November 23, 2024

McKewon: Scott Frost vows to fight, after Blackshirts melt and students call for his firing

Scott Frost #ScottFrost

LINCOLN — By a thread it hung, late into the night, through interminable reviews and media timeouts and so many yards and points and momentum shifts that a stopped heart may as well have been on the menu.

But a loss? To Georgia Southern? As the main dish?

“I certainly didn’t expect that tonight,” coach Scott Frost said after his team lost 45-42 to the Eagles. “I thought we’d perform a lot better than that.”

Frost meant his defense, which perhaps, given the opponent, played the worst game in school history. Georgia Southern broke the Blackshirts like few ever have. GSU amassed 642 yards – just 14 short of the opponent record against Nebraska – and delivered a game-winning score with 36 seconds left.

NU and quarterback Casey Thompson — whose 15-play, 98-yard touchdown march in the fourth quarter briefly gave the Huskers their only lead of the night — drove Nebraska to the GSU 34 with 1 second left. Timmy Bleekrode missed a 52-yard field goal wide left at the gun.

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That’s when, a few minutes later some in Nebraska’s student section said the quiet part out loud.

“Fire Frost! Fire Frost!” they yelled.

On a night when Nebraska chose to honor agriculture with a series of honors and a long HuskerVision video, it would appear the reaping is near.

Though it is not Athletic Director Trev Alberts’ preference to fire Frost — and certainly not before the Oct. 1 date when the $15 million buyout goes down to $7.5 million — there’s always the possibility that Frost, having lost his second game to a Sun Belt team, having suffered another one-score defeat, had coached his last game. Asked what’d he say to fans at this point, Frost focused on the present.

“I’m blessed to be the coach here,” Frost said. “I love this state and this program, I’m fighting with everything I have. So is the rest of the coaching staff.”

He mentioned he might be spending more time with the defense, though.

For years a triple option team with a sweet tooth of pushing major-conferences foes , GSU (2-0) has switched to the Air Raid passing offense under new coach Clay Helton. The Eagles had sirens sounding all over Nebraska’s defense Saturday night, wailing on throws short and deep, even on running plays.

NU had a “notion,” Frost said, it could do well in its base defense. It was wrong. When the Huskers zigged, Georgia Southern zagged, getting into the right plays for whatever Nebraska did. Frost said one side of the ball — hint: defense — got “outschemed.”

“We didn’t really have an answer on one side of the ball,” Frost said. “We could have played better in some other areas, too. They got after us.”

On a day full of upsets — including Sun Belt stunners over Texas A&M and Notre Dame — Nebraska got off to an awful start, with Thompson taking a sack on NU’s second play of the game — which led to a punt — and Georgia Southern paper-cutting the Blackshirts with a 13-play, 74-yard touchdown drive highlighted by three GSU third down conversions and a Tommi Hill pass interference penalty on an otherwise well-defended flea flicker.

Nebraska answered with a quick scoring march of its own, highlighted by Thompson’s blitz-beating third down throw to Marcus Washington for 33 yard and punctuated by Thompson’s eight-yard scramble for a score.

Thus began the track meet, with 86,862 alternately thrilled-and-stunned fans watching in Memorial Stadium.

Stunner: Vantrease firing 19-and-20-yard lasers before running back Jalen White ran 26 yards through an empty Husker defense to put GSU ahead 14-7.

Thriller: Nebraska’s 10-play, 75-yard touchdown response, followed by a Marques Buford interception on the Eagles’ ensuing possession, which Nebraska chased with another 10-play touchdown march.

Stunner: The Blackshirts dissolving like butter on a Gerald Green 67-yard run that set up one Georgia Southern touchdown and another 47-yard run that was a touchdown. On both, Nebraska defensive linemen and linebackers couldn’t get off blocks and NU safeties couldn’t make immediate tackles.

Thriller, Thriller, Stunner: Thompson’s 24-and-29-yard passes, back-to-back, leading to Husker touchdown, Georgia Southern’s perfectly-executed two-minute drill going for naught because illegal snap penalty ran out the game clock, and GSU’s opening drive of the second half going for an easy touchdown.

The Eagles wouldn’t punt until midway through the third quarter, when they led 35-28 and HuskerVision ran one of its tributes to agriculture to a mildly appreciative audience. Later, with Nebraska driving to tie the game, that same crowd did the wave, NU’s offense tying the game with an Ajay Allen touchdown run as the frivolity ended.

Georgia Southern tacked on an early fourth quarter field goal. Buford picked off a pass at his own 2, Thompson led the team to midfield, limped off after a scramble and was relieved for one play by Logan Smothers — whose on-field fumble was reversed by replay — before returning to finish a 98-yard touchdown drive that gave NU its only lead.

Thompson threw for 318 yards, rushed for another 31, and accounted for four total touchdowns.

“Just trying to focus on doing my job leading the offense,” Thompson said. “That’s all I can control. But, yeah, I mean, a loss is a loss, it’s a team loss.”

Forty-two points, Frost said, ought to be enough to win almost every game a team plays. Thompson played “well” and “made big plays.”

“But it’s a team when you win and a team when you lose,” Frost said, noting some of the deeply-felt emotions in a locker room where the offense converted 9 of 13 third downs and the defense allowed the same. And the new players — who did most of the work on offense Saturday night — don’t have a sense of failure in one-score games.

“They don’t even remember those things,” Frost said, “and the old guys, I don’t think, don’t have that attitude right now. We just simply didn’t get a stop. We had a lot of chances to get a stop. We didn’t get a stop…you can’t give up that many yards and that many points, and win many games.”

Will Frost get the chance to coach another? Rival Oklahoma looms on Saturday. After that, a bye week, which falls before the Oct. 1 game against Indiana. That same day, Frost’s buyout gets cut in half. A night game at Rutgers on Oct. 7 and an Oct. 15 road game at Purdue follows. The late October bye week — there’s just no easy way around it — seems like the spot for Husker football to hit a reset.

That’s a month away. May as well be an eternity. Frost acknowledged “questions and negativity” hover around the program.

“I appreciate the people that are with us,” Frost said.

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Photos: Nebraska takes on Georgia Southern

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost runs off the field following the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode (38) walks off the field after missing a last second field goal attempt in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Tommi Hill (0) reacts after missing a potential interception in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska fans watch the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Georgia Southern’s Jalen White (25) is brought down by the Nebraska defense in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Garrett Nelson (44) and his team huddle together during a break in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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A Nebraska fans crosses her eyes in the final seconds of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost watches the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson (11) passes the ball in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Travis Vokolek (83) and Thomas Fidone II (24) each a replay in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode (38) kicks an extra point in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Anthony Grant (10) puts his head on the field in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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The Georgia Southern bald eagle mascot, named Freedom, stretches his wings following the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost answers questions from the media following the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Garrett Nelson (44) speaks to the media following the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson scores on a two-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Jeremy Singleton catches a 10-yard pass on front of Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Jalen White catches a 14-yard pass as Garrett Nelson defends at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Trey Palmer can’t catch up to this second quarter pass as he races Georgia Southern’s NaJee Thompson at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraskan’s Oliver Martin catches a 26-yard pass in the second quarter in front of Georgia Southern’s Seth Robertson at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Brody Belt catches a 21-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to tie the game at 14 against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Jalen White scores a first quarter touchdown against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford tackles Georgia Southern’s Amare Jones in the first half at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple, left, and ?Head Coach Scott Frost talk in the first half against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson looks for an open receiver before being sacked by Georgia Southern’s Anthony Wilson, right, in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Jalen White scores his team’s second touchdown o na 26-yard run in the first quarter against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost talks with an official in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Kyle Vantrease (6) passes the ball in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Sam Kenerson (0) is carted off the field after an injury in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost crouches on the sideline during the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Gerald Green (4) rushes in for a touchdown in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Luke Reimer (28) gets his arms around Georgia Southern’s Jeremy Singleton (1) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Colton Feist (82) deflects a pass by Georgia Southern’s Kyle Vantrease (6) while being blocked by Georgia Southern’s Khalil Crowder (72) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson (11) runs in for a touchdown in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Marques Buford Jr. (1) makes a catch fo an interception in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome (6) can’t prevent Georgia Southern’s Jeremy Singleton (1) from making a catch in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Gerald Green (4) rushes in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Tommi Hill reacts to be called for pass interference in the first quarter against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Brian Buschini punts for 55 yards in the first quarter against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome reacts to be called for pass interference on a pass thrown to Georgia Southern’s Jeremy Singleton in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Jalen White runs in for a touchdown during their game against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Tommi Hill reacts after Georgia Southern scored a touchdown during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Derwin Burgess Jr. makes a catch ahead of Nebraska’s Tommi Hill during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson is greeted by Chancellor Brewington after scoring a first quarter touchdown against Georgia Southern during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson runs against Georgia Southern during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.

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Georgia Southern’s Jalen White celebrates a first quarter touchdown against Nebraska during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.

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Nebraska’s Scott Frost looks on during the first quarter against Georgia Southern during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.

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Nebraska’s Alante Brown is upended by Georgia Southern’s Derrick Canteen during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.

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Georgia Southern’s Jeremy Singleton winces on the field after getting hurt making a catch late int he second quarter against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Jaeden Gould (8) brings down brings down Derwin Burgess Jr. (2) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Amare Jones (5) is brought down by Nebraska’s Luke Reimer (28) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson (11) rushes in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson (11) rushes in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson (11) celebrates a touchdown in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost watches a replay in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Tommi Hill (0) gets a hand on Georgia Southern’s Derwin Burgess Jr. (2) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Jalen White (25) celebrates a touchdown in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Ron Brown, a Nebraska senior offensive analyst, watches a replay in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Marcus Washington (7) runs with the ball in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska offensive coordinator Mark Whipple watches his team from the sideline in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Anthony Grant (10) rushes in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome (6) brings down Georgia Southern’s Jeremy Singleton (1) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska fans cheer during the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Tommi Hill (0) walks off the field after a Georgia Southern touchdown in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska fans watch the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska fans celebrate a touchdown by Nebraska’s Brody Belt (32) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Marques Buford Jr. (1) celebrates an interception with teammates in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Anthony Wilson (12) celebrates a play in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Gerald Green (4) rushes in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Jaeden Gould (8), Ernest Hausmann (15) and Caleb Tannor (2) watch a replay in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Gerald Green (4) rushes in for a touchdown in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Travis Vokolek (82) high-fives teammates during the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Trey Palmer (3) makes a catch ahead of Georgia Southern’s Wylan Free (5) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska defensive line/edge coach Mike Dawson talks with players during a break in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska offensive coordinator Mark Whipple walks off the field following the first half of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska takes the field for the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Omar Manning (5) warms up ahead of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska takes the field for warm ups ahead of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Fans take a photo ahead of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Travis Vokolek (83) isn’t suited up ahead of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson (11) warms up ahead of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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The Nebraska marching band takes the field ahead of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Fans wait for the Huskers ahead of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday.

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Former Nebraska players Toniu Fonoti, left, and Prince Amukamara speak before being introduced as a 2022 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member before the game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Prince Amukamara throws the bones while being introduced as a 2022 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member before the game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Former Nebraska players Toniu Fonoti, left, shakes hands with Athletic Director Trev Alberts after introduced as a 2022 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame member before the game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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A fan waits near the Husker Legacy Statue before the game against Georgia Southern outside of Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Austin Brown (right) and Oliver Linn play football before the game against Georgia Southern outside of Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Ryker Williams high-fives players as they participate in the Unity Walk before the game against Georgia Southern outside of Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Students line up before the game against Georgia Southern outside of Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Season ticket holders Laura Buchman, left, and her husband Ed Duncklee wait on the start of the Nebraska and Georgia Southern outside of Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Season-ticket holder Laura Buchman shows off her Nebraska hat that she got in 1972, before the Nebraska and Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Fans make their way to Memorial Stadium before the Nebraska and Georgia Southern at on Saturday.

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Fans make their way to Memorial Stadium before the Nebraska and Georgia Southern at on Saturday.

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The Cornhusker Marching Band makes their way to Memorial Stadium before the Nebraska and Georgia Southern game on Saturday.

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Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost acknowledges fans during the Unity Walk before their game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska fans react to losing to Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska fans react after Nebraska loses to Georgia Southern 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode misses a 52-yard field goal attempt with one second left as Georgia Southern defeats Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska Head Coach Scott Frost kicks around the turf in the fourth quarter against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson runs off the field after losing to Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Myles Farmer and Garrett Nelson share a moment after almost intercepting a pass against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Myles Farmer misses a tackle on Georgia Southern’s Gerald Green in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Anthony Grant runs for 14 yards in the third quarter as Georgia Southern’s Robert Edwards III tackles him at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Kyle Vantrease throws to Khaleb Hood for an 11-yard pass in the fourth quarter against Nebraska at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Teddy Prochazka gets looked at by trainers after getting hurt against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Head Coach Scott Frost roams the sideline in the first half against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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From left: Nebraska Assistant Coach Mike Dawson, Head Coach Scott Frost and Garrett Nelson watch from the sideline as they take on Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Head Coach Scott Frost roams the sideline in the first half against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost answers questions from the media following the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska fans watch the final seconds of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Teddy Prochazka (65) walks off the field following the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode (38) prepares to attempt a field goal in the final second of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Trey Palmer (3) rushes in the final drive of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska fans watch the final seconds of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Marcus Washington (7) makes a catch just shy of the end zone and is brought down by Georgia Southern’s Derrick Canteen (13) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost watches the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Casey Thompson (11) sits on the field after rushing in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Georgia Southern’s Gerald Green (4) is brought down by Nebraska’s Ochaun Mathis (32) in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Stephon Wynn Jr. (90) lines up in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska’s Trey Palmer (3) tries to get as much yardage before stepping out of bounds to stop the clock in the final seconds of the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Nebraska head coach Scott Frost, associate head coach Mickey Joseph and others on the Husker sideline watch a replay in the Georgia Southern vs. Nebraska football game in Lincoln on Saturday. Georgia Southern won the game 45-42.

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Georgia Southern’s Derrick Canteen celebrates after they defeated Nebraska 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Timmy Bleekrode reacts after missing a field goal, which gave Georgia Southern the win, 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska players walk off the field after they lost to Georgia Southern 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Jalen White taunts Nebraska fans after they defeated Nebraska 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Justin Birdsong taunts Nebraska fans after they defeated Nebraska 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern players taunt Nebraska fans after they defeated Nebraska 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska and Georgia Southern fans react after Georgia Southern defeated Nebraska 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska fans react after Georgia Southern defeated Nebraska 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska and Georgia Southern fans react after Georgia Southern defeated Nebraska 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska and Georgia Southern fans react after Georgia Southern defeated Nebraska 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska fans react after Nebraska loses to Georgia Southern 45-42 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Quinton Newsome reacts after Georgia Southern scored a touchdown during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Kyle Vantrease celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Kyle Vantrease celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Georgia Southern’s Kyle Vantrease slips past Nebraska’s Ernest Hausmann (left) and Luke Reimer (right) to score a touchdown during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Ty Robinson celebrates after stopping Jalen White from getting to the end zone during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (bottom) stops Jalen White during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

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Nebraska’s Ajay Allen celebrates after getting a touchdown during their game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

EILEEN T. MESLAR/THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Ajay Allen runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during their game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

EILEEN T. MESLAR/THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Head Coach Scott Frost reacts after Georgia Southern scores a late touchdown during their game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

EILEEN T. MESLAR/THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Offensive Coordinator Mark Whipple speaks to Head Coach Scott Frost during their game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

EILEEN T. MESLAR/THE WORLD-HERALD

Nebraska’s Casey Thompson runs the ball during their game against Georgia Southern at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

EILEEN T. MESLAR/THE WORLD-HERALD

Georgia Southern’s Jalen White tries to escape Nebraska’s Jake Appleget during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

EILEEN T. MESLAR/THE WORLD-HERALD

Georgia Southern’s Wylan Free breaks up a pass to Nebraska’s Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

EILEEN T. MESLAR/THE WORLD-HERALD

Georgia Southern’s Derwin Burgess Jr. catches a pass while covered by Nebraska’s Tommi Hill during their game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

EILEEN T. MESLAR/THE WORLD-HERALD

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