressure on him – Nebraska also goose-egged the sack stat.

Matt Rhule immediately described the result as “unacceptable” post-game and acknowledged fans have every right to be upset, especially after signing the extension and then finishing the regular season with two blowouts. After watching those games, it probably needs to be admitted by some that Dylan Raiola was missed more than anyone wants to admit. The baseless transfer rumors fueled by CBS’ “sources” stirred things up despite Raiola being completely involved in meetings, practices and game planning. Will he get some calls? Of course. But do CBS – and all of the clickbait hunters who re-posted and sprinkled gas on the fire – have anymore idea than you or I? No.

But that doesn’t change the fact Rhule, Holgorsen and Butler will face criticism over a bowl season which now appears to be landing in Las Vegas. Utah and Texas have been mentioned as opponents – but they still have games to play, so who knows?

Last year’s regular season ended with many key departures to the portal, most of whom followed Tony White out the door, if not all the way to Florida St. after he moved on. If anything like that happens again, fans will have more questions.

And they currently have plenty.