Nebraska football is on the verge of bowl eligibility.
The Huskers got big plays from all three phases to sail to a 31-14 win over Purdue. The win puts Nebraska at 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in the Big Ten Conference.
Despite being in total control for most of the game, NU started the game off almost as poorly as any team could. The Purdue kickoff went short and Garrett Snodgrass decided to try his had at a return. A few yards later and the ball was on the turf.
Purdue ball.
Fortunately for Husker Faithful, the Blackshirts showed up to Memorial Stadium with a mission. Purdue managed to lose one yard on their four plays and give the ball right back to Nebraska.
After neither team’s offense could get any momentum, Nebraska put together back-to-back touchdown drives. The first was a 15 play, 87-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Heinrich Haarberg to Thomas Fidone. The next was a single play that had Haarberg throw a 73-yard bomb to Jaylen Lloyd.
From there, the Boilermakers never threatened.
Nebraska added a touchdown on a return after blocking a field in the third quarter then a 55-yard field goal from Tristan Alvano in the fourth quarter.
But midway through the fourth, Haarberg took another punishing hit and lost the ball. Three plays later, Purdue got on the board with a touchdown but missed the 2-point conversion.
After a failed onside kick, Jeff Sims went in at quarterback. Sims handed the ball off twice and ran once to get to a fourth and one. On fourth down, Sims again carried the ball, but this time he fumbled. Purdue recovered and returned the ball all the way for a touchdown.
That forced Haarberg back in at quarterback, who led a scoring drive that included five rushes by Emmett Jonson. The final Johnson run on the drive was 28 yards to the end zone.
Haarberg finished with 122 yards and two touchdowns through the air on 6-of-11 passing. He added 22 yards on the ground on 19 attempts, which includes three sacks.
Johnson was the only running back to eclipse 20 yards, going for 76 yards on 13 attempts for the day.
But it was the defense that put together an outstanding day. The Blackshirts had eight tackles for loss, including a sack. They also put together forced a fumble and had a pair of interceptions, both by Tommi Hill.
For the first time since 2012, Nebraska held its opponent below both 100 yards of passing and rushing. Purdue finished with 195 total yards, 99 passing and 96 rushing. NU had 155 yards on the ground and 122 through the air.
Nebraska goes on the road next Saturday for an 11 a.m. kickoff at Michigan State.