Nebraska Uses Quick-Strike Offense at Purdue

Can the Huskers win with this style?

Dan McGlynn | Oct 17, 2022

Robert Goddin photo-USA TODAY Sports

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Saturday night's 43-37 loss at Purdue showed a lot about the Huskers: the team is playing its guts out for interim head coach Mickey Joseph. The Huskers never led in the game and trailed by double digits three times in the first half: 20-10, 27-10 and 27-13. NU also trailed twice in the second half, 34-23 and 43-30. Every time it looked as if the Boilermakers were going to start to run away with the game, NU responded.

The play of the night happened with just minutes to go in the game. Purdue had the ball 4th and 1 at midfield. Stuff the play and Nebraska would have had the ball near the 50 yard line with about three minutes to go. Unfortunately for the Huskers, NU didn't get the stop and Purdue won the game. I believe had Nebraska taken possession at midfield, the Huskers would have won.

Why? Two reasons: QB Casey Thompson and WR Trey Palmer. Palmer jumped into the Husker record book Saturday night. He now owns the school record for most receiving yards in a game with 237. Palmer also ran for 60 yards on an end-around play to give him 297 yards from scrimmage for the night. Palmer had two TD catches - one for 37 yards and one for 72 yards. He also had non-scoring catches of 39 and 60 yards. Purdue couldn't stop him all night. The Boilermakers' ability to keep the ball away from Nebraska was their only and best defense.

Also amazing was Nebraska had only 17 minutes of possession time compared with over 42 minutes for Purdue! That is an absolutely crazy stat. That Nebraska could generate 37 points while having possession only 17 minutes is insane.

Quarterback Aidan O'Connell runs for a first down on Purdue's game-ending possession.

Purdue's Devin Mockobee runs for a touchdown during the first half.

Nebraska's Trey Palmer set a Husker single-game record with 237 receiving yards.

Nebraska running back Jaquez Yant fights for yardage against the Boilermakers.

The ball comes loose as Husker quarterback Casey Thompson is blindsided during the first half. Nebraska recovered the ball.

Nebraska running back Anthony Grant runs past Purdue defensive tackle Branson Deen during the second half.

Nebraska's Chris Kolarevic thwarts a pass intended for Purdue running back Devin Mockobee.

© Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Purdue wide receiver TJ Sheffield dives into the end zone for a touchdown.

Purdue running back Devin Mockobee runs against Nebraska linebacker Nick Henrich during the first half.

© Noe Padilla/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Purdue's Devin Mockobee runs through a big hole in the Nebraska defensive line.

Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell passes the ball as Ochaun Mathis closes in.

Purdue running back Devin Mockobee carries the ball.

Jaquez Yant celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half.

Purdue wide receiver Mershawn Rice catches a pass during the second half.

Nebraska's Garrett Nelson pursues Purdue receiver Charlie Jones during the second half.

Nebraska wide receiver Marcus Washington catches a pass.

© Alex Martin photo/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nebraska's Malcolm Hartzog intercepts a pass in the end zone on Purdue's first possession of the game.

Another view of Malcolm Hartzog's interception.

© Alex Martin photo/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWOR

Nebraska's Casey Thompson is sacked during the first half.

Nebraska's Timmy Bleekrode kicks a field goal during the first half.

Nebraska's Casey Thompson uncorks a pass against the Boilermakers.

Purdue's Aidan O'Connell throws a pass during the second half.

Purdue wide receiver TJ Sheffield dives into the end zone for a touchdown past Nebraska's Isaac Gifford during the second half.

Nebraska's Myles Farmer chases Purdue running back King Doerue.

Nebraska tight end Travis Vokolek runs after making a second-half catch.

Purdue defensive end Kydran Jenkins sacks Casey Thompson during the first half.

Nebraska's Trey Palmer catches a pass for a touchdown during the second half.

Purdue running back King Doerue tries to get past Nebraska's Ernest Hausmann.

Purdue's Charlie Jones with one of his 12 catches against the Huskers.

Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson makes a throw.

Purdue running back King Doerue is tackled by Nebraska's Ernest Hausmann.

Purdue wide receiver TJ Sheffield spins away from Nebraska defensive back Malcolm Hartzog on his way to scoring a touchdown during the second half.

Purdue defensive tackle Branson Deen sacks Nebraska's Casey Thompson during the first half.

My grandson Will (age 16) suggested that college football keep track of points per minute. It would be interesting to see through the season and through the years how teams rate in PPM each game.

Saturday's Purdue-Husker game meant every minute Nebraska had the ball, it scored 2 points. That's also an amazing stat.

For contrast, Purdue's came in at a little over 1 PPM. The Huskers' PPM more than doubled Purdue's. But when a team scores so quickly and can't stop the other team's offense, losses are going to happen. Quick scoring drives may look great in the highlights, but winning is the object of the game.

I did some research on the past Husker PPM totals. I thought maybe NU would have reached 2 PPM last year when they beat Northwestern 56-7 at Memorial Stadium. But Nebraska could manage only 1.44 PPM in that win. How about NU's 52-7 win over Fordham last year? Nope. NU's PPM was only 1.64. And what about the '96 Fiesta Bowl when Nebraska crushed Florida 62-24 for the national championship? Again, no. As dominating as the Huskers were that night, they could muster just 1.77 PPM.

I'll keep researching the subject and if I find anything new, I will give you an update.

How ’Bout Them Huskers

On this week's podcast, Will and I review the Huskers' loss to Purdue. We also give some props for the success of the Husker volleyball program. Next up for the Husker football team is an Oct. 29 game at Memorial Stadium against Illinois.

HuskerMax Purdue game page
Fanalytix Purdue interactive stats

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Published Oct 17, 2022

DAN MCGLYNN

Dan “Husker Dan” McGlynn has been writing about Husker football since 2003. His columns have appeared on HuskerMax.com as well as in several local newspapers and magazines. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dan is a native Nebraskan and lives in Omaha. You may contact him at HuskerDan@cox.net.

How ’Bout Them Huskers

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