These are tough times for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but in one 10-second sequence Friday night, the team rekindled memories of their glory days … with fans hoping it’s a glimpse of the future, too.
Playing as 3.5-point underdogs on the road against Illinois, Nebraska got on the board first with a first-quarter field goal.
Then, the craziness started.
The Cornhuskers put together a 14-play, 79-yard drive, capped by a 1-yard Anthony Grant touchdown run.
Before Nebraska fans had even finished celebrating that score, the team recovered an onside kick on the Fighting Illini 25-yard line. (Never mind that the “onside kick” was wind-aided and totally inadvertent — this is a feel-good story.)
On the very next play, Nebraska quarterback Heinrich Haarberg scampered in for a 25-yard TD run.
That’s two touchdowns and 14 points in 10 seconds.
A crazy sequence, but it could have gotten even weirder. On the ensuing kickoff, three Illinois players collided going after the ball, nearly resulting in disaster.
For all the bad things fans have had to say about Nebraska’s slow 2-3 start under new head coach Matt Rhule, this flurry of points was a welcome surprise. Fans reacted accordingly on social media.
THE NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS MADE A POSITIVE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAY
— cam (@Cam_Is_Like) October 7, 2023
My soon-to-be 10 year old son just called the Nebraska Cornhuskers “the Karen team” of college football and now I cannot unsee it.
— Turrón Bland0 (@thebland0) October 7, 2023
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.