Nebraska football fell to a historic new low on Saturday.
For the first time in their 129-year history, the Cornhuskers have started a season with six straight losses following a 34-31 overtime defeat against 3-3 Northwestern. The Huskers' previous worst season through six games came in 1951, when they started the season 0-5-1, the lone non-loss a 6-6 tie with Kansas State. They also started 0-5 in 1945. Nebraska finished 1-8 in '51 and 4-5 in '45.
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Worse for Nebraska and coach Scott Frost is the way in which they fell to Northwestern. The Huskers led by as much as 14 after a touchdown early in the fourth quarter gave them a 28-14 lead. A 34-yard field goal with 5:41 left in the game gave made it 31-21. Nebraska had a 98.7 chance to win the game with little over a minute remaining, according to ESPN's statistical analysis.
“The ESPN deal, when I’m not coaching the game, I watch the percent chance of winning," Frost said after the game (via Matt Fortuna). It makes me sick sometimes when I watch teams that are 98% chance of winning; I think that’s all BS. It’s hard to tell what ours was.”
Northwestern got a field goal on its next drive after converting a 16-yard pass on fourth down to make it 31-24. A Nebraska punt gave the Wildcats 99 yards to traverse in just 1:59 of game clock. They covered that distance in eight plays and tied the game at 31 with 12 seconds left. In overtime, a terrible fumble/pass combo by Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez on fourth-and-1 gave Northwestern the ball. The Wildcats made good on the opportunity and sealed the comeback win with a 37-yard field goal from Drew Luckenbaugh.
In all, Martinez finished 25 of 35 passing for 251 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Running back Devine Ozigbo had 159 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 22 carries.
For Northwestern, Clayton Thorson finished 41 of 64 through the air for 455 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Wildcats as a team finished with 32 rushing yards, while receiver Flynn Nagel finished with 220 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
