The voice of one Nebraska fan bellowed louder than the other grumbles.
As he and Memorial Stadium’s 406th sellout crowd streamed toward the exits following Nebraska’s 30-27 loss to No. 21 Michigan, the fan shouted one frustration toward anyone who would listen.
“Take the points, Rhule!” he shouted, in reference to Nebraska’s opening drive in which the Huskers went for it on fourth-and-2 from the 6-yard line and came up roughly a foot short after quarterback Dylan Raiola’s pitch up the middle to Luke Lindenmeyer didn’t cross the line to gain.
In hindsight, you wonder what could have been if Nebraska had opted to give kicker Kyle Cunanan the opportunity there. It would have been a chip in. Considering Nebraska lost by three points, would it have made a difference?
The would’ve, could’ve, should’ve game accomplishes nothing — especially when Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule stands by his decision.
“The analytics, to me, are overwhelming,” Rhule said after Nebraska’s first loss of the season before saying that even fourth-and-4 from that spot is a should-go situation. “… The analytics tell you to be really, really, really aggressive, to be honest.”
This wasn’t the first time Nebraska has chosen to play aggressively this season on fourth-and-short.
In Nebraska’s season opener, the Husker offense went for it on fourth-and-2 from the Cincinnati 43-yard line and didn’t move the chains after Raiola’s pass attempt to running back Emmett Johnson was broken up. But, later in the game, Nebraska kept the offense on the field again on fourth down — this time on fourth-and-2 from the 3-yard line — and scored what ended up being the go-ahead touchdown on Raiola’s touchdown pass to receiver Dane Key.
Even late against Houston Christian, Nebraska kept the offense on the field on fourth-and-2 from the 2-yard line. Running back Kenneth Williams gained a yard, turning the ball over at the 1-yard line.
While many won’t like it — hindsight’s a powerful thing, after all — Rhule and the Husker offense are at least consistent with their decision making.
“If you want to beat Michigan, you’re gonna have to get those plays, right? We’re gonna have to get those plays,” Rhule said. “… We’re not gonna trick our way into things. You gotta play. You gotta make the plays, right? We’re gonna give our guys a chance to make the play. On that one, unfortunately, we didn’t.”
While that one play likely won’t keep the Nebraska Cornhuskers up at night over the next two weeks, there are several that will.
I mean, pick your poison.
Cunanan’s 44-yard missed field goal. Raiola’s first interception of the season. The 37-yard touchdown run for Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood. The 75-yard touchdown for Michigan running back Justice Haynes. The 54-yard touchdown for Michigan running back Jordan Marshall.
The touchdown that wasn’t after Nebraska receiver Nyziah Hunter errantly stepped out of bounds in the back of the end zone. The three consecutive third-and-long conversions on one drive alone for Michigan that ultimately put the Wolverines up by 10 points. The missed tackles. The seven collective sacks on Raiola.
As Rhule said, “You make one of those plays, the game changes.”
He’s right.
It wasn’t just one thing you could point your finger at here. All of the miscues collectively factored into Nebraska’s loss to Michigan.
“I don’t like where we’re at right now,” Rhule said. “I feel like someone hit me with a hammer right now. I wanted to win the football game, and I thought we would win the football game. It’s like anything else. There’s things that were exposed that have to be improved, or we won’t be the team that we want to be.”
All of that above makes it feel like Nebraska lost by 40. No, Nebraska lost by three.
Raiola completed 73% of his passes for 308 yards with three passing touchdowns that included a theatric, 52-yard Hail Mary to receiver Jacory Barney Jr. that tied things up before halftime.
But coming up three points short, regardless of the SportsCenter-worthy highlights, is an unfortunately familiar feeling around these parts. As evidenced by previous single-digit losses and once again in Nebraska’s loss to Michigan, it’s a game of inches.
Whether that’s coming up short by a few inches on that fourth-and-2, missing your assignment by a hair, or being in the precise spot like Barney was to reel in a Hail Mary before halftime, those inches here and there make the difference.
The small things that added up to contribute to Nebraska’s first loss of the season will weigh heavily on the Huskers’ minds.
And it will be that way until Nebraska’s next game against Michigan State on Oct. 4.
“It actually sucks,” Raiola said when asked about having more time to review the game film. “It actually sucks. You gotta taste this loss for two weeks.”
How will Nebraska look when it comes out the other side?
The Huskers have all the confidence in the world that this wasn’t a knockout punch.
“Our guys will fight back harder than ever, and we’ll come back ready to go to,” Raiola said. “… A lot of people think this might break us, but I’m just telling you right now, be careful. We’re going to come together and do something scary.”
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Amie Just
Husker sports reporter/columnist
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