RUNNING GAME (D)
Here's guessing the Heisman hype will die after this game. Texas was outstanding in shutting down Taylor Martinez, and even when the freshman had a crease, he didn't zoom by defenders the way he'd been doing. The fumbles are becoming quite a problem. Five more Saturday, including one by Roy Helu that set up a Texas touchdown. Nebraska has fumbled 23 times in six games.
PASSING GAME (D)
You figured Niles Paul's comments earlier this season about wanting the ball more often might come back to haunt him. The senior had six catches Saturday, but should've had eight or nine, including one that would've at least resulted in a first-and-goal. But that ball from Martinez went right through his arms. Paul wasn't alone. Rex Burkhead dropped a sure touchdown. So did Brandon Kinnie. Remember that when you see Martinez's 4-of-12 passing line.
AGAINST THE RUN ©
The problems Nebraska had bringing down the Texas running backs were surprising. Nebraska had been a sound tackling team this season before Saturday, but Cody Johnson and Tre' Newton were churning for extra yards throughout the game, and Texas rushed for 209 yards. Garrett Gilbert hurt Nebraska early with his feet, which was rather surprising, considering he'd rushed for 14 yards all season before Saturday. With the quarterback draw working, he ran for 71 yards against the Blackshirts.
AGAINST THE PASS (A)
Gilbert had a Jake Locker-like line against Nebraska -- 4-of-16 for 62 yards. The difference? Gilbert didn't turn over the ball. One of his completions, over the middle, covered 41 yards to set up a Texas touchdown. But as we've seen throughout this season, opponents can't throw successfully against Nebraska's cornerbacks.
SPECIAL TEAMS ©
Texas absolutely killed Nebraska in the punting game. Why not put another return man back there to help prevent the 30-yard rolls on the roll-out squib punts against the wind? "We had considered putting two guys back there," special-teams coach John Papuchis said, "but thought if we did that, we would be more fake-susceptible." And speaking of return men, isn't there somebody a bit faster than Brandon Kinnie who could give the kickoff return team a spark? Nebraska also had costly penalties on special teams.
PLAY CALLING ©
With 3:02 remaining and two timeouts, why not kick off deep? Or try a pooch kick, perhaps? The odds of getting a three-and-out seemed better than recovering an onside kick -- especially one kicked directly to a Texas player. "We thought if we didn't get the onside kick," Papuchis said, "that we'd be in the same situation we were anyway. We'd have to get the ball back." True, but likely with far less field to cover. That third-and-1 early in the fourth quarter looked to be too far for a quarterback sneak, and when that didn't work, it was gutsy to go from the shotgun on fourth down.
GAME MANAGEMENT (F)
The defensive-substitution penalty that gave Texas its game-clinching first down nicely summed Nebraska's woes in this area. There seemed to be a major lack of concentration across the board, which is inexcusable for a game of this magnitude. Too hyped, perhaps? The dropped passes. The fumbles, the 94 yards in penalties -- from pass interference to facemasks to late hits to holding, Nebraska had it covered. What's strange, these problems seem to be worse in home games than in road games.
OVERALL (D)
Didn't we see this game last year after a momentum-building Thursday night road victory? The lack of focus and concentration -- or was it the Texas hex? -- was reminiscent of last year's lopsided home loss to Texas Tech. And what's with the midseason swoons? Since 2005, Nebraska is 2-9 at home in the month of October. As for Texas? The Longhorns own Nebraska, free and clear, plain and simple.
