Fast start, slow collapse: Nebraska falls 24-17 to Wisconsin in overtime

MADISON, Wis. — The postgame emotion of an overtime loss weighed heavily on Nebraska defensive back Marques Buford.

Summing up his emotions after a third consecutive loss meant coming up with new ways to describe a sinking feeling in his stomach.

“Angry, sad, disappointed; any negative words you can think of right now,” Buford said.

An emotional roller coaster of a game began with Nebraska racing out to a 14-0 start, only for Wisconsin to take over and score 24 of the game’s final 27 points. And while the Huskers clawed back just to get a chance in overtime, they fell short at the final hurdle.

And so it was Wisconsin — not Nebraska — that celebrated a bowl-eligibility clinching sixth win on the field of Camp Randall Stadium after a 24-17 overtime win over the Huskers on Saturday.

Head coach Matt Rhule lauded his team’s effort while also sharing in the disappointment felt by Buford and others.

“These guys are pretty crushed right now; they’re pretty crushed emotionally,” Rhule said. “But, that’s OK — it shows that they care and it shows that they put a lot into it.”

While the Nebraska (5-6, 3-5) defense came up big time and time again during the second half to keep the Huskers in the game, it couldn’t succeed one last time in the overtime period.

Wisconsin (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) was aggressive on its overtime possession, going for it on fourth-and-1 as the ball sat on the cusp of the end zone rather than settling for a field goal. The Badgers converted that play, then scored a touchdown immediately after on a 2-yard carry from running back Braelon Allen.

“All anybody on the defense was thinking about was getting a stop and not letting them into the end zone,” Buford said.

Instead, the pressure was on Nebraska quarterback Chubba Purdy, who made his first start of the season in the loss. Purdy hardly got the chance in overtime — a negative run, a false start and back-to-back incompletions backed the offense up.

Purdy’s last-ditch pass on fourth-and-16 ended up in the hands of Wisconsin defender Preston Zachman, setting off spirited on-field celebrations in front of the Wisconsin student section. And because of it, questions had to be asked about Nebraska’s clock management late in the fourth quarter.

With the Huskers trailing by three points, Purdy led the offense into field-goal range with under a minute left in regulation. Rhule opted to let 20 seconds tick off the clock before calling a timeout ahead of a third-down play — time the Huskers could’ve used back after converting a first down.

Instead, Nebraska only had enough time for one pass attempt into the end zone for wide receiver Billy Kemp before relying on kicker Tristan Alvano to convert a 30-yard field goal. Rhule said his primary focus on that series was making sure Nebraska was in position for the field goal try.

“Looking back, maybe should’ve called that earlier so we had two shots at the end zone,” Rhule said. “… I thought we had a good play there, he (Purdy) gave Billy a chance, and then we kicked it.”

Uncertainty surrounded the Nebraska offense heading into the contest as Purdy, the team’s third-string quarterback for most of the season, made his first start. Early on, it looked as though Purdy was going to lead one of NU’s best offensive performances of the season.

Seeking to avoid a sack on the opening possession of the game, Purdy stepped up in the pocket and then sprinted past multiple Wisconsin defenders on his way to a 55-yard rushing touchdown.

Purdy also showed his strengths as a passer on Nebraska’s next series. A series of quick passes for short gains, two of them to Kemp, got Purdy into rhythm with his passing targets. That paid off in the form of a 58-yard passing touchdown from Purdy to Jaylen Lloyd as the freshman wideout spun out of a tackle and raced into the end zone for a 14-0 lead.

“He played fantastic,” Lloyd said of Purdy. “All week in practice he looked great, so when it came to Saturday nights it was just the same thing.”

However, Nebraska’s electric start offensively didn’t last. The Huskers put together seven scoreless drives in a row, a stretch that included five punts. While Nebraska found success in the short passing game initially, Wisconsin’s adjustments meant harder throws for Purdy later in the game.

Purdy went 15-of-23 for 169 yards in the air while rushing for 105 yards and accounting for both of Nebraska’s touchdowns.

“I think you saw a lot of things from Chubba in terms of his willingness to stand in there and compete,” Rhule said. “… For his first start for us this year, I thought it was really something to build on.”

The Nebraska defense will also be doing some soul-searching in the coming days. After forcing two Wisconsin punts to begin the game, Nebraska allowed back-to-back touchdown drives that featured help from Husker miscues.

The first, a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive, came following a failed fourth-down rush by Nebraska inside Wisconsin territory. Potentially in field-goal range at that point, Rhule opted to keep his foot on the gas — and Nebraska had to wait a long time until it had another scoring opportunity as good as that one.

“That’s a play that to come to Madison and win these games, you’ve got to get,” Rhule said.

A short 19-yard punt from Brian Buschini set up Wisconsin’s next scoring drive, though Nebraska limited the Badgers to a field goal. It took until the third quarter for Wisconsin to take its first lead when quarterback Tanner Mordecai cut through the Nebraska defense with several sharp passes during a 10-play scoring drive. Allen punched in the 2-yard rushing touchdown to put Wisconsin ahead 17-14.

With under four minutes remaining in the game, the Nebraska defense again came up big by forcing a Wisconsin punt. The ensuing drive was Nebraska’s best since the first quarter, with Purdy leading the Huskers into the red zone for the game-tying field goal.

There were moments Nebraska can relish — such as the offense’s quick start and the defense’s late surge — but it wasn’t the consistent four-quarter effort needed to overcome Wisconsin.

Now 5-6 on the season, Nebraska’s chances of reaching its first bowl game since 2016 will depend on the Huskers beating Big Ten West champions Iowa on Black Friday — a game they’ll quickly need to get ready for.

“I’d love to see these guys go play one last game,” Rhule said. “Shoot, at the end of the day we’re 5-6 with a chance to go be bowl-eligible and play a great Iowa team. I’m excited for them, we’ll bounce back (because) these guys don’t quit. But, they are hurting right now both physically and emotionally.”