Mickey Joseph takes blame as Huskers are overwhelmed by Oklahoma in 49-14 loss

Perhaps it was as a result of an previous rival was on the town. Or maybe the brand new man in command of the Nebraska soccer staff sparked optimism. Both method, the temper across the Huskers on Saturday recreation felt completely different than their earlier three contests.

However, when the clouds gave solution to sunshine, the on-field product regarded all too acquainted.

The Nebraska protection was far overmatched in opposition to the elite athletes from Oklahoma, and the No. 6 Sooners rolled to a 49-14 win over Nebraska at Memorial Stadium.

“I assume I didn’t do sufficient final week to get them prepared,” stated interim head coach Mickey Joseph. “I gotta get again and do some particular person work, extra drill work subsequent week and fewer staff work to get some fundamentals straightened up.”

In each sense, it was a perfect begin to the sport for Nebraska, which fell to 1-3 this season.

A thunderous Memorial Stadium roared when a sack, deal with for loss and incompletion led to an Oklahoma (3-0) punt on its opening drive of the sport. Then, Nebraska got here out firing on all cylinders. The Huskers’ first three performs all went for first downs, and when quarterback Casey Thompson discovered Trey Palmer for a 32-yard landing go, NU’s 7-0 lead represented hope.

“It felt prefer it was going our method,” security Myles Farmer stated.

It didn’t take lengthy for the Sooners to steal that hope away.

Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel turned an harmless scramble into an explosive 61-yard run as he evaded a number of would-be tacklers on his solution to the top zone to tie the sport 7-7.

Nebraska’s opening drive was a shining success, but it surely failed to take care of the rhythm. NU’s subsequent 16 performs resulted in a web achieve of three yards, and 4 consecutive drives ended with Brian Buschini trotting on the sector to punt the ball away.

Oklahoma took benefit of Nebraska’s struggles by persevering with to push the tempo offensively. Gabriel tossed a 25-yard landing go to Jalil Farooq late within the first quarter, and the Sooners additionally bought an enormous enhance from a Marvin Mims 34-yard punt return that arrange a brief discipline only a few minutes later.

“They do job getting their ability gamers the ball in house they usually have actually good athletes,” Nebraska linebacker Nick Henrich stated.

Oklahoma wanted 5 performs to search out the top zone with a 1-yard run from Marcus Main. The junior working again was additionally the supply of OU’s subsequent landing on a trick play the place tight finish Brayden Willis threw a 24-yard landing go to Main.

In lower than 15 in-game minutes, Nebraska’s 7-0 lead had changed into a 28-7 deficit. And that was solely the beginning of it.

Even Nebraska’s sturdy 11-play drive that chewed up over 4 minutes of clock didn’t finish effectively, as Anthony Grant’s fourth-down carry was stopped wanting a primary down. Oklahoma had another landing drive left in it, a 16-yard Eric Grey landing run that capped a 1:10 drive for the Sooners and put them up 35-7 at halftime.

NU surrendered 355 yards within the first half alone. In the meantime, Oklahoma tossed Thompson to the turf 4 occasions for sacks as Nebraska’s closing seven possessions of the primary half all ended with out factors.

Trailing by 28 factors, a fast rating to the beginning the second half was a requirement for any Nebraska comeback effort. As a substitute, a 21-yard catch-and-run from Palmer on the primary play of the half ended with him fumbling close to midfield, and Oklahoma pounced on the free ball for its first takeaway of the sport.

“They beat us in all three phases of the sport,” Joseph stated.

Grey rapidly adopted together with his second speeding landing earlier than Gabriel’s 15-yard landing go to Theo Wease pushed Oklahoma’s streak to 49 consecutive factors scored.

The fast-paced scoring ceased late within the second half as each groups rotated their backups into the fold, however no additional fortune awaited Nebraska. After its game-opening landing drive, the Huskers failed to attain on their closing 12 possessions of the sport earlier than Chubba Purdy’s landing run late within the fourth quarter.

Thompson went 14-of-20 for 129 yards and one landing, with Palmer hauling in 10 of these passes for 92 yards. After three straight 100-yard video games on the bottom, Anthony Grant was held to 36 yards on 13 carries as NU gained 327 yards total.

On protection, the Huskers entered the sport rating No. 124 nationally with 492 yards allowed per recreation, they usually received’t be any higher off contemplating the Sooners racked up 580 yards of whole offense.

After one more poor defensive efficiency, there was loads of speak about accepting duty.

“That is on me, not my gamers and never my assistant coaches,” Joseph stated. “I feel they’re going to be okay as a result of they don’t have to carry onto this loss; that is on me and I advised them that. It’s my job to get them higher and we are going to get them higher.”

Even when their head coach was keen to place the loss on him, NU’s defensive leaders had a unique perspective.

“That’s what he’s purported to say,” Farmer stated. “As a staff, everyone knows it’s not on him; he’s not on the sector. It wasn’t on coach Mickey.”

“Coaches can solely accomplish that a lot; I imply, we’re those taking part in,” Henrich stated. “It’s on all of us at this level. I’m a captain, Garrett’s a captain and it’s on us to repair it, frankly.”

Because it now sits at 1-3 on the season, Nebraska’s bye week couldn’t come at a greater time. The Huskers may have per week off to regroup earlier than returning to Memorial Stadium on Oct. 1 to face Indiana.

After per week filled with adjustments, anticipate extra to come back earlier than Nebraska hits the sector once more.

“Coach Mickey modified the schedule up a bit of bit and I feel that’s good for us,” Travis Vokolek stated. “Guys are adapting effectively. As we speak stunk clearly, however we’re simply tremendous excited for this bye week and to get again on the market.”