Nebraska held late lead over Washington. 60 seconds later, fans were trashing field
Nebraska held late lead over Washington. 60 seconds afterwards, fans were trashing field.
Nebraska held late lead over Washington. 60 seconds afterwards, fans were trashing field.
Article outline
- What happened
- The details
- What comes next
- The key numbers
- The bottom line
Key points
- All the Cornhuskers (5-3, 2-3 in Major Ten) needed was one stop on fourth-and-18.
- Nebraska and Matt Rhule appeared primed for a Week 9 win over Washington on Saturday, Oct.
- On Nebraska's ensuing drive, Cornhuskers quarterback Anthony Colandrea threw an interception throughout the middle of the field that was returned by Alex McLaughlin for the 48-yard pick-6.
- Washington quarterback Demond Williams converted a critical play with a 24-yard completion to Chris Lawson.
- Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer.
Nebraska and Matt Rhule appeared primed for a Week 9 win over Washington on Saturday, Oct. 31, with the Cornhuskers leading the Huskies by four points with just over 90 seconds in regulation.
All the Cornhuskers (5-3, 2-3 in Major Ten) needed was one stop on fourth-and-18. Instead, a stunning collapse unfolded.
Washington quarterback Demond Williams converted a critical play with a 24-yard completion to Chris Lawson. Two plays afterwards, Williams identified Lawson again, this time for a 25-yard touchdown that offered the Huskies a 10-7 lead with 1: 30 remaining.
REQUIRED READING: Nebraska, USC headline college football winners, losers in Week 9. The Cornhuskers' late-fourth-quarter collapse and struggles didn't end there.
On Nebraska's ensuing drive, Cornhuskers quarterback Anthony Colandrea threw an interception throughout the middle of the field that was returned by Alex McLaughlin for the 48-yard pick-6. It was Colandrea's third interception of the game, in which he additionally completed 24 of 44 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown.
As some fans were seen throwing items onto the field to show their displeasure with what had just happened: a third straight game where the Cornhuskers saw their late fourth-quarter lead go away, the collapse additionally brought out frustration from those in the stands at Memorial Stadium.
After Nebraska's 17-10 loss, Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule stated to journalists that he took the blame for calling a corner blitz on fourth-and-18 in the fourth quarter, the play where Williams converted the fourth-and-long to set up Washington's go-ahead score.
"That play is 100% on me, " Rhule remarked. ". As we search for ways to obtain off the field at the end. I have to live with."
Nebraska has now lost three straight games by a combined 13 points. The Cornhuskers are the only team in FBS this season to have held a lead heading into the fourth quarter.
"I certainly understand how frustrated everyone is that this has happened three games in a row, " Rhule remarked. "I obviously feel it, too. I'm responsible for it. It's my job."
Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify. Share your feedback to support improve our site!
In short, nebraska held late lead over Washington. 60 seconds later, fans were trashing is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.