Game-winning play by Indiana was stolen from college football team led by NFL quarterback

LINCOLN, NE — Indiana football ordered up some Burger King on a critical fourth down play against Nebraska on Saturday. 

That’s the name IU coach Curt Cignetti gave the call his offense used on a fourth-and-1 to score the go-ahead touchdown with 7:22 to go in a 20-17 win over the Cornhuskers. 

Lining up in the pistol at Nebraska’s 44-yard line, the No. 5 Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) had Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker set up off tackle to the short side of the field and tight end Brock Schott at H-back in a jumbo package with an extra offensive lineman in the game.

“They covered the guy (Schott) we thought would get the ball,” Cignetti said. “And Nick flashed open, Josh found him.”

Buy IU-Ohio State tickets!

Becker was open too, but Hoover picked the right target with Marsh cutting up the field for the easiest score of his career. Marsh, who scored a 75-yard touchdown on IU’s previous drive, finished the game with 187 receiving yards.

“It was a play we drew up at practice,” Marsh said. “We had an idea that somebody was going to be open. It just happened that a couple guys were open and Josh ended up getting me. I'm grateful that coach put that in the game for me.”

Cignetti credited Kansas coach Lance Leipold for the inspiration. He flagged the play while studying red zone cut ups years ago when Jalon Daniels was at quarterback. The Hoosiers even ran a version of the call in the red zone earlier this season against Northwestern. 

“Kansas made that one famous with a guy starting at quarterback for Tampa Bay (Daniels),” Cignetti said. “And that guy's a good coach.”

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar's Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Game-winning play by Indiana was stolen from college football team led by NFL quarterback

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.