Nebraska’s Scott Frost takes loss in first game at Husker helm

Some hopeful Big Ten teams have fallen short early.

Nebraska+head+coach+Scott+Frost+addresses+the+media+at+Big+Ten+Football+Media+Days+in+Chicago+on+Monday%2C+July+23%2C+2018.+

Nick Rohlman

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost addresses the media at Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago on Monday, July 23, 2018.

Pete Ruden, Sports Editor

The Scott Frost era at Nebraska has begun — with a loss.

After the Huskers’ season-opener against Akron was canceled, Nebraska picked up where it left off last season as a whole, losing to Colorado at home, 33-28.

The Buffaloes got out to a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Huskers tied it. Nebraska eventually took a 21-14 lead and went into halftime with a 4-point advantage.

Quarterback Adrian Martinez left the game in the second half because of an injury, leaving backup Andrew Bunch in, and he went 4-of-9 for 49 yards.

Colorado, which finished the 2017 season with a 5-7 record, spoiled the beginning of a new era for Husker football fans.

“It’s all wiped out when you lose; I don’t care,” Frost said after the game. “I’m a competitor like all of these guys in the locker room, and for three quarters, I was having about as much fun coaching as I had in my life, doing it back home. We’ve got to learn lessons to be able to win games like that and not beat ourselves.”

Wiegers beats Purdue

Former Iowa quarterback Tyler Wiegers did exactly what the Hawkeyes couldn’t do last season: beat Purdue.

Wiegers threw for 312 yards on 20-of-28 passing with a touchdown and an interception, earning MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week along the way.

The Boilermakers, who have now lost two straight, seemed to be a team with a lot of upside heading into the 2018 season, and Rondale Moore’s performance in a Week 1 loss to Northwestern confirmed that notion.

Despite the efforts of D.J. Knox and Markell Jones — who both ran for more than 100 yards, and Knox scored a touchdown — the Purdue passing game could not find its groove.

Employing a two-quarterback system with Elijah Sindelar and David Blough, the duo went just 14-of-24 for 135 yards and a touchdown. Although few mistakes were made, production was simply not there.

Even more so, penalties and discipline have come back to haunt the Boilermakers in the first two weeks.

“For us, we’re going to make sure from here on out everyone is held accountable every step they make, 24 hours a day,” Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm said. “And what they may think is something small has been costing us. And really they’re silly, silly mistakes that there’s no use for them. It’s something that there has to be consequences for their actions. If guys are getting 15-yard penalties, they’re out of the game.”

Haskins continues to roll

The college football season is still two weeks young, but Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins is making a case for himself as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Against Rutgers on Sept. 8, Haskins was incredibly efficient, completing 20 of his 23 attempts for 233 yards and 4 scores.

Through two games, Haskins now has 546 yards through the air, with 9 touchdowns and just 1 pick, while completing 79.2 percent of his passes.

With Tate Martell backing Haskins up and becoming a threat on the ground in certain situations, along with J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber in the running game, the Buckeye offense has depth in both the ground game and air attack.

“You look all across the board, we’re pretty deep – a lot of playmakers,” Ohio State interim head coach Ryan Day said. “So when you get the ball to those guys in space, and you can stretch the ball vertically and horizontally, you can really be explosive.”