LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Matt Rhule spoke out in defense of Big Ten officials as the league issued a statement acknowledging that its crew missed a key spot late in the first half in the Cornhuskers’ 21-17 loss at Ohio State on Saturday.
Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson gained the mark needed for a first down, Big Ten Chief Operating Officer Kerry Kenny said in the Monday statement, on a second-and-2 rush with less than two minutes to play before halftime as the Huskers trailed 14-3. Officials spotted the ball short of the line and failed to use replay, the Big Ten said, to stop the game and correct the spot.
The Huskers, who had one timeout remaining, lost approximately 30 seconds of clock time. They ran six more plays before kicking a 54-yard field goal at the end of the half.
Several other calls on Saturday came under scrutiny, including an offensive pass interference on the same possession against Nebraska wide receiver Isaiah Neyor as well as a targeting call on Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese during the Huskers’ final possession as they attempted to drive for the potential winning touchdown.
Rhule said Monday that he appreciated the transparency shown by Big Ten Coordinator of Officials Bill Carollo and Commissioner Tony Petitti.
“I do want to make sure everyone understands where I stand,” Rhule said. “I advocate for the officials. I think we should let them call the game. We should just let them call the game and live with the result.”
He said he’s not interested in criticizing judgment calls such as pass interference or holding, but the league must do better in managing its officials in other situations.
Last year, Rhule said, Nebraska was notified after games of three mishandled replay reviews that went against the Huskers. The second-year Nebraska coach said that in the wake of two flags thrown against him this season on the sideline — in games at Indiana and Purdue — he was told by the league that its officials erred.
“I don’t want any more apologies on Sunday,” Rhule said. “It can’t happen against UCLA. It can’t happen against Iowa. These things can’t happen, moving forward.”
Nebraska, at 5-3 after consecutive losses, hosts UCLA on Saturday in Lincoln, seeking a sixth win to secure bowl eligibility.
“We’ve got to play better,” Rhule said. “Before we can worry about the officials, we need to worry about ourselves.”
(Photo: Kyle Robertson / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
