Sophomore quarterback Heinrich Haarberg had an opportunity to bounce again from the worst efficiency of his profession. He threw an interception and would go on to go away the sport.

Junior Jeff Sims had an opportunity to redeem himself from a string of unfortunate performs which have riddled his Husker profession. He turned the ball over 3 times earlier than being benched.

Sophomore Chubba Purdy had an opportunity to indicate everybody that he ought to have been the man at quarterback all through the season. He was seven yards away from doing that till he threw an interception within the endzone.

All three quarterbacks noticed motion Saturday as Nebraska confronted Maryland with hopes of incomes bowl eligibility for the primary time since 2016. While there have been flashes right here and there, the quarterback play finally served because the downfall of the Husker offense.

Just 86 yards by the air between the three of them. Zero touchdowns. Four interceptions. One fumble.

A quarterback controversy has ramped again up in Lincoln with solely two video games remaining.

“We want somebody to get the main reps and someone else get the second best reps,” head coach Matt Rhule stated postgame. “I would be lying to you if I told you I knew who that was going to be right now.”

The Blackshirt protection did their half, forcing large turnovers down the stretch that modified the complexion of the sport. However, harking back to week one towards Minnesota, they had been too drained from saving the offense and crumbled into giving up a game-winning drive. 

It is smart how the protection would fall. After all, they compelled a Terrapin fumble inside their very own 10-yard line just for Purdy to throw a choose inside the opposite 10. What ought to have served as a benchmark efficiency for the Blackshirts as a substitute added to the prevailing narrative of ineptitude beneath middle.

Like earlier weeks, Nebraska’s run recreation was top-notch with 183 yards on the bottom. Its lone landing drive consisted of six consecutive run performs with redshirt freshman fullback Janiran Bonner taking it in from two yards out.

With how their protection was taking part in, the Huskers might’ve introduced out an offensive scheme straight out of the 90s. Instead, they acquired too cute with their play calling and tried to drive the passing recreation to be a risk. However, that plan received’t ever come to fruition contemplating Nebraska’s quarterback room.

Haarberg solely performed in two drives resulting from an ankle damage, however his begin would have warranted a benching even when at 100%. After an opening-drive interception finally acquired bailed out by a defensive holding — for the second week in a row — he would throw one other one on an equally as unhealthy throw six performs later.

Sims appeared stable at first, however would ultimately succumb to the issues which have plagued him all yr. 

It got here crumbling down after senior quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa dominated by the air, needing simply two performs and one receiver to get Maryland on the board. Sims tried his finest to emulate him on the following drive, however the second he confronted a collapsing pocket, he panicked and threw a desperation move resulting in a choose.

With all of the momentum on the planet on Nebraska’s facet within the fourth, Sims would flip the ball over twice on back-to-back performs. The first was a fumble when making an attempt to make one thing out of nothing. The second was a mind-boggling interception thrown to a triple-covered receiver.

Purdy then had an opportunity to be the hero, going 90 yards down the sector earlier than questionable play calling contained in the 10-yard line wrote the writing on the wall of one other interception.

The Huskers have an enigma at quarterback. Ten video games into the season, no progress — maybe even unfavorable progress — has been made. 

Turnovers have been the story of the Nebraska offense all season, however the different place teams have shelved it as of late. Every Husker turnover prior to now two weeks has come from whoever was at quarterback.

The Blackshirts acquired beat deep on a number of events with Tagovailoa and his revolving door of weapons having their approach. Yet the protection hardly broke, coming away with a few of their largest performs all season. For the second time of the season, the Husker protection held their opponent to 13 factors just for the offense to not eclipse that mark.

“You saw the impact of us taking the ball away a few times and as I said to the guys, it’s just a shame,” Rhule stated postgame. “It overshadows all the other good things that they’re doing when you get four turnovers and you lose 13-10.” 

Nebraska was taking a look at a darkish horse Big Ten title recreation run two weeks in the past. Now it fights for its life simply to succeed in a bowl recreation. The Huskers should win certainly one of their final two video games towards Wisconsin and Iowa — two groups it’s a mixed 2-16 towards over the previous ten years.

Struggles within the month of November are not any stranger to Nebraska, and after the uninspired play of the offense blended with contentious play-calling, the development seems to be to proceed going ahead.

sports@dailynebraskan.com