Grades and overreactions from Nebraska’s loss to Washington

The day after Nebraska football blew a lead in the final minutes for a third straight game to drop to 5-3 for the season, it’s still hard to fathom that it happened.

I always think to myself, “This can’t happen again,” before shifting to knowing the outcome is an eventuality. That’s how it felt on Saturday as the Huskers allowed Washington to hang around; they should have been up by multiple scores.

Tell me if you have heard that before.

Nebraska outgained Washington by 120 yards. Yet, the Huskers missed a chip-shot field goal and turned the ball over three times. That was the difference in a 17-10 defeat. Here are the grades and overreactions.

Overreactions

If Matt Rhule didn’t have a $60-70 million buyout, he might be in real trouble. He might be if the Huskers don’t win another game, which seems possible after Saturday night.

We will find out a lot about Rhule and the Huskers this week. Rhule has never needed a win more in his four years as Nebraska head coach.

That being said, it would blow up the 2027 class, and it’s just not going to happen. Troy Dannen endorsed him last week. Dana Holgorsen is on thin ice. I don’t expect him back next season unless there is a dramatic turnaround.

Nebraska needs a new special teams coach, too, but there is only so much that can be done with four games to go.

Nebraska Football Grades vs. Washington

Offense (F): This was a failure. Nebraska moved the ball well. The run game was effective, at least when given the opportunity. Nebraska had 29 runs for 146 yards (4.6 per carry). Jamal Rule and Mekhi Nelson were running the ball well, and Nebraska abandoned it in the second half. Nebraska threw it 45 times and ran it 29. Nebraska also turned it over three times and wasted a red-zone possession when a touchdown would have essentially iced the win.

Defense (C): If the game was 55 minutes long, the grade would be an A. It’s not, and this defense has to finish. A quarterback came off the bench to lead a game-winning drive for the second week in a row. They allowed 32 points in those games in the fourth quarter, not counting the interception returned for a touchdown. That’s not good enough. And even though they were on the Matt Rhule, the corner-blitz calls were bad, especially on the touchdowns.

Special teams (C): The Huskers notched a 37-yard kickoff return and downed two punts inside the 10. The missed field goal is hard to overcome, though. This team needs to find a quality kicker in the worst way.

Coaching (F): Allowing the delay of game, not running the ball enough, giving up third-and-15 and fourth-and-18 — all of it. This game was a coaching failure

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