Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald used a bit of twisted humor to describe the progress his team has made over the last two games.
“We went from four seconds away to one second away (from winning),” he said, “so I guess we’re getting better.”
Nebraska’s “Hail Mary” came with four ticks left. Michigan tied Saturday’s game on a field goal as time expired. Holder Drew Dileo slid on the wet field to get into position to receive the snap.
“You have to give the officials credit,” Fitzgerald said. “They got that ball spotted miraculously and to perfection.”
Northwestern, which hosts Michigan State at 11 a.m. Saturday on Senior Day, is in danger of losing its seventh straight game. That would be its longest streak since an eight-game skid in 1998, Gary Barnett’s final season.
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“We’re in a tough storm right now but (the players) are fighting through it,” Fitzgerald said. “They are playing their fannies off. We (coaches) have to help them find a way to make one more play.”
A bit of bad news: Defensive tackle Sean McEvilly, who has been limited most of the season by a foot injury, will undergo season-ending surgery that carries a three-month rehabilitation.
Safety Traveon Henry (mid-body) and left guard Geoff Mogus (upper-body) are questionable for the Michigan State game.
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein