The first play of Northwestern’s game-tying drive a year ago against Nebraska, the drive that covered 99 yards in just 1 minute, 53 seconds to eventually set the Huskers up for their school-record sixth straight loss to begin a season, was an incomplete pass.
Except Nebraska defensive end Carlos Davis was flagged for roughing the passer in the end zone, giving the Wildcats a 15-yard jump-start that preceded modest completions of 5, 11 and 5 yards before Clayton Thorson hit Flynn Nagel for 32 and 27 yards on back-to-back snaps, and then JJ Jefferson for perhaps the most unlikely touchdown against the Huskers all year.