IU welcomed Nebraska into Memorial Satdium on Saturday afternoon after losing to Ohio State a week ago. The Huskers arrived off a victory against Illinois.
After IU deferred to start the game, Nebraska moved quickly, working the ball down the field in 12 plays. But, the Huskers stalled deep in IU territory, and junior kicker Drew Brown hit a 40-yard field goal to give Nebraska the early lead, 3-0.
Following a failed fourth-down conversion by IU, Nebraska took the ball 64 yards down the field for a touchdown in just 2:21, with help from a 45-yard circus catch by wide receiver Brandon Reilly. After the point-after attempt, Nebraska led 10-0 late in the first quarter.
On the ensuing IU drive, junior quarterback Richard Lagow threw an interception on the first play. Chris Jones returned the ball back 33 yards for Nebraska’s second touchdown of the game. The Huskers led 17-0. It's the first time this season IU's allowed double-digit first quarter points.
After a 7-minute scoring drought, IU junior safety Chase Dutra blocked a Nebraska punt out of the back of the end zone for a safety, cutting the deficit to 15 points and earning the ball back for the offense.
On the following drive, the Hoosiers drove 57 yards down the field on a drive that featured junior quarterback Zander Diamont, but stalled at the Nebraska 19-yard line. Junior kicker Griffin Oakes hit the field goal to cut the score to 17-5 Nebraska.
Later in the quarter IU sophomore safety Jonathan Crawford intercepted Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong inside Nebraska territory, but the IU offense was unable to find the endzone again. Oakes hit a 45-yard field goal to bring the score to 17-8.
The first half would end at that score, as IU was able to keep Nebraska from scoring throughout the entire second quarter.
After nearly a whole third quarter without scoring, IU junior running back Devine Redding found a seam on the right side of the line and took the ball 33 yards for a score as time ran out in the third quarter.
The quarter ended with Nebraska leading 17-15.
After going 39:36 without scoring, Nebraska picked up its first second-half score on a deep third-down pass from Armstrong to receiver Stanley Morgan, who took the ball 72 yards into the endzone. Nebraska extended its lead to 24-15 with 9:57 left in the game.
On the ensuing drive though, the Hoosiers went 75 yards in 1:31, and capped off the drive with a Redding reception for a touchdown, to narrow the lead back to two points, 24-22.
After running 15 plays and maintaining the ball after a controversial fumble ruling, Nebraska notched three points on a field goal and gave the ball back to IU with 45 seconds left in the game.
Lagow would throw his second interception on IU's final drive, and the Huskers took a knee to defeat the Hoosiers, 27-22.
Final stats:
QB Richard Lagow: 19-32, 196 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
RB Devine Redding: 11 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD, 1 receiving TD
WR Mitchell Paige: 9 catches 101 yards
Taylor Lehman
