COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

Finishing Nebraska’s new flavor

The Sports Xchange

October 16, 2016 at 1:21 pm.

Oct 15, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA;  Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Mitchell Paige (87) is tackled by Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Eli Sullivan (28) during the first half of the game at Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 15, 2016; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Mitchell Paige (87) is tackled by Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Eli Sullivan (28) during the first half of the game at Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska has become a finishing school.

No team suffered more late-game indignities last season than the Cornhuskers, starting with BYU’s season-opening Hail Mary in coach Mike Riley’s debut.

The Huskers led or were tied in the fourth quarter of 10 regular-season games last season, but they ended up tripping to a 5-7 record, losing in the final seconds or overtime on four occasions. They needed an NCAA waiver just to play in a bowl game.

All that anguish made Nebraska one of 2016’s most likely comeback candidates. Luck eventually balances out. The football gods show mercy.

Look now: Nebraska is 6-0, encroaching on the storyline that the Big Ten is once again just the Big Two — Ohio State and Michigan.

The Huskers held off Indiana 27-22 on Saturday after leading 17-0 in the first quarter. Nebraska won after scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter — on a 72-yard touchdown pass and a 39-yard field goal that came in the final minute after a drive that was all old-school Nebraska.

The Huskers ran 14 consecutive times, gaining 60 yards and taking 7:41 off the clock after Indiana closed within 24-22.

These guys know how to finish.

Take note: Nebraska has a season-long scoring edge of 88-13 in the fourth quarter.

“As for the fourth quarter, it was an indicator of what this group of kids is like when they have their backs to the wall and have to do something to win a game,” Riley said Saturday in his postgame press conference.

“That is what we have shown so far. There is so much football that we have to do better. At the same time I would not trade this team for anything, for the way they fight, finish and hang in there together.”

Earlier this season, senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. led an 11-play, 80-yard drive, capped by his 34-yard touchdown run with 2:29 left, to beat then-No. 22 Oregon 35-32.

“I heard a quote about growth; ‘Growth is not an option or a luxury, it’s a necessity,'” Riley said last week.

“And that really hit home with me about our team. We’ve got to keep on the rise. We certainly haven’t always been pretty. … But our team keeps its poise and plays its best ball in the fourth quarter.”

Nebraska’s season hasn’t just been better luck.

Riley brought new schemes on both sides of the ball from Oregon State to Nebraska; that adjustment period is now over. Importantly, he had to blend the dual-threat Armstrong and his pro-style offense and eliminate killer mistakes.

Through his first three seasons, Armstrong threw an interception every 24.4 passes. This season, he’s improved that to once every 38.8 passes.

The tough work is ahead. Oregon, which has since dropped off the map, is the only ranked team Nebraska has played. Games remain at Wisconsin, at Ohio State, at Iowa.

Riley replaced Bo Pelini, who committed the high crime of having his teams lose exactly four games in each of his seven seasons.

Nebraska thought it could do better than nine-win seasons.

If last year’s heartbreak was necessary to set up this season’s thrill ride, so be it.

“This team is really hungry for success,” Armstrong said.