The Fifth Worst Nebraska Football Moment of the Decade: The 54-21 Loss to Minnesota in 2017

I can still see the vision of PJ Fleck in my brain sprinting from end to end. Or the fact that their quarterback, Demry Croft, who had done nothing that entire year all the sudden looked like a future Heisman candidate.

Then he transferred to Tennessee State the following year. He has since been indicted on six felony rape charges and two counts of sexual battery. He has since plead not guilty.

It was the game that maybe shifted the public opinion poll of Mike Riley from 85% “need to be fired” to 98% “need to move on to somebody else.”

The game started off with a wimper. Well if a wimper could sound like a 100 yard kick off return from Rodney Smith.

There was still a chance right? Well Nebraska responded with a one yard touchdown from Mikale Wilbon. Nebraska is right back in it!

Then Minnesota goes on a 75 yard drive where Demry Croft scores the first of his three rushing touchdowns on the day. The first one wasn’t too bad.

However, it was his second rushing touchdown which was the back breaker. And it was only the second quarter.

The tidal wave was here and there’s nothing Mike Riley could do about it.

When I think about the 54-21 loss to Minnesota in 2017 I think about Demry Croft running for 183 yards and 3 touchdowns and then transferring to Tennessee State the next year.

That’s where Nebraska was in 2017 and we are still in the process of recovering.