ThotDoc's Brain Droppings on the Maryland Game

Huskers tanked by turnovers as Tagovailoa takes Terps to triumph

It was a pleasant November afternoon until it wasn’t as the Nebraska Cornhuskers committed five turnovers that led to six of the Maryland Terrapins points and a 13-10 defeat. One week after Michigan State snapped a six-game losing streak against the Huskers, Maryland snaps a four-game streak with the win and becomes bowl-eligible with Michigan and Rutgers remaining. It was the first win for Maryland against Nebraska in the series history, after losing at home to Nebraska 54-7 in 2019. The Huskers finished the season 0-3 against the Big Ten East.

After driving 92 yards from their own 3-yard line to the Maryland 5 with 7 of the 8 plays being runs, Chubba Purdy threw an interception on 3 rd and goal from the 7 with 3:37 left giving Maryland the chance to drive for a walk-off field goal win. The Huskers threw the ball on first and third downs. Why??? Why??? You’ve got your third string quarterback in the game after Heinrich Haarberg had already thrown an interception, and Jeff Sims had added two picks (one in the endzone) and fumbled the ball away. Why put that on the kid? When was the last time you saw three quarterbacks from one team all throw picks in a game. The Huskers extended their national lead in turnovers totaling 27 miscues in 10 games. Haarberg now has 7 picks and 4 lost fumbles, Jeff Sims has thrown 6 interceptions and lost 4 fumbles, and now Purdy joins the party with a pick. Turnovers lead to losses and the Huskers have become experts in proving that point.

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This loss was especially painful for players and for fans. Last week and this week were games for the taking. Instead, the Huskers gave…and gave…and gave some more. Nebraska had the ball for nearly 12 minutes in the second quarter and were outscored 7-0. Nebraska reached the Maryland 27, 30, and 5-yard lines without scoring a point, because they turned the ball over on downs and twice threw interceptions in the endzone. Nebraska’s two scores came when the defense gave the offense the ball with a short field at the Maryland 27 and 31-yard lines. The offense is horrible because we have signal callers who play Santa Claus. The coaches aren’t helping because they expect more than ineptitude and the QBs can’t throw. They are either refusing to scheme with the player’s fallibilities in mind or are clueless about reality. If you are looking for anything positive from the offense, they committed no penalties.

Haarberg was 1 for 5 passing for zero yards with a pick and a sack. He ran the ball 2 times for zero yards before leaving in the second quarter with a lame ankle. Jeff Sims was 8 for 13 for 62 yards and 2 picks and ran the ball 10 times for 33 yards. Chubba Purdy, in his one series, was 1 for 3 for 24 yards and the untimely aforementioned interception. He ran 3 times on that drive for 33 yards. Who gives us the best chance against Wisconsin and Iowa? Who knows as the trio has 22 turnovers between them.

Matt Rhule wanted Emmett Johnson to get 15-20 touches, so he rushed 17 times for 84 yards, both career highs, and had 3 catches for 9 yards. Josh Fleeks had 3 carries for 11 yards and 2 catches for 11 yards. Anthony Grant added 3 carries for 9 yards and Janiran Bonner got his first career Husker touchdown with a 2-yard tote in the 3 rd quarter.

Billy Kemp IV caught two passes for 30 yards, eclipsing 2,000 career receiving yards, including his time at Virginia. Jaylen Lloyd had a nifty 25-yard grab and Thomas Fidone garnered a solo catch for 9 yards. Malachi Coleman had three targets and no catches, losing the chance for a big grab early in the 2 nd quarter as the ball went through his hands.

The Blackshirts bend, don’t break defense worked well for all but two drives as they repeatedly stymied the pass happy turtles. Maryland had a two-play 69-yard drive late in the second quarter where Malcom Hartzog was burned twice, and the last drive of the game where Maryland marched 75 yards in 12 plays for the game-winning trey. Holding a team to 13 points should help you win most games if you have an offense that averages more than 18.9 points. This is the first time Nebraska has held five straight opponents to 20 or fewer points since the final eight games of the 2009 season. The defense also did not allow a rushing touchdown for the fifth consecutive game, marking the best stretch since a six straight games in 1996. Nebraska had only given up 100 yards on the ground this season against Michigan, but on Maryland’s final drive, they surrendered 36 yards as the Terps totaled 101 yards rushing. Good defense and bad offense equal a 5-5 record for the Huskers.

Linebacker Javin Wright had a monster game leading the team with a career high eight tackles, a forced fumble at the NU 3-yard line, and an interception in the 3rd quarter to set up a Husker field goal. It was the second interception of his career, including a pick earlier this season against Northern Illinois. Safety Omar Brown (6 tackles and 2 PBUs) forced and recovered a fumble in the third quarter to set up the lone Nebraska touchdown. It was Brown’s second forced fumble of the season, and his first fumble recovery as a Husker. Rover Isaac Gifford had seven tackles and 0.5 TFLs, marking his fifth straight game with a tackle for loss. He is the first Husker with a TFL in five straight games since JoJo Domann in 2021. Ty Robinson set career highs in tackles (7), tackles for loss (1.5) and pass breakups (2) while adding a fumble recovery. Jimari Butler tied his career highs with 1.5 TFLs and one pass breakup and Nick Henrich had five tackles in the game to give him 200 career tackles, the 42nd Husker to hit that mark. Marques Buford (5 tackles) got the lone Husker sack. The Huskers best cornerback, Quinton Newsome, missed the game and it hurt as the defense faced 40 pass attempts. The only Nebraska penalty of the game, a defensive pass interference on Tommi Hill on 3 rd and 10 during Maryland’s last drive, couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Special teams played pretty well as Nebraska converted a fake punt on 4 th and 5 on the Huskers first possession as upback Nate Boerkircher rumbled 11 yards for the first down. Tristan Alvano kicked a 38-yard third quarter field goal to give the Huskers a 10-7 lead and is now 7 of 11 on the year, connecting on 6 of his last 7 attempts. Brian Buschini averaged 44.5 on two punts. The return game for both teams was essentially nonexistent, but Ethan Nation did get one return for 6 yards.

Two games left to get the elusive sixth win against either Wisconsin or Iowa, whom the Huskers have defeated just one time since 2014 (last year at Iowa). Next week’s opponent in Madison lost Saturday at home 24-10 to Northwestern. There is now a five-way tie for second in the Big Ten West as Northwestern, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska are all 5-5 overall and 3-4 in conference. Iowa can clinch the division at home next weekend against Illinois. Wisconsin has now lost three straight games as they play Nebraska who has become the solution to losing streaks. The Badgers are obviously beatable as they rushed for just 86 yards Saturday with Braelon Allen recording just 3 yards on the ground. They also threw it 45 times. Maybe it will snow in Wisconsin next Saturday night. Can the Huskers turn off the turnover tragedy and win for the first time in Madison since 1966? It would be an epic feat for a team with its frequent foibles. Go Big Red!!

• More coverage & commentary: HuskerMax game page

Amarillo Mullen

Head coach Matt Rhule chats with quarterback Heinrich Haarberg prior to a play. 

Amarillo Mullen

Omar Brown and Marques Buford Jr celebrate a defensive stop in the first quarter. 

Amarillo Mullen

John Bullock (5) and Mikai Gbayor tackle Maryland's Roman Hemby. 

Amarillo Mullen

Quarterback Jeff Sims fakes a handoff to running back Emmett Johnson. 

Amarillo Mullen

Head coach Matt Rhule argues a pass interference that was not called. 

Amarillo Mullen

Marques Burford Jr (24) and Tommi Hill (31) break up Taulia Tagovailo's Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half. 

Amarillo Mullen

Jeff Sims (7) prepares for a pass. 

Amarillo Mullen

Ty Robinson (9) celebrates a Husker fumble recovery. 

Amarillo Mullen

Luke Lindenmeyer shouts after Nebraska recovers Maryland's fumble. 

Amarillo Mullen

Taulia Tagovailoa slips out of a Ty Robinson tackle. 

Amarillo Mullen

Jeff Sims throws toward Thomas Fidone II in the third quarter. 

Amarillo Mullen

Nebraska's Malcom Hartzog pushes Antwain Littleton II out of bounds. 

Amarillo Mullen

Jimari Butler gets Taulia Tagovailoa to run out of bounds. 

Amarillo Mullen

Nash Hutmacher and Marques Buford Jr celebrate a stop on 4th and 1. 

Amarillo Mullen

Ty Robinson celebrates Nebraska's second fumble recovery of the game. 

Amarillo Mullen

Chubba Purdy stiff-arms a Maryland defender on a run. 

Amarillo Mullen

Chubba Purdy was the third and final quarterback to see playing time for the Huskers. 

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Former Husker Sgt. Chris Long leads the team out of the tunnel before the game.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska tight end Nate Boerkircher rushes for an 11-yard gain on a fake punt during the first quarter of Saturday's game.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska wide receiver Alex Bullock catches a pass for a short gain during the second quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska running back Anthony Grant picks up 9 yards on a third-quarter carry.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg hands off to running back Emmett Johnson during the first quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims runs for an 11-yard gain during the third quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Herbie Husker rides a tractor shooting T-shirts into the stands between the first and second quarters.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson picks up short yardage during the second quarter

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Emmett Johnson takes off on a 29-yard run during the fourth quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska quarterback Chubba Purdy is tackled after an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska quaretrback Chubba Purdy reacts after his 11-yard gain.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule shouts at an official during the fourth quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims runs for 11 yards during the third quarter. 

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

The Huskers get ready to snap the ball against the Maryland defense.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska's Janiran Bonner scores on a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter/

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska defensive back Omar Brown prepares to bring down Maryland's Jeshaun Jones in the first quarter

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims drops back to pass.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska linebacker Mikai Gbayor and defensive back Marques Buford Jr. bring down Maryland's Roman Hemby in the first quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska wide receiver Alex Bullock can't quite come up with the catch on a pass from quarterback Heinrich Haarberg during the first quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone turns upfield after catching a pass from quarterback Jeff Sims in the third quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson runs for a short third-quarter gain.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska wide receiver Billy Kemp IV prepares to catch a pass from quarterback Jeff Sims during the second quarter.

Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Nebraska quarterback Chubba Purdy scrambles for a 9-yard gain during the fourth quarter

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

The Nebraska Cornhuskers marching band walks to the stadium before the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Three CH-47 Chinook helicopters fly over the field during the national anthem before the game.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Former Nebraska Cornhuskers offensive guard Sgt. Chris Long leads the team onto the field before the game. 

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland head coach Mike Locksley and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule talk before the game.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg passes during the first quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa looks to pass against the Nebraska defense during the first quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland defensive back Dante Trader Jr. runs after intercepting a Heinrich Haarberg pass during the first quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska tight end Nate Boerkircher celebrates after a first down on a fake punt against Maryland during the first quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland wide receiver Shaleak Knotts runs against Nebraska during the second quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg runs against Maryland linebacker Kellan Wyatt during the second quarter.

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Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims looks back after running for a first down during the second quarter.

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Maryland running back Roman Hemby runs against Nebraska's Mikai Gbayor and John Bullock during the second quarter.

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Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson carries the ball during the second quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska quarterback Jeff Sims looks to pass against Maryland linebacker Kellan Wyatt during the second quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton catches a pass for a long gain against Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog during the second quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland wide receiver Tai Felton scores a touchdown against the Nebraska defense during the second quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska wide receiver Billy Kemp IV is brought down by Maryland defensive back Beau Brade during the second quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa passes during the second quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

A Nebraska fan yells during a break before the fourth quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Janiran Bonner scores Nebraska's only touchdown on a third-quarter run.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland running back Antwain Littleton II is stopped short of a first down on a fourth-down play by Nash Hutmacher (0), Javin Wright (33), and Tommi Hill (31) during the third quarter. 

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher celebrates after getting a stop on fourth down during the third quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska's Jeff Sims passes during the third quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

 Taulia Tagovailoa passes during the third quarter for Maryland. 

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Nebraska's Jeff Sims runs the ball during the third quarter.

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Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9), linebacker Luke Reimer (4), and defensive back Isaac Gifford (2) celebrate after recovering a fumble during fourth quarter 

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska quarterback Chubba Purdy picks up yardage on a fourth-quarter run.

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Maryland defensive back Tarheeb Still runs upfield after intercepting Chubba Purdy's pass during the fourth quarter.

Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Jack Howes celebrates with his Maryland teammates after making the winning field goal.