Nebraska suffered another disappointing loss to a ranked opponent Saturday afternoon, allowing No. 7 Indiana to stage a fourth-quarter rally and secure a 20-17 victory. The defeat extended the Cornhuskers’ winless streak against top-25 teams to 31 consecutive games, marking another missed opportunity for head coach Matt Rhule to secure a signature win in Lincoln.
Nebraska appeared positioned for a major upset throughout much of the contest, building a 17-6 lead before defensive lapses proved costly. A 75-yard touchdown reception by Indiana receiver Nick Marsh cut into the advantage, and on a subsequent critical fourth-down play, Marsh again found open space for the game-winning touchdown. The Nebraska offense struggled significantly after taking its 11-point lead, gaining only 60 yards on 19 plays before the final drive. An earlier missed 40-yard field goal attempt also factored into the narrow margin of defeat.
The loss represents a particularly frustrating moment for the program, as a victory over the defending national champions would have been Nebraska’s most significant win since defeating Oklahoma in 2001. The Cornhuskers have not beaten a top-seven opponent since 2015, when they topped Michigan State. The 31-game losing streak against ranked opponents has spanned four coaching regimes, beginning during the Mike Riley era and continuing through the tenures of Scott Frost, Mickey Joseph, and now Rhule.
Rhule’s personal record against ranked opponents adds another layer to the concern. In his 134 games as a head coach, he holds just two victories over top-25 teams, both achieved during his time at Temple more than 10 years ago. Additionally, Rhule’s Nebraska teams have struggled in close contests, posting a 2-9 record in games decided by four points or fewer, with eight consecutive home losses in games decided by three points or fewer.
Nebraska will have additional opportunities to end the drought later in the season, with matchups against Oregon, Ohio State, and Iowa remaining on the schedule.
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