Nebraska Defenders Earned Mixed Grades Despite Holding Washington to 10

Nebraska fans watched their defense keep Washington to just 10 points on Saturday, yet the Huskers still walked off the field with a 17-10 loss. The game featured 58 minutes and 30 seconds of defensive dominance that did not translate into a win. Pro Football Focus released detailed grades for all 22 defenders who played in the contest, offering a specific look at who succeeded and who struggled.

The defensive line performed well despite missing starting edge rusher Anthony Jones, who is dealing with a foot injury. The unit limited Washington to 32 rushing yards on 19 attempts, averaging just 1.7 yards per carry. They recorded four sacks, with Kade Pietrzak contributing one sack and three pressures in what may be the best game of his college career. Jahsear Whittington added to his season totals, now sitting at 4.5 sacks through eight games. Mason Goldman and Riley Van Poppel also brought down the opposing quarterback.

The linebacker group showed a clear divide in performance. Owen Chambliss played 64 snaps but earned his second-lowest grade of the season. Washington targeted him nine times in the passing game, completing six of those passes for 43 yards. In contrast, Vincent Shavers delivered what the source describes as his best performance of 2026. Dawson Merritt returned to the lineup for his first action since the Maryland game, while Dexter Foster played a season-low 17 snaps.

The secondary faced significant pressure, with mixed results among the starters. Caleb Benning filled in for the injured Jamir Conn and earned the team's highest grade of 76.8. He followed a strong outing against Oregon with another solid performance. Andrew Marshall, a Midseason All-American, struggled in his last two games. On Saturday, he was targeted eight times, allowing four receptions for 50 yards, and drew two penalties. Donovan Jones made plays on the run but allowed seven completions on eight targets for 42 yards in coverage.

Washington wide receiver Chris Lawson exploited the gaps in the backfield. He finished the game with 12 receptions for 130 yards, the most by an opposing receiver against Nebraska this fall. Lawson caught the go-ahead touchdown pass with 1 minute and 30 seconds left in the game, putting Washington up 10-7. The Huskers could not overcome the late scoring drive despite their statistical lead in most defensive categories.