Northwestern isn't a great team, but they do have a pretty solid OLIne. And they kicked Cornhusker butt most of the game. When you're getting beat up, it's easy to get gassed. Nebraska played a lot of two deep safeties, and most any decent P5 team can run against a seven man front, that has two deep safeties most of the day. It didn't make sense, especially when the Huskers went on defense in the 4th quarter, down a field goal, and seemingly played a cover two the entire drive. Even the 3rd team FOX broadcast crew referenced it more than once.
Thompson made some plays. The scramble that led to the go-ahead touchdown in the 2nd half was a terrific play. And before Nebraska decided to onside kick after taking an 11-point lead, he was pretty solid. Afterward, he was hurt by receivers that didn't make catches. A couple of times it led to tipped picks. Nebraska seemed to have only one real athlete at wide receiver, and while he made a couple of nice plays, he also had important drops and a lost fumble that was mostly about lack of ball protection.
The Huskers had two different 11-point leads. They looked terrific in the first quarter, but that's kind of a same ole, same ole. I believe they are now 5-26 in one score games under Scott Frost. A lot of those games, they had leads early. But first games can be weird, especially against a peer opponent, and more especially when you're playing overseas. I think it's a horrible idea for any program to agree to play in Ireland in August. It's just so disruptive to your preparation as a team. Don't know who made that call.
I still think Nebraska, in Lincoln will be a potentially dangerous game for us, unless the wheels fall off before the trip. I think the Huskers are a better team than they were last season, despite the lackluster 2nd half today. And last season in Norman, they played us very tough. We should beat them, but strange things can happen. It will be this team's first game against a truly hostile crowd. That's when we truly find out how much OUr players have mastered a new offense and a new defense.
