Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule (right) chats with a referee during the Iowa game on Nov. 24, 2023, at Memorial Stadium. In the final minute of Nebraska’s 2023 football season, it almost had no choice but to attempt what it did worst: Throw the ball.
In that same minute of clock, rival Iowa had the luxury of trying a run. The difference played a key factor in the Hawkeyes’ game-winning field goal and 13-10 win over the Huskers. Nebraska marched into a strong north wind — had already missed a 44-yard field goal in the fourth quarter because of it.
Iowa had that breeze at its back. So when NU cornerback Tommi Hill intercepted an Iowa pass near midfield with 31 seconds left, Husker coach Matt Rhule either had to sit on the ball and head to overtime or risk Chubba Purdy throwing into the teeth of Iowa’s pass defense, ranked fourth nationally. Iowa's Leshon Williams (4) breaks a tackle by Nebraska's Isaac Gifford (bottom) on his way to a 22-yard rush that set the Hawkeyes up for a game-winning field goal at the end of regulation on Nov.
24, 2023, at Memorial Stadium. Rhule chose risk. The Hawkeyes got an interception with 15 seconds left.
After a stunning 22-yard run from back Leshon Williams, Iowa nailed a field goal off the foot of its backup kicker. Rhule said in June he got a valuable lesson from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. Before kickoff, Iowa won the coin flip and Ferentz chose to take the ball.
That left Rhule to choose how Nebraska started the second half. He took the .