Nebraska coach Scott Frost is just 3-20 during his tenure when trailing at the half. In other words, there was a sense of urgency when the Cornhuskers came out of the locker room at Aviva Stadium in Dublin facing a 17-14 deficit against Northwestern.
Casey Thompson seems to have taken the challenge personally.
On the second half’s opening drive, he made one of the most exciting plays we’ve seen so far on the first day of the college football season. On 3rd-and-long, the Texas transfer immediately felt the heat and took off running for his life.
After staying alive in the backfield for what felt like an eternity, he loaded up and found receiver Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda — who was so far downfield that the Fox camera operator couldn’t even keep him in the frame — for a 58-yard completion that set up a go-ahead touchdown.
CASEY THOMPSON NO WAY pic.twitter.com/iPKP4x2rup
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 27, 2022
It’s been quite a debut for Thompson, who started 10 games last fall for the Longhorns. In the first half alone, he completed 17 of 24 passes for 228 yards.
Another look at that wild scramble play from @LilThurm and @HuskerFBNation 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/mU1o5BUYtY
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 27, 2022
Nebraska enters a crucial season for Frost, who is likely on the hot seat and is yet to reach a bowl game since taking the job at his alma mater. But if Thompson can keep making plays like this, the Cornhuskers may have a fighting chance.
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