No. 7 Indiana, riding an insane 21-game winning streak, is in serious jeopardy, down 10-3 at halftime against an unranked Nebraska team that looks absolutely relentless. This isn’t how Curt Cignetti’s squad, who went 16-0 last season for the first time in 132 years of college football, expected to start this game.
Colandrea’s Dual-Threat Dominance
Anthony Colandrea and the Cornhuskers’ offense have given Indiana major trouble in the first half, like, serious headaches for that Hoosiers defense. Colandrea’s dual-threat play style is an absolute nightmare right now, giving Indiana a tough challenge they clearly aren’t ready for. Nebraska has already racked up a staggering 216 yards on offense and they are showing zero signs of slowing down. What’s worse? The Cornhuskers have been phenomenal at keeping the Hoosiers off the field, a total possession domination. Indiana literally had only one offensive drive in the entire first half, with a measly possession time of 7:41. That’s a tiny fraction of the half, barely enough to catch a breath.
The Streak’s Survival Hangs in the Balance
This is not the Indiana team we know. They had a really tough time sustaining any drives against a Nebraska defense that has been absolutely flying around and matching the Hoosiers’ physicality stride for stride. You gotta remember, Nebraska has yet to defeat a ranked opponent under Matt Rhule, but everyone knows it’s “any given Saturday” in college football, and they are playing like their lives depend on it. That missed field goal by Kyle Cunanan at the end of the half, keeping the score at 10-3, feels like a small win for the Hoosiers, but it’s not enough to erase the dominant first half Nebraska had. Curt Cignetti’s team needs to come out looking infinitely better in the second half. They receive the kickoff, but can they turn this around?
Will Indiana keep their monumental winning streak alive, or will they lose their first game since December 20, 2024? This second half is everything. If the Hoosiers can’t dig deep and find that 16-0 championship swagger, they might be tumbling hard in the next AP Top 25 poll. This is a massive moment for their season, and the pressure is on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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