Watch highlights from Iowa's loss to Nebraska
Watch highlights from Iowa's loss to Nebraska
Decisions loom for Alex Padilla, others after Iowa football’s 24-17 loss to Nebraska
Between the transfer portal, extra COVID-19 years of eligibility and bowl opt-ins or opt-outs, some Iowa football players will have a lot to reflect on in the next month before Iowa’s next game.
Iowa injury updates
• Ferentz received a “pretty optimistic report in the locker room” about defensive back Cooper DeJean, who exited the game with an injury. When asked whether it was concussion protocol, Ferentz said he was “not sure.”
• Petras’ injury is “upper body, shoulder,” Ferentz said. He does not expect to know more until Monday.
• Linebacker Jay Higgins, who missed Friday’s game, suffered a “kind of freakish” injury Wednesday. Ferentz thought “maybe he’d have a chance” to play against Nebraska before the medical staff “ruled him out even before they left the hotel.” He anticipated a return “sometime next week.”
• Wide receiver Keagan Johnson played for the first time since Iowa’s 27-0 win against Nevada in a limited role. He did not have any targets. Ferentz said he was “fine” from a health standpoint after the game.
Friday’s loss to Nebraska was 2022 in capsule form for 17-points-a-game Hawkeyes
This is how the West was lost: Yet another unacceptable offensive performance with four turnovers joining more-familiar inefficiency.
Kirk Ferentz said medical staff “didn’t seem too concerned” about Cooper DeJean’s injury.
Watch Kirk Ferentz's postgame press conference
Comeback falls short for Iowa in upset loss to Nebraska
Nestled near the stages for the Big Ten Network pregame show and Iowa radio pregame show, signs for the “Fan Zone” sponsored by Tums stood outside the southeast corner of Kinnick Stadium Friday afternoon.
It was well-timed advertising considering Iowa fans may have needed a few antacids to stomach the Hawkeyes’ up-and-down 24-17 loss to Nebraska.
A win would have sent the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten championship for the second consecutive season. Instead, Iowa has its worst regular-season finish (7-5) since 2017.
Final: Nebraska 24, Iowa 17
Alex Padilla is picked off by Chris Kolarevic on fourth-and-8 with 42 seconds left.
Nebraska (+10.5) upsets Iowa to finish its season 4-8 overall and 3-6 in the Big Ten. Iowa is 7-5, 5-4.
The Huskers avoid losing a 24-point lead and win the Heroes Trophy for the first time since 2014, as Iowa goes 2-2 in trophy games this season.
The Hawkeyes now need Illinois (at Northwestern) and Purdue (at Indiana) to lose tomorrow to reach the Big Ten championship game.
14 net yards on the punt ...
Nebraska special teams. Iowa will have another shot at a game-tying drive from its 20 with no timeouts and 1:05 to go.
Iowa turns it over on downs
Padilla misses on fourth down amid pressure. Nebraska takes over on downs. 2:06 to go. Iowa has two timeouts left.
Ball on Iowa 33
Arland Bruce IV's third-down catch is overturned after review. Incomplete pass. Fourth-and-10 from the Iowa 33.
Iowa gets the ball back after a defensive stop. Punt rolled to the Iowa 22-yard line. 3:20 to go.
Nebraska 24, Iowa 17 (5:41 4th)
Iowa goes three-and-out after the fumble recovery.
Drew Stevens hits a 45-yard field goal. 5:41 to go. One-possession game again.
Wow.
This is a game again. Nebraska fumble recovered by Iowa's Logan Klemp.
Ball on the Nebraska 27. 6:03 to go.
Padilla had a heck of a possession there. Completed 6 of 8, with the only incompletions on throwaways. Iowa is down 24-14 with 6:49 left, has two timeouts remaining.
Touchdown Iowa
The Hawkeyes have life. Alex Padilla hits Luke Lachey over the middle and he drags three defenders into the end zone fora 14-yard touchdown.
It was a nine-play, 90-yard drive with 2:45 with the season on the line. Still need a couple more.
Nebraska 24, Iowa 14 (6:49 4th)
Jake Butt singled out the big TE at the top of the screen.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
Luke Lachey, the big TE, reeled in the @HawkeyeFootball TD. pic.twitter.com/x6XnNPB0Ww
Roughing the passer after Padilla connects with Ragaini for 11 yards.
Ball on the Nebraska 20. Padilla already had completions for 20, 14 and 15 yards on this drive.
Casey Thompson misses an open Oliver Martin deep downfield on third down, and Nebraska has to punt.
Iowa ball on its own 10-yard line. 9:34 to go. Still down, 24-7.
Iowa is called for ... leaping the punt shield... and Nebraska goes from having to punt it to getting a first down.
End 3rd: Nebraska 24, Iowa 7
Iowa is down three possessions with 15 minutes to go. Nebraska ball on third down to start the fourth.
Iowa had the ball for 4:14 and got nothing, still needs three scores including two touchdowns. Last minute of the third quarter.
Touchdown Iowa
Kaleb Johnson gets Iowa on the board with a 44-yard touchdown run. It was a seven-play, 75-yard drive.
The Hawkeyes now have 108 yards rushing, 44 passing.
Nebraska 24, Iowa 7 (8:32 3rd)
TOUCHDOWN IOWA 😤@HawkeyeFootball is on the board! 💪 pic.twitter.com/RNcVknadZK
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2022
Touchdown Nebraska
On third-and-6, Casey Thompson finds Marcus Washington over the middle for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
A three-play, 18-yard drive after the muffed punt. That's 17 points off turnovers for the Huskers.
Nebraska 24, Iowa 0 (12:15 3rd)
It's 24-0. 💥@_MarcusW11 x @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/y6gUfbqaNB
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
Another turnover
Arland Bruce IV muffs the punt.
Nebraska ball on the Iowa 18-yard line.
Halftime: Nebraska 17, Iowa 0
Terrible first half offensively and defensively for Iowa. DeJean and Petras suffer injuries. Biggest halftime deficit of the season.
Halftime stats | #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/dK7KA9vpH4
— IowaFBLive (@IowaFBLive) November 25, 2022
Hawkeyes have great field position, and Kaleb Johnson gets a 6-yard rush on the first play.
Then it goes downhill fast. Padilla misses a *wide*-open Bruce on second down. Sacked on third down. Taylor punts again.
Touchdown Nebraska
One play after a third-down pass interference penalty on Sebastian Castro, Casey Thompson hits an open Trey Palmer in the end zone for their second touchdown connection of the game, this one an 18-yard score.
It was a three-play, 39-yard drive for the Huskers after the Padilla fumble.
Nebraska 17, Iowa 0 (10:51 2nd)
TD ➡️ Griddy
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
Trey Palmer breaks it out for the second straight week. 🕺 pic.twitter.com/weyiUjprmD
Yikes.
Padilla fumbles (forced by Eteva Mauga-Clements) and Nebraska's Garrett Nelson recovers it and runs it to the Iowa 39-yard line.
This will be Nebraska's fourth drive in Iowa territory.
Here come the Corn Huskers 🌽@HuskerFBNation's defense has been a problem for Iowa 😤 pic.twitter.com/eZGXc3Vmos
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2022
QB change
Spencer Petras has the red hat and headset on. Alex Padilla is warming up.
It's Padilla time.
Another injury update: Looks like Cooper DeJean is done. He's back on the sideline, not in uniform.
Iowa trailed 21-6 late in the third quarter last year in Lincoln. So, there's that.
Nebraska 10, Iowa 0 (3:24 1st)
Casey Thompson had roughly seven or eight seconds to throw on third-and-8. Defensive holding on Riley Moss, and Nebraska is in the red zone again.
Iowa keeps Nebraska out of the end zone after the Petras fumble set up the Huskers in excellent field position.
Bleekrode's 21-yard field goal is good.
Iowa fumbles
This is an ugly start ...
Spencer Petras sacked by Quinton Newsome on second-and-7 and loses the ball.
Review shows Petras clearly fumbled it (recovered by Nebraska). Huskers start at the Iowa 31-yard line.
Petras went into the medical tent after the fumble. Alex Padilla has his helmet on.
STRIP-SACK! 👀@HuskerFBNation recovers 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Fk6CoJwH17
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2022
Touchdown Nebraska
On the first play of Nebraska's second possession, Trey Palmer gets wide open behind Iowa true freshman backup T.J. Hall. Casey Thompson finds him for an 87-yard touchdown and the Huskers lead.
Nebraska 7, Iowa 0 (8:45 1st)
Trey Palmer tweeted that he woke up angry again today.
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 25, 2022
You know what that means: Another big day. 💥@treythekiid3 x @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/DHbCvFPbwH
Iowa passes and punts
Leshon Williams rushed for 11 and 10 yards on consecutive plays against a bad rushing defense. Then Iowa started passing again, and Nebraska has the ball.
Huskers come up empty
Timmy Bleekrode missed a 32-yard field goal wide right, and a 10-play, 45-yard Nebraska drive results in zero points.
Kaevon Merriweather made the key third-down play, blitzing and hitting Casey Thompson to force a wobbly throw.
👀 @HawkeyeFootball's D bringing the HEAT in Iowa City 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ovtFYXhBeo
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2022
Key injury
Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean is down with an injury. DeJean walks off the field under his own power and heads to the medical tent.
True freshman DB T.J. Hall is in the game after the DeJean injury.
Iowa's first possession lasts less than a minute.
Not an ideal kickoff return. Gavin Williams takes it from the 6 to the 14.
Three-and-out for Iowa, and Tory Taylor punts it 46 yards for a fair catch.
Iowa pregame injury updates
• WR Keagan Johnson is participating in early warmups. Johnson is in uniform and also participating in later warmups. We'll see how many reps he gets.
• LB Jay Higgins is not participating in early warmups.
Scouts at the game
NFL scouts are expected from the Jets, Cardinals, Patriots and Chargers for today's Hawkeyes-Huskers game.
Another year, another Black Friday game with a 3-8 Nebraska team
This Black Friday football thing between Iowa and Nebraska has never really caught on, has it?
In fact, Nebraska itself has never taken off in the Big Ten. Will it ever stop being a foot wipe for the rest of the league? Of course. Sooner or later, the ball will bounce its way a couple times. Or the school will hire a coach who assembles a solid program.
But while the Huskers got a slab of the cash cow known as the Big Ten, what did the conference get in return?
3 keys for Iowa football against Nebraska
Iowa has faced Big Ten teams with a mix of offensive styles.
Nebraska’s formula for success is not quite as clear.
“I feel like they don’t really have an identity,” Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell said. “But what I feel like they do have is they play hard, they do things well.”
How to watch Iowa vs. Nebraska
Kickoff time: 3:01 p.m. (CT)
TV: Big Ten Network
Live stream: FoxSports.com