LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Oregon's PAT strategy is a jumbled, arrogant mess. The program's loss of killer instinct is an equally puzzling development. The pile of penalties and lack of discipline were killers. What I'm saying is, UO coach Mark Helfrich could have and should have started this season 3-0.

That didn't happen.

Instead, Nebraska beat Oregon 35-32 on Saturday. I'll leave the mathematicians and probability experts to determine what the final score should have been. But after the game, Huskers coach Mike Riley was walking with his wife, Dee, and their grandson. They were headed home for the night when someone pointed out that there was blood smeared all over the front of the coach's polo shirt.

Riley looked down.

"It's not mine," he said.

I suppose this column could be all about Riley's redemption. He went for it on fourth down and 9 with 3:38 left. He sent his kicker out and made the extra points. His team played relatively disciplined. The result: Riley snapped a seven-game losing streak against Oregon.

He got the Duck off his back.

Nebraska defensive coordinator Mark Banker, a guy Oregon wore out like a playground swing over the years, was so happy after the game that he was running around the field, hugging players. When the Huskers assistant coaches rushed down from the coaches box and sprinted across the field, Banker saw them coming. The 59-year old bolted toward Nebraska defensive backs coach Brian Stewart, jumped into the air, and they belly bumped.

Think Nebraska didn't really want to beat Oregon?

A security guard outside the Nebraska locker room said he tried to count the trademark-Mike Riley "Hip! Hip!... Hooray!!" cheers after the game. He lost count amid the celebration. And as much as Riley tried to not make this about Oregon (he said exactly that multiple times after the game) truth is, the day really was about Oregon in a variety of ways.

Saturday was about Riley finally beating Oregon and leaving the futility he had at the end of his tenure at Oregon State behind him. The day was about a Banker defense finally stopping an Oregon offense when it mattered. But also, it was about the multitude of ways that Oregon has stopped being Oregon.

The innovation feels forced and stunted. Everyone is doing cool uniforms now. Everyone is playing fast. And late in the second quarter with a chance to put their foot on Nebraska's throat, the Ducks went into a shell and forgot everything Chip Kelly tried to teach them.

Oregon played "Not To Lose The Day."

Nebraska seized the opportunity, tacked on a touchdown before the half, then, came roaring out in the second half. The third quarter belonged to the Huskers. But only because the Ducks left the door open at halftime.

Riley has been through it all over the years against Oregon. He'd lost close games. He'd been blown out. He'd been defeated at home, road, day and night. Memorial Stadium turned into a football exorcism witnessed by 90,414.

Going for it on fourth down and nine yards from the Nebraska 48? It took guts right? It put all sorts of pressure on the opposition's defense, didn't it? And it left the control in the hands of the Huskers offense, the unit Riley had most confidence in, didn't it?

In fact, going for broke there was exactly the kind of decision Oregon routinely made while it was winning games under Kelly and collecting Sports Illustrated covers. Nebraska's mindset was totally Oregon. Still, there was a delay in the action due to an injury timeout and I wondered if Riley might punt.

"I ended up with a lot of time to think about it," he said. "It was 'Go,' then 'Punt,' then 'Go'."

Ultimately, Riley decided, "I didn't want to give them a shot to win it."

If Kelly were watching the game, I'll bet he smiled when he saw his old adversary, Riley, make a "big stones" play call. And I'll bet Kelly probably slapped his forehead when the Ducks gave up a 14-yard pass completion. Then, he probably fell out of his chair two plays later when Tommy Armstrong Jr. ran for a 34-yard touchdown.

Riley's call? It was trademark Kelly. Seize the moment, ride the momentum, win the day. Don't just tell your players -- SHOW THEM! -- how much you believe in them. Riley dared mightily there and deserved the fruits of it. Oregon fans must have seen it happening and thought, "Man, that used to be us."

Oregon is in the middle of an identity crisis now. One that can be solved if Helfrich drops the "It's on me," act and reflects about how absurd it was that he could have won the game by simply kicking extra points instead of trying to become the 'swinging-gate' King. Or by daring as big as Riley on offense. Or by recruiting a little better. Royce Freeman's injury is unfortunate, but he only hid what we probably all suspected -- something is missing at Oregon right now.

"They have enough kids over there who have been in the program a long time," Riley said of Oregon's winning culture. "(We knew) they were going to fight and they know how to do it."

Sure, but the 13 Ducks penalties for 126 yards were killers. The penalties extended Huskers drives. They kept Riley's options alive. So before we can talk about the issues on defense, offense, with injuries and strategy, if Oregon doesn't play cleaner football, none of it will matter.

This game was, indeed, about Nebraska finding a new identity, improving to 3-0 as it heads to conference play, and about a probable return to a Top 25 ranking for the first time since the end of the 2014 season. Riley said he understood why people might want to make this all about where he's been, and not where he's going next.

"It stems from a long history with Oregon," he said. "We had some frustration because we didn't win enough of 'em."

Oregon can still reinvent itself. That's the mission ahead. But for Riley, this was about putting away the past. And as much as Riley downplayed his redemption angle, ultimately, Saturday was exactly that.

He goes free now.

--- @JohnCanzanoBFT