Lincoln – Nebraska outgained Indiana 391-328 and won time of possession 39:33-20:27, but No. 7 Indiana used two long touchdown catches by Nick Marsh midway through the fourth quarter to claim a 20-17 win over the Huskers at Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Nebraska, which slipped to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, took a 17-6 lead on Anthony Colandrea‘s 39-yard touchdown run with 12 minutes left. The highlight reel run by Colandrea capped a five-play, 71-yard drive that gave Nebraska its first two-score lead of the game.
Colandrea ended the day with 47 rushing yards on 17 carries, while completing 25-of-43 passes for 263 yards to put Nebraska in position for an upset.
But the Huskers lost momentum on the game’s next offensive play, when Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover hit Marsh on a quick crossing route. The pass just slipped by the hands of a Nebraska defender, but inches turned into a 75-yard touchdown for the IU speedster Marsh, who pulled the Hoosiers within 17-13 just 10 seconds after Colandrea’s touchdown.
Less than five minutes later, Indiana faced a 4th-and-1 just beyond midfield, and Hoover found Marsh again. With Nebraska pounding the line to stop a short run, Marsh slipped into the open and took a short toss from Hoover 44 yards to paydirt to give Indiana its first lead of the game with 7:13 left.
Colandrea and the Huskers had three possessions after Indiana’s final score, but were unable to mount a serious scoring threat.
Marsh’s late heroics allowed the Hoosiers to remain unbeaten. Marsh finished with six receptions for 187 yards and two scores. He accounted for half of Hoover’s 12 completions on 22 attempts for 263 yards on the day.
The two late touchdowns marred a strong effort by the Blackshirts, who held Indiana to just two Nico Radicic field goals through the first three quarters.
Nebraska held Indiana to just 65 yards rushing on 22 attempts, while limiting the Hoosiers to just 44 total offensive plays compared to 83 for the Big Red offense.
Dwayne McDougle III led the Blackshirts with six tackles, while Owen Chambliss added five stops with one tackle for loss.
Offensively, Jacory Barney Jr. hauled in nine receptions for 108 yards to keep Nebraska’s offense moving for 25 first downs on the day, while Luke Lindenmeyer added seven catches for 45 yards.
Running back Jamal Rule also returned to the field to carry 15 times for 53 yards.
Nebraska took a 10-3 halftime lead after dominating the first 30 minutes against the Hoosiers.
The Huskers put up 216 total yards in the half, including 138 through the air and 78 on the ground, while holding the Hoosiers to just 115 yards. Nebraska ran 43 plays compared to just 16 for Indiana, while winning the first-half time of possession battle 22:19-7:41.
Nebraska took the opening kickoff and went 66 yards in 13 plays, including Kyle Cunanan‘s 28-yard field goal to give the Big Red a quick 3-0 lead with 8:57 left in the first quarter.
Indiana answered with a six-play, 51-yard drive that resulted in a 42-yard Nico Radicic field goal to tie the score with 6:21 left in the period.
Nebraska’s second drive also produced points, as Nyziah Hunter capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run on an end around to give the Cornhuskers a 10-3 lead with 1:01 left in the first. Hunter added five receptions for 43 yards in the game.
The Huskers mounted a 17-play drive late in the second half to set up a 40-yard field goal attempt in the final 20 seconds, but Cunanan’s kick missed wide right leaving the Huskers with a 10-3 lead after a scoreless second quarter.
Nebraska returns to Big Ten road action next week when the Huskers take on Oregon in Eugene. Kick-off time and television has not yet been announced.
Game Summary
Nebraska 17
#7 Indiana 20
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
Lincoln, Neb. (Memorial Stadium)
Attendance: 85,653 (415th consecutive sellout)
First Quarter (NEB 10-3)
8:57 – NEB – Kyle Cunanan 28 FG, 13 plays, 66 yards, 6:03 (NEB 3-0)
6:21 – IND – Nico Radicic 42 FG, 6 plays, 51 yards, 2:36 (3-3)
1:01 – NEB – Nyziah Hunter 10 run (Cunanan kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:20 (NEB 10-3)
Second Quarter (NEB 10-3)
No Scoring
Third Quarter (NEB 10-6)
10:26 – IND – Radicic 35 FG, 10 plays, 58 yards, 4:35 (NEB 10-6)
Fourth Quarter (IND 20-17)
12:01 – NEB – Anthony Colandrea 39 run (Cunanan kick), 5 plays, 71 yards, 2:11 (NEB 17-6)
11:51 – IND – Nick Marsh 75 pass from Josh Hoover (Radicic kick), 1 play, 75 yards, 0:10 (NEB 17-13)
7:13 – IND – Marsh 44 pass from Hoover (Radicic kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:11, (IND 20-17)
Kickoff: 11:10 a.m. (CT)
Length of Game: 3:42
