Nebraska, which hung out with Ohio State, can reach new heights — and bowl eligibility

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Beaten again but not dejected, the Nebraska football players walked out of the locker room at Ohio Stadium Saturday heading into November in the same position as a year ago, 5-3, but decided to do something different this time make.

Something that last happened 15 years ago. The Huskers intend to finish the regular season on a winning streak and build momentum into a bowl game.

They didn't let up against No. 4 Ohio State on Saturday. In front of 104,830 spectators who threw water bottles, alcohol containers and at least one cheese cup onto the field in the final minutes in protest of a penalty assessed against the Buckeyes, Nebraska played better than Ohio State for much of that 21-year period. 17 defeat.

Do you trust the Huskers? That is the question now. Because if so, there is reason to believe they can win all or part of their last four games. A year after Nebraska limped to the finish line with four straight losses, this team has an opportunity to make a statement about its progress after 20 games under coach Matt Rhule.

And yes, the Huskers believe. Rhule saw it before kickoff in Columbus.

“I didn’t have to be a cheerleader,” he said. “They said, 'Get out of the way.'”

Go deeper

Ohio State survives: What does this mean for Buckeyes, Huskers?

Rhule has seen moments of such determination at Nebraska. But never for four quarters. For the first time in his tenure, Nebraska played with a championship mentality, he said.

“I couldn’t be prouder of where we’re going,” freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola said.

One look into the eyes of defensive end Ty Robinson told a story inexplicable through back-to-back road losses that were as varied as they were painful. In six years at Nebraska, Robinson said he was never prouder to showcase the Huskers' direction than Saturday.

“This is the real team out there,” Robinson said.

If this was the real Nebraska – and the 56-7 weekly loss to Indiana is considered an anomaly – then get ready for a fun ride over the next five weeks.

With a home win against UCLA in six days, Nebraska can achieve bowl eligibility, a major hurdle. This will be followed by trips to USC, which is undefeated against Nebraska in its history, and to Iowa. In between, Wisconsin, which is undefeated against the Huskers in twelve years, visits Memorial Stadium.

So yes, Nebraska can exorcise a long list of demons before the calendar turns to December.

And why not? There was a score, a stop, a missed opportunity in the red zone as it earned the program's biggest win since 2001 against Oklahoma on Saturday.

“Keep going on that tree,” linebacker MJ Sherman said. “One day it will fall.”

Nebraska's Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (7) intercepted Ohio State QB Will Howard in the third quarter of the Huskers' eventual loss. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today via Imagn Images)

Rhule said he left The Horseshoe not satisfied or satisfied, but “fulfilled.”

“We expected to come here and win the football game,” he said. “We expected to win. We're not here to lose. We are the University of Nebraska.”

Things started ominously when Kwinten Ives missed the opening kick. Nebraska started at the 9-yard line and Raiola took his first touch on the ground while trying to hand the ball off to Dante Dowdell. Two plays later, Raiola took a sack and Brian Buschini hit a punt. Ohio State started on the Nebraska 36.

But Nebraska's defense, treated poorly last week, managed a fourth-down stop when Sherman, the loud-mouthed Georgia transfer, hit TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield and took a loss. If Sherman didn't send a message, then Jimari Butler certainly did when he manhandled Ohio State's left tackle.

In fact, the Blackshirts often had their way with Ohio State's potent offense. Nebraska produced five three-and-out series and held the Buckeyes to 1 of 10 on third downs. Ohio State gained 2.1 yards per rush. Will Howard's first-half scoring throws to Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith accounted for 100 of the Buckeyes' 285 total yards.

The big plays saved Ohio State.

Still, Nebraska was more consistent. Raiola broke free from the ground and fought his way 38 yards to score the first of three field goals from John Hohl. Hohl, who hadn't converted a field goal since September 20, scored from 39, 54 and 47 yards.

The Huskers gained confidence and dominated the third quarter. However, Raiola missed Jahmal Banks, who was wide open for a touchdown on a drive that ended in a punt. And Dowdell failed to jump over the poop on a fourth-down punt from the 1-yard line.

Dowdell got into the end zone to cap a 74-yard drive four minutes into the fourth quarter. Nate Boerkircher received a shovel pass from Raiola for the two-pointer. Nebraska led 17-14. It became quiet in the stadium.

As championship-level teams do, Ohio State responded. And in the end, Nebraska won the ball with 3:43 left and had a chance for a monumental victory. Raiola, who had been injured on the previous trip, came out of the injured tent. He wanted it, Rhule said.

After a targeting call against Ohio State University linebacker Arvell Reese on Banks, debris came out of the seats.

The scene got wild.

But Raiola didn't get into midfield. Guard Justin Evans was charged with a false start. Two passes to running back Emmett Johnson lost yardage. With 76 seconds left, Jordan Hancock intercepted Raiola on third-and-19.

Oh, so close.

“We have two ways to get out of this loss,” Sherman said. “We can sit here and sulk, or we can grow from this. I feel like we’re on our way to growing from this.”

Rhule's postgame media session felt like an oral dissertation. He spoke for 19 minutes, rejecting the idea of ​​a quick exit from the stage as school administrators looked on and the Huskers' charter flight from Ohio waited.

The Huskers grew up Saturday, he said. Rhule made a number of statements about his method of creating programs.

“We’re trying to build something sustainable,” Rhule said. “Maybe it will work. Maybe it won’t.”

Fans and media members watched other coaches come and go, Rhule said.

“It didn't work. So I’m trying something different.”

This game seemed to represent something important.

“For those of us who believe in the long road,” Rhule said, “the hard way, for those of us who haven’t been handed things, for those of us who believe in building, I hope, as long as They are disappointed, they are proud of what they saw.”

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule and freshman DB Amare Sanders leave the field after this 21-17 loss to No. 4 Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/2HGqiDsgdB

– Mitch Sherman (@mitchsherman) October 26, 2024

Rhule said he challenged the Huskers after the loss to pick up where they left off Saturday against UCLA.

“If we go out next week and are top again,” he said, “then it will all be for nothing. That's one step. It has to be where we are now – that we play like this every week.”

Several Huskers said they expect the final stretch to define these Huskers.

“I expect that in November we will be the team we are today,” Sherman said, “but even better.”

They're still chopping at the tree. One day, maybe next month, it will fall.

(Top photo: Adam Cairns / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today via Imagn Images)