Scott Frost, Nebraska Football have nightmare first half vs Illinois

Nebraska football should have dominated the first half against Illinois, but as usual, under Scott Frost, the Huskers can’t get out of their own way. 

This has to be getting old for Nebraska football fans.

When Scott Frost was hired as the head coach this wasn’t how it was supposed to go and Saturday, the opener against Illinois was supposed to be the start of something new and better for the Huskers.

The quarterback was supposed to be improved; The defense is supposed to be more like blackshirts than any other time during the Frost era.

Nebraska football has never won three straight games under Frost and self-inflicted wounds such as turnovers, penalties and mental mistakes have been a huge reason why.

And despite playing better than Illinois, it was the same old Nebraska in the first half.

To start, cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt inexplicably tried to field a punt inside his own five-yard line and was then called for a safety, giving Illinois an easy two points.

From there, the Huskers responded and put together a seven-play, 63-yard drive capped by a Markese Stepp touchdown run.

But the Huskers gave away points on the point-after-attempt as it was missed, keeping the score at 6-2. Nebraska later settled for a field goal in the red zone following this play:

Later, with a 9-2 lead, penalties became the issue.

Illinois backup quarterback Arthur Sitowksi came in and threw a costly interception. Only it was overturned by a roughing-the-passer penalty that was blatant and could have been avoided, as well as a taunting call — turning a turnover into a 30-yard pickup for the Fighting Illini. A few plays later, the score was tied.

Nebraska football nightmare continues

Then, to cap off the frustrating 30 minutes that has come to feel all too familiar for Nebraska fans, Adrian Martinez, who missed a number of wide-open targets, coughed up the ball on a sack and Illinois returned it for a touchdown, giving the Illini a 16-9 halftime lead.

https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1431692020599476225

You’ve got to give Illinois credit. It has taken advantage of Nebraska’s mistakes but the Huskers should be in the lead and if they drop this one, Frost’s seat will go from hot to scorching.