The big man felt the punches starting to land.

Nebraska had just 179 yards of offense prior to its final drive. But now there had been a 24-yard catch by Billy

Kemp on a third-and-6. A dynamic 29-yard run by Emmett Johnson. Chubba Purdy then weaved his way for 11

more yards to the 5.

The Huskers had gained 92 yards on eight plays, jazzing up the home crowd in the process.

“I think we were rolling on that last drive for us,” said Husker center Ben Scott. “I think those body blows were

starting to add up and that defense starting to wear down and I think that we were just going play after play after

play. And then having the game end like that, not a good feeling after our last drive like that.”

The pick that ended it, and the other four turnovers by Nebraska, left a feeling that the Huskers had set a game that

was theirs in the opponent’s lap. Understandable since the Huskers seemed like they held the hammer with five

minutes left.

On the other hand, the Terrapins outyarded Nebraska by 115 and Maryland averaged 5.8 yards per play to Nebraska’s

4.4. And before those final drives by each team the Terrapins were feeling like they had given away the goods

themselves, fumbling en route to a potential go-ahead touchdown on the 3-yard-line just before that Purdy-led possession.

In the third quarter Nebraska’s defense took it away twice in Terps territory to set up 10 points on a platter for the

offense. It was a big switcheroo in field position for the Huskers after a first half in which NU’s average starting

position on its four drives was its own 13.

It wasn’t as though Nebraska didn’t have some opportunities on some of those first-half drives. NU had the ball 10

plays on its first possession and 12 on the first drive led by Jeff Sims, which ended with a fourth-and-2 play at the

Maryland 27 getting blown up. Then Nebraska drove 45 yards in six plays just prior to halftime before Sims had a

pass picked in the end zone.

“Offensively, I thought there were long times of just dominant downhill run game,” said Husker head coach Matt

Rhule, whose team ran for 183 yards. “Just if you don’t convert third downs or create explosives it’s hard to

maintain that.”

Explosives were rare and Nebraska was just 2-of-9 on third down.

And obviously the turnovers were the story, as Nebraska now has an incredible 27 giveaways on the season, with all

but five coming from the QB position.

On SaturdayHeinrich Haarberg threw an interception before he injured his ankle. Sims had two interceptions and

a fumble. The fumble came after Nebraska had grabbed a 10-7 lead and immediately put Maryland in field goal range

to tie it early in the fourth quarter.

“As a quarterback counter, it’s not there, we don’t reverse field. At some point we just have to execute the plays that

are there,” Rhule said. “We don’t need guys trying to make a play when it’s not there. Just kind of said, ‘Hey, let’s give

Chubba a shot.’

Purdy had a few of the best plays he’s had as a Husker on his final drive, but it ended with a pick too.

Husker quarterback play is rough as sandpaper right now, and they’re beat up too. Who runs the offense moving forward?

“I think you just take it day by day. You get in there (Sunday) and you see sort of where is Heinrich at physically,”

Rhule said. “Heinrich’s gift is that he’s a dual-threat player and so if he doesn’t have the ability to run and cut and do

all those things, then that limits kind of what he can do.”

Purdy also has had his own injury since the offseason, a groin injury that is going to require surgery some point soon.

“Chubba is getting back to being healthy, so it was good to see him have an opportunity to go play,” said Rhule, who

was asked if he thought Purdy could play for a full game if called on for a bigger role against either Wisconsin or

Iowa. “I think he could answer that better than me. I know the other day they did the groin testing and they do it

every week, and his strength was back to where it originally was. That being said, he does have something that might

require something at the end of the year.”

Rhule said he’d like to know the possible QB plan by Tuesday for Wisconsin, which is also 5-5 now after a 24-10 loss

to Northwestern.

“What we don’t want to do is be waffling back and forth,” Rhule said. “We want to have someone get the main reps

and then someone get the second most reps and then kind of go from there. But I’d be lying to if I told you who that

would be right now.”

As some key guys heal, including cornerback Quinton Newsome, the Huskers have to get back on the horse fast.

Nebraska needs one more W to secure bowl practices and ideally make December a busy one of growth that can

boost the program into 2024.

“I know the guys in our locker room are pretty upset, pretty hurt right now,” Rhule said. “As I told them, the things

that cause winning and losing, it’s not this mysterious thing out there. It’s winning the turnover battle, fourth quarter

shutouts. All the things that we were not able to do tonight, and still had a chance to win. I know we’re pretty

disappointed but we’ll regroup.”