The Indiana Hoosiers overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter on Saturday (10) to defeat the Nebraska Cornhuskers 20-17 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The result extended the program’s winning streak to 22 consecutive games, the longest active mark in college football.
Ranked seventh in the country, Indiana preserved its perfect record this season through two fourth-quarter touchdown passes from quarterback Josh Hoover to wide receiver Nick Marsh. Head coach Curt Cignetti praised the squad after the final whistle: “Good teams find a way to win a game like this at the end. That’s what I told them at halftime. That’s what we did.”
Josh Hoover and Nick Marsh lead the Indiana Hoosiers comeback
Nebraska seized command early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Anthony Colandrea scored on a 39-yard read-option run on third-and-5, pushing the home side ahead 17-6. Indiana responded on the very next play from scrimmage as Josh Hoover threw a 75-yard touchdown strike to Nick Marsh, trimming the deficit to 17-13.
The Hoosiers forced a defensive stop and took their first lead of the day on an aggressive fourth-down play call. Facing fourth-and-1 from the Nebraska 44-yard line, Hoover executed a play-action pass and found Marsh open for a 44-yard touchdown reception. Hoover finished the game completing 12 of 22 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while Marsh caught six passes for 187 yards and both scores.
Indiana entered the matchup with a 1-120 record since 2004 in games where the team trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter. The defending national champions, who had not trailed in any contest since the 2025 Big Ten title clash against Ohio State, struggled during the opening half by running only 17 offensive plays for 115 total yards, but they outscored Nebraska 14-0 in the closing minutes to secure the victory.
Nebraska Cornhuskers control early tempo before late turnovers on downs
Nebraska controlled the ball for more than 22 minutes during the first half behind two sustained drives. Kicker Kyle Cunanan opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal, and wide receiver Nyziah Hunter added a 10-yard touchdown run on an end-around to establish a 10-3 advantage after Indiana kicker Nico Radicic made a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter. Cunanan missed a 40-yard attempt wide right at the end of the second quarter, leaving Nebraska with a seven-point edge at halftime.
Radicic added a 35-yard field goal early in the third quarter to bring Indiana within 10-6. Nebraska had an opportunity to expand its margin later in the third quarter, but an Anthony Colandrea pass toward the end zone on third-and-16 was intercepted by defensive back Jamari Sharpe at the 2-yard line. Late in the fourth quarter, Nebraska failed to convert on two consecutive fourth downs, including a turnover on downs sealed by an Indiana sack on Colandrea.
The loss dropped Nebraska to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference action, extending the school’s losing streak against Top 25 opponents to 31 games. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has now lost 21 consecutive games against ranked teams. “I’m just disappointed we didn’t win that game for everybody. I think it would have been pretty cool downtown tonight,” Rhule said after the game.
Game statistics from Memorial Stadium on October 10, 2026
- Final score: Indiana Hoosiers 20, Nebraska Cornhuskers 17
- Active winning streak: Indiana extended its streak to 22 consecutive victories
- Josh Hoover passing line: 12 completions in 22 attempts, 263 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions
- Nick Marsh receiving numbers: six catches, 187 receiving yards, two touchdowns
- Head coach record: Curt Cignetti improved to 33-2 overall as head coach of Indiana
- Unranked opponent streak: 27 consecutive victories for Indiana against unranked opponents
Indiana Hoosiers and Nebraska Cornhuskers prepare for ranked opponents
The result moved Curt Cignetti’s team to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play, setting up another major conference test. Indiana will return home to Bloomington to host No. 5 Ohio State on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Nebraska will also remain in conference action on Saturday, October 17, 2026, when it faces No. 13 Oregon.
