Overtime Continues to Be Futility Time for Nebraska Football…

Firing blanks in overtime has been an unfortunate Husker habit since 2015, and the trend continued in Friday night’s 31-24 loss to Illinois.

For the eighth consecutive time, Nebraska failed to pull off an overtime win. Failed to score. Failed to pick up so much as a first down.

All this was documented last year and in 2021, but once again there are some ugly numbers to update.

The Huskers have now run 27 plays in overtime during this nearly decade-long stretch for minus-11 net yards of total offense. They’ve thrown nearly as many interceptions (4) as completions (6). No run has gone for more than three yards. Only twice have they needed to pick up less than eight yards on third down.

Anemic running game. Officially, the Huskers have run the ball 11 times for minus-51 yards. Disregard quarterback sacks and it’s still beyond meager: six rushes for four yards.
Trouble stopping the run. Nebraska’s opponents have amassed 131 rushing yards on 27 carries. Their average rushing gain is a robust 4.85 yards, which is 60% better than Nebraska’s longest rushing gain (3 yards).
Disastrous passing game. Husker quarterbacks have completed six of 16 passes for 40 yards and have had four intercepted. On five other called passing plays that count statistically as runs, Nebraska has suffered quarterback sacks for losses totaling 55 yards. That means 21 called passing plays have netted minus-15 yards and four turnovers.
Add it all up. That’s minus-11 yards of total offense, zero points, zero first downs and four turnovers in 27 plays.
Over the course of eight overtimes, dumb luck or the law of averages ought to get you an occasional first down or five-yard run. Yet those common achievements in football continue to elude the Huskers in OT. Instead of one measly first down Friday night, Nebraska produced the unlikeliest of stats — minus-25 yards of total offense, including a third-and-42 situation — as the Illini sacked Dylan Raiola three times.

Before the current eight-game skid, Nebraska was 8-1 in overtime games, but now the ledger stands at 8-9. The Huskers’ last win in OT came in 2014 at Iowa in Bo Pelini’s final game as head coach.

Below are composite stats from the eight-game streak of overtime futility. (Hold phone horizontally for better viewing of table.) Scroll down further for Nebraska’s game-by-game plays on offense, plus Husker coaches’ OT records and links to all 17 Husker overtime games.