The latest win for Husker football was certainly the ugliest of the season so far.

Nebraska moved to 5-0 with a 48-23 win over Maryland, who dropped to 2-3. This is the first time NU has been undefeated through five games since 2016.

This is also the first time Nebraska has won five straight games by at least 17 points each since 2001.

But that final score is not indicative of how everything felt inside Memorial Stadium, particularly early on.

The Blackshirts forced an early three-and-out. The momentum seemed squarely for the Big Red when Jeremiah Charles appeared to get a piece of the punt. However, the officials didn't see the contact, and replay couldn't show a decent angle, so it was a penalty, as Charles had also run into the punter.

Maryland took advantage, marching the rest of the way for the touchdown.

It was the start of a quarter that would see Maryland out-gain Nebraska 207-38 and hold a 16-7 lead. The only Husker score came on a one-play, 19-yard drive that was set up by a punt block that wasn't taken back. The Terrapins ran 24 plays in the quarter. The teams combined for six penalties.

Nebraska didn't waste much time in the second quarter, cutting into the deficit with a second Mekhi Nelson rushing touchdown. But Maryland extended its lead with its own touchdown run.

Then came the turning point.

With the Terrapins closing in on another score, Dwayne McDougle III picked off Malik Washington. McDougle took the interception 81 yards to the house, putting Nebraska back within a score with 2:41 to go in the half.

Less than a minute later, the Huskers had the ball back. Just like last week, some questionable time management turned into nothing to worry about, with a touchdown in the closing seconds putting Nebraska up 28-23.

At the break, Maryland had 300 yards, including 123 on the ground. But it was the home team with 195 total yards and the lead. The first half featured 18 penalties between the two teams.

Unlike last week, where a third-quarter lull kept Michigan State with hope, Nebraska didn't let Maryland breathe. Although neither team scored, the Terrapins ran just eight plays for 19 yards, controlling the ball for less than four minutes of action.

Nebraska promptly scored to open the fourth quarter, sparking a 21-point frame to run away with the win.

The final penalty count was 28. Nebraska had 16 for 132, tying the school record that was set at Texas A&M in 2010.

"I thought it was ridiculous," Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said of the number of penalties. "I thought it was poorly handled by the officials. I thought it was poorly done by us. I was frustrated today. There was things I've never had called before. Just a lot of things that were out of character."

Anthony Colandrea finished with 238 yards through the air, throwing three touchdowns and one interception. He also led the Huskers, who were without leading rusher Jamal Rule, on the ground with 108 yards.

Kwazi Gilmer was the main target, with Colandrea throwing him the ball 18 times. Gilmer caught 11 of those for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Donovan Jones and Owen Chambliss tied for the team high with eight tackles. Jones had one of Nebraska's five tackles for loss.

Besides the interception by McDougle, Kade Pietrzak also nabbed his first career pick.

An area of concern for the Big Red was special teams, particularly the kicking operation. Kyle Cunanan moved to 0-for-3 on the season on field goals of 50+ yards. The last touchdown was also followed by a missed extra point, which saw issues with the snap and hold operation.

Nebraska takes its undefeated record into a ranked matchup next week, when No. 6 Indiana comes to town. This is the first time the Huskers have hosted the reigning national champions at Memorial Stadium since 2006.