Have you seen this one before? The classic where Nebraska football snatches defeat from the jaws of victory in the closing seconds?
No. 20 Iowa sent NU into the offseason with a field goal in the final seconds to take the game 13-10. Nebraska finishes the first season of the Matt Rhule era at 5-7 and without bowl eligibility for a seventh-consecutive season.
In the final game for either team in Big Ten West play for divisions are eliminated in 2024, Nebraska and Iowa played exactly the kind of game fans of the division had come to expect. The first three possessions ended in punts, with the final one seeing Nebraska fumble on the return.
Iowa turned that extra possession and short field into a field goal attempt, but it was blocked by Ty Robinson. Another field goal attempt later in the half would be blocked by Nash Hutmacher.
But between those, the Hawkeyes added 10 points. Nebraska answered with a Chubba Purdy to Jaylen Lloyd 66 yard touchdown.
After halftime, Iowa did not threaten six possessions, with only one of those lasting more than three plays. The Huskers notched a pair of ten play drives, both ending with field goals: a 44 yard make and a 44 yard miss.
But winning time has not been Nebraska’s friend for several seasons.
The Hawkeyes had the ball with 55 seconds left in the game and the score still tied 10-10. Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill was picked off by Husker defensive back Tommi Hill. With a holding penalty on the return, Nebraska took over at its own 45 with 31 seconds to play and one timeout.
Purdy scrambled for three yards on first down. Before a delay of game penalty could get called, Rhule had to burn his final timeout.
Then Purdy stared down Malachai Coleman down the middle but did not see the Hawkeye sitting in coverage several yards in the way. The interception was returned to the Nebraska 37.
On first down, Iowa running back Leshon Williams ripped off a 22 yard run. Hill kneeled on the ball in the center of the field to set up the field goal.
Senior transfer Marshall Meeder, in his first field goal attempt of the season, gave the Hawkeyes the win and the Heroes Trophy.
Nebraska finished with 264 yards of offense, edging Iowa’s 257. But the distribution of those yards was something not typical for a Husker game in 2023 game.
The Hawkeyes rushed for 163 yards and held NU to just 75. Iowa only threw for 94 yards, with Hill going 11-for-28.
Purdy notched 15-of-28 passing for 189 yards. He completed passes to nine receivers, with Billy Kemp reeling in a game-high four receptions.
Nebraska now heads into the offseason amidst the longest bowl drought for the program since missing seven straight from 1955 through 1961.
Nebraska Postgame Notes
- With the Iowa win, the Nebraska lead in the series is now 30-21-3, including 15-8-1 in Lincoln. The Hawkeyes lead 9-4 since 2011, and Iowa has won six straight games in Lincoln.
- Freshman receiver Jaylen Lloyd had a 66-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. It marked Lloyd’s third TD catch of at least 58 yards this season. He joins Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. as the only Big Ten players with three catches of at least 50 yards this season.
- Lloyd caught a touchdown pass in consecutive weeks, marking the first Husker true freshman with a touchdown catches in consecutive games since tight end Matt Herian in 2002.
- The 66-yard touchdown pass was the longest play against Iowa in 2023.
- Defensive end Ty Robinson and nose tackle Nash Hutmacher each blocked a field goal in the first half, marking the first block FG of their careers for both players. It marks the first time Nebraska has blocked two field goals in a game since a 7-6 win over Pitt on Sept. 17, 2005 (Zach Potter, Adam Ickes).
- Nebraska had a total of four blocked kicks this season, including three field goals (Elijah Jeudy vs. Purdue) and one blocked punt (Blaise Gunnerson at Illinois).
- Quarterback Chubba Purdy made his second consecutive start, giving Nebraska three quarterbacks with multiple starts in 2023. This marks the first time in at least 50 years Nebraska has had three quarterbacks make multiple starts in the same season.
- Linebacker Luke Reimer had a season-high 10 tackles to increase his career tackle total to 293, moving him into third on the Nebraska career tackles list. Reimer passed Dedrick Young (284), Lavonte David (285) and Mike Brown (287) in today’s game. Today marked Reimer’s 10th career double-figure tackle game.
- Offensive tackle Bryce Benhart started at right tackle, marking his 41st career start. He is now tied with Jeremiah Sirles for the most starts by a Nebraska offensive lineman in a season. Benhart was the only Husker offensive lineman to start all 12 games this season.
- Safety Isaac Gifford made a career-high-tying 11 tackles in the game, matching his 11 tackles last season against Georgia Southern. This marked his ninth game with at least seven tackles this season and third career double-digit tackle game.
- Gifford increased his season tackle total to 86, becoming the first Husker defensive back with at least 80 tackles since Nate Gerry in 2014.
- Safety Phalen Sanford finished with a career-high nine tackles, all in the first half. His previous high was six tackles against Purdue and Illinois earlier this season.
- Nebraska held Iowa scoreless in the first quarter, marking the eighth opponent Nebraska has shut out in the first quarter in 2023. Nebraska finished the regular season, allowing only 23 first-quarter points.
- Nebraska has not allowed a first-quarter touchdown in seven straight games and has not allowed a first-quarter touchdown in nine straight games against Big Ten West opponents.
- Players participating in today’s senior day introductions included, WR Billy Kemp, S Isaac Gifford, LB Nick Henrich, LB Luke Reimer, LB Luke Reimer, CB Quinton Newsome, RB Josh Fleeks, S Omar Brown, WR Ty Hahn, S Ashton Hausmann, RB Anthony Grant, LB Garrett Snodgrass, RB Trevin Luben, S Phalen Sanford, PK Timmy Bleekrode, FB Braden Klover, LS Marco Ortiz, TE John Goodwin, LB Grant Tagge, OG Ethan Piper, OG Nouri (Ragaller) Nouilli, OL Keegan Menning, DL Jacob Herbek, LS Camden Witucki, DE Blaise Gunnerson.
- Today’s game captains were DL Jacob Herbek, WR Ty Hahn, LS Marco Ortiz and LB Garrett Snodgrass.