Iowa entered Saturday’s game against Nebraska as a heavy favorite, but the surest way for a favorite to let an underdog hang around is by making crucial mistakes. The Hawkeyes made one at the end of the first half.
Nebraska attempted a field goal down 21-10 with just seconds remaining in the first half, and the 51-yarder would have been a career long for Barrett Pickering if he converted it. He didn’t have enough leg, as the kick was on line but came up short. However, an offsides penalty on Iowa gave Pickering another shot at it from five yards closer.
The second time, he nailed it:
Iowa iced the @HuskerFBNation kicker before half.
Instead, Iowa jumped offside on the miss and Pickering got another chance.
He nailed it, and it's 21-13 Iowa at half: pic.twitter.com/X4JxZRT7R8
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 23, 2018
The 46-yard field goal cut Iowa’s lead to 21-13, making it a one-possession game with the Cornhuskers receiving the second half kick. It goes without saying that those are the types of penalties that drive a coaching staff insane.
