5 things we learned from another Nebraska football loss to Iowa

Nebraska football dominated the game against Iowa on Friday night. Flat-out dominated for the majority of the game, yet still ended up with the same result, a 13-10 loss on a last-second field goal.

Deja vu. All over again.

At some point, this has to stop. Nebraska football has to start winning games like this. Iowa had no business even having a chance to win this game if it wasn’t for unforced errors from Nebraska.

The bad snap. Missed field goal. Fumbled punt. Missed tackles. Dropped pass. Another fumble. Ballgame.

5-6 plays were the difference in the game. That tends to be the case when you keep it close, but the Huskers outgained Iowa 339-164. They outrushed them 144-49. Nebraska had 20 first downs compared to five for the Hawkeyes.

But Iowa won the turnover battle 2-0. That led to six points and if you tack on the three Nebraska missed out on due to a bad snap on a field goal attempt, those were nine points that the Huskers couldn’t overcome.

Matt Rhule said he was “angry” that Nebraska football “found a way to lose again.” He also said “We have to get better” which is all true. But that was all true last season too.

At least the Huskers have a bowl game and another shot at a winning season. Still, it was a brutal way to end the regular season, and here are five things we learned.

Nebraska still can’t win a close game

The issue that has haunted Nebraska football for years still hasn’t been fixed. This team crumbles in close games and did so repeatedly in the 2024 season.

Illinois, Ohio State, USC, and Iowa were all winnable games. Nebraska had the lead in the fourth quarter in three of those games. They also had the ball, in the red zone, down by four against USC in the second half.

It’s understandable to lose 2-3 of those games. But to not win one? Nebraska beat Rutgers and Purdue in “close games” but if Rhule is ever going to truly turn this program around, the Huskers have to find a way to win games like this.

Especially games like that.

Nebraska needs offensive tackles in the portal

For the most part, the offensive line played great. The running game was impressive against a tough Iowa defense, but the pass protection was bad.

Bryce Benhart gave up a strip sack on the final regular season play of his Nebraska career. The other side had issues too and the Huskers clearly need to find an elite tackle in the portal.

The problem is those guys don’t often make it to the transfer portal and when they do, the competition is intense.

There are some promising young guys like Grant Brix, and Preston Taumua, and I like what I saw from Gunnar Gottula, but this program needs an all-conference caliber offensive tackle so bad (two if possible).

That might be the biggest offseason need. Get someone to protect the edge.

Turnovers are still an issue

Nebraska football was better at protecting the ball this season, but after a minus-2 effort in turnover margin against Iowa, they finished with a negative turnover ratio once again.

That’s happened every season since 2017. It’s also a huge reason why the Huskers haven’t had a winning season since they won nine games in 2016.

You just can’t turn the ball over constantly and expect to win. Nebraska gave Iowa six points in a game where only 23 were scored. That’s 25 percent of points. For free.

Turning the ball over was the one thing Nebraska football couldn’t do on the final drive. At least throw it downfield, but getting strip-sacked to allow the opponent to kick a game-winning field goal is so Nebraska.

The fortunes of this program won’t change until the turnover ratio does.

Nebraska needs a new special teams coach

The Huskers have dropped multiple games this season due to the poor play of special teams. Nebraska missed what could have been a game-winning field goal against Illinois.

Then, on Friday night, Nebraska missed a field goal due to a bad snap and fumbled the ball inside its five-yard line on a punt return.

Without those gaffes, Nebraska wins the game. With a reliable kicker and long snapper, Nebraska football is probably 8-4 and ranked in the top 25 on Monday.

Instead, the Huskers are 6-6 and still in need of a change. Foley can’t return and neither can wide receivers coach Garret McGuire. Those two have to go and Friday was a reminder of that.

Nebraska football made progress just not enough

This will be a successful season if the Huskers win the bowl game. I can’t call 6-7 a success. Getting back to a bowl game was huge for the program, but losing two in a row still feels like a step back or at least, being stuck in the same place.

The extra practice and ability to look toward bigger goals are important. Young players need to grow and this program could use what’s akin to another spring ball.

It would be great to see guys like Dylan Raiola, Carter Nelson, Jacory Barney, and some of these young players on both sides of the ball take leaps from mid-December to January.

A winning season would also be an undeniable sign of progress. A bowl game is too, but after the Iowa game, which was clearly a setback, this team needs something positive and unfortunately, it still needs to learn how to win.

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