LINCOLN, Neb. — Casey Thompson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Nebraska beat a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent for the first time in 364 days with a 35-21 win over Indiana on Saturday night.
Thompson, benched for a series in the first half and rocked by a big hit in the third quarter, threw a 71-yard touchdown pass to Trey Palmer early in the fourth quarter for a 21-all- breaking the tie, and followed up with a 1-yard run to give the Cornhuskers a two-point cushion.
The win ended a nine-game losing streak against FBS opponents — the Huskers’ last was against Northwestern on Oct. 2, 2021 — and was Mickey Joseph’s first since he was named interim head coach after Scott Frost was fired on Sept. 11.
“I love Mickey. I want to ride with Mickey,” Garrett Nelson said on the defensive end. “He was put in a tough spot and he’s thrived at that point.”
The Huskers (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten) broke the game up in the fourth quarter when Thompson came through with big plays during an up-and-down performance.
Palmer had a few steps on Phillip Dunnam as he ran his post pattern on a third and 9, catching the ball in the step for a 28-21 lead with 13:43 left.
“My number was called. I did the piece. That’s what I’m here for,” Palmer said.
The touchdown gave Palmer the first 100-yard reception game of his career. The fourth-year player, who transferred from LSU after last season, finished the game with eight catches for 157 yards.
After Indiana (3-2, 1-1) went three-and-out, Thompson led a 12-play, 54-yard drive that chewed more than six minutes by the clock. He made three short passes and gave Anthony Grant seven passes for 31 yards before running in to the last lead. Grant finished for 136 yards on 32 carries.
The Huskers held Indiana for 290 yards and had three sacks and six quarterback rushes in Bill Busch’s first game as interim defensive coordinator.
“We’re finally realizing what we are as a defense,” Nelson said. “Great win. We showed what we can do. I have to carry that over to the coming weeks.”
Thompson gave the Huskers a scare in the third quarter when he held his right shoulder area after James Head Jr. hit him big. Chubba Purdy, whose fumbling in the end zone led to an Indiana touchdown in the first half, took over for a game in the next series and then Thompson returned.
Thompson was 18 of 27 for 270 yards with an interception that came with his two TD passes. Indiana’s Connor Bazelak was 22 of 44 for 223 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
The teams combined for 23 penalties for 202 yards, one of the most flagged FBS games of the season.
Indiana scored twice in the final 3:09 of the second quarter to go 21-0 at halftime.
THE TAKE AWAY
Indiana: The Hoosiers were paralyzed on offense because their two top receivers, Cam Camper and DJ Matthews, were injured.
“Obviously they are a big part of our offense,” said Bazelak. “So it was difficult not having them, but we had some guys performing and we made some games but we have to find ways to make more.”
Nebraska: The Huskers were able to win despite at times undisciplined play and periods of stagnant offense.
TRIGGERED
Thompson was chewed up on the sidelines by angry offensive coordinator Mark Whipple after taking a drive-killing sack in the second quarter. Thompson was on the bench when Nebraska got the ball back with a 10.
Whipple sent Thompson a message, but it came at a cost. In third, Purdy fumbled while a blitzing Louis Moore began dragging him to the ground, and Myles Jackson recovered for a TD.
BLOCK THIS POINT
Nebraska’s Chris Kolarevic blocked James Evan’s punt in the second quarter and Malcolm Hartzog picked up the ball with a clear run to the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown. It was Nebraska’s first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 2009.
ROUGH STUFF
Nebraska offensive lineman Turner Corcoran was kicked out of the game late in the second quarter after being called out for unnecessary rudeness and unsportsmanlike conduct on back-to-back games.
Corcoran charged into the stack after Thompson’s face mask was pulled on the descent, negating the Hoosiers’ penalty. On the next play, corcoran beat Aaron Casey while the linebacker was down.
NEXT
Indiana: hosts No. 4 Michigan on Saturday.
Nebraska: Visit Rutgers on Friday.
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