Abysmal officials hand Nebraska another loss in what has become a troubling pattern

At some point it has to stop. Nebraska football has got to stop playing in games like this.

But, to be honest, it’s hard to stop playing in games like this, when it feels like the Huskers are constantly taking on two opponents. There’s the other football team that is desperately trying to beat NU. Then there’s an officiating crew that I don’t believe is biased, but is wildly incompetent.

Over and over and over, Nebraska football has been hampered not only by their own mistakes (and there were plenty on Saturday yet again) but by mistakes by guys who are paid to be as close to perfect as they can be. Does anyone think Big Ten refs are within miles of even being mediocre?

Nebraska football tries to beat USC and the refs in the same game

The first, most egregious missed call came at the beginning of the second half. The Huskers drove down the field on their first possession and got into the red zone. A throw to Jahmal banks was almost came down with in bounds around the four yard line and it was very, very obvious that his jersey was getting tugged.

While Brock Huard claimed the refs had been “letting them play” all game, that’s not how refs are supposed to operate. Blatant penalties need to be called.

But it was the final Husker drive of the game that really had Nebraska fans incensed for good reason. On the last play of the game, quarterback Dylan Raiola threw it to banks again, who was double covered. The ball was intercepted, but mainly because one of the defenders was very clearly tugging on him well before the ball got there.

It clearly wasn't just Nebraska fans that thought they were cheated out of another chance to get the win.

For at least, the third time this season, the officiating in a Husker game was the talk of social media. And for at least the third straight time this season, the talk was decidedly, "they did it to the Cornhuskers again."

The interference calls weren't the only blown calls either.

There was also another blown spot that was both bad, and not reviewed.

The bottom line is that the Nebraska football team didn't make the plays they needed to make. No one is arguing anything different. But Matt Rhule famously said he didn't want to get any more apology calls from the Big Ten a few weeks back. And he's probably going to get one on Monday.