Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke got the best of Nebraska’s defense and easily won the quarterback battle against freshman Dylan Raiola .
His smart, great passes showed Rourke’s six seasons of experience. He went 17-for-21 for 189 passing yards and one touchdown. Rourke has led Indiana to a 7-0 start and a No. 16 ranking that could rise on Sunday.
The senior transfer from Ohio did not play in the second half due to a right-hand injury. Tayvon Jackson went 7-for-8 for 91 passing yards in the second half.
Raiola, under immense pressure, threw two interceptions. His first turnover was a poorly read pass to Thomas Fidone close to the endzone. NU ended a 7:20 drive to start the third quarter with no points. Despite the pressure, the freshman quarterback managed to go 28-for-44 for 234 passing yards.
Raiola, the former five-star, found himself in need of more support from his offensive line. He was frequently flushed out of the pocket and required more time for plays to develop. As a result, he was sacked and pressured twice, highlighting the challenges he faced during the game.
Indiana’s weakness is its secondary. NU seemingly had the advantage with its experienced and deep wide receiver group. But their top two receivers, Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, had two catches each for 46 yards.
Blackshirts exposed
Nebraska had the seventh-best scoring defense and rushing defense nationally before facing Indiana. Tony White’s defense was exposed against the Hoosiers.
NU allowed 343 total yards in the first half. Indiana finished with 495 total yards and 215 rushing yards. Nebraska allowed 59 rushing yards in the second half after 154 in the first. A 12:31 possession time by the Huskers kept the defense off the field.
Nebraska’s defense could not get off the field. Indiana’s first punt of the game was with 6:25 left in the fourth.
The Huskers earned one interception on a Hail Mary play by Indiana at the end of the second quarter. Malcolm Hartzog Jr. added his third interception of the season.
Nebraska put very little pressure on Rourke or Jackson. They didn’t record a quarterback hurry and had one sack. Mikai Gbayor has NU’s lone sack, which was a loss of nine yards in the first quarter.
The Hoosiers had many explosive players. Seven different players have plays of 10 or more yards. Running back Justice Ellison had a 43-yard run early in the game to set the tone.
Husker’s rushing attack is a serious issue
One of Nebraska’s priorities during its bye week was improving its run game. However, they did not show any improvement against Indiana.
The Huskers rushed for 70 yards on 29 carries. They averaged 2.4 rushing yards per carry.
Emmett Johnson led the RB group with eight yards on 24 carries. Starter Dante Dowdell fumbled at the end of the first quarter on a fourth-and-1 at Indiana’s 12-yard line. He had one more carry after the fumble.
Backup QB Heinrich Haarberg had a team-high 32 rushing yards on five carries.
It is very hard to win Big Ten games without a solid rushing attack.
Fidone is a bright spot
Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone had the game Husker fans have been waiting for. The junior had over 50 yards for the first time this season. He led the Huskers with 91 receiving yards on six catches.
Fidone recorded 39 yards after the catch. The tight end had a 25-yard catch on a beautiful pass from Raiola in the second quarter. He recorded a 23-yard catch and a 28-yarder in the second half.
Nebraska needs big catches from Fidone in the second half of their season. He’s got to get open, and Raiola has to make a point to find the 6-foot-6, 255-pound tight end.
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