It wasn’t pretty, but Nebraska football opened the season with a victory over South Alabama. There were positives and negatives for the Huskers.
For all the hype that Scott Frost’s Nebraska team received in the lead up to this season, their opening performance was not an extremely encouraging one.
The offense was ineffective, but defensive coordinator Erik Chinander’s defense carried the load. What’d we learn from the Huskers’ 35-21 win?
3. Defense saved the Huskers
The Nebraska defense and special teams accounted for three touchdowns on Saturday, beginning in the second half. With 13:11 remaining in the third quarter, Eric Lee Jr. took an interception 38 yards for six. Just two minutes later, JD Spielman took a punt return for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Then, to open the fourth, Alex Davis recovered a fumble in the endzone to give the Huskers a 14-point cushion.
There was still life in South Alabama, though. The Jags drove into the Nebraska redzone with under eight minutes left, looking to cut the two-touchdown deficit in half. They wouldn’t convert, however, as Cam Taylor picked off Cephus Johnson and took it back to midfield.
The Husker offense wasn’t effective at killing the clock from that point, but it was the Cam Taylor interception that stalled the Jaguar rally just enough for Frost’s team to open the season with a victory.