LINCOLN, Neb. - Nebraska survived another inept offensive performance to remain unbeaten Saturday.

Adam Ickes blocked Josh Cummings' 46-yard field goal attempt as time ran out, and the Cornhuskers hung on for a 7-6 victory that sent first-year coach Dave Wannstedt's Panthers to an 0-3 start for the first time since 1984.

It was Cummings' second blocked kick of the game, and it allowed the Huskers to run their record to 3-0 despite having scored only three offensive touchdowns this season.

"You can't say enough good things about the effort those kids put in," Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. "Absolutely this is a big win for our football team because of all the adversity we faced and had to overcome."

Zac Taylor accounted for Nebraska's only score, falling into the end zone from a yard out in the second quarter.

No doubt, he said, it's better to be lucky than good sometimes.

"We just keep winning, and our offense is going to improve," Taylor said. "It's frustrating to watch at times, but we will get better. With the defense we have, we have to put points on the board when we get the chance. They'll bail us out of some situations."

Cummings kicked field goals of 38 and 27 yards in the third quarter to pull the Panthers within a point, then missed a 49-yarder that would have given them the lead with 11:19 left.

After Jordan Congdon missed a 38-yard field goal attempt for Nebraska, the Panthers got the ball back with 1:28 to play.

Tyler Palko hit Joe DelSardo with a 26-yard pass to move Pitt to the Nebraska 29. Palko intentionally spiked the ball to stop the clock and set up Cummings' try with 7 seconds left.

But Mike McGlynn's snap deflected off holder Adam Graessle's helmet and into the hands of Cummings, who smartly threw incomplete into an open area of the field. The clock stopped with a second left, and Cummings was given another chance on third down.

This time Cummings' kick was stuffed by Ickes.

"Our guys wanted to win this game so bad and we played so hard," Wannstedt said. "We prepared so hard during the week, and it just hurts. It really does."

Both teams struggled offensively, as they did in their first two games. Neither team committed a turnover, but neither could overcome their own problems.

Cory Ross was Nebraska's only threat, running 32 times for 153 yards. Taylor completed 10-of-20 passes for 93 yards.

But Nebraska committed 11 penalties for 91 yards, getting called for illegal formations twice, an illegal downfield receiver once and four false starts.

Pitt was led by LaRod Stephens-Howling, who had 98 yards on 17 carries. Palko was 11-of-26 for 190 yards.

Pitt finished with 304 yards and Nebraska 267, only 114 in the second half. Palko and Taylor each were sacked four times.

The Panthers came into the game off an embarrassing 16-10 overtime loss to Ohio University.

"A loss is a loss, and it doesn't matter who you play," cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "Nebraska has a great stadium and a great atmosphere, and you have to be ready to play. We were, and they were, too. It was like two bulls banging heads."

Nebraska drove 39 yards in six plays for its only score. On fourth-and-goal at the 1, Taylor dropped back looking to pass, then staggered into the end zone after finding no one open.

Nebraska was in position to add to its lead after Terrence Nunn's 62-yard punt return set up the Huskers at the Pitt 30. But Taylor was sacked twice, and the Huskers had to punt.

Pitt generated only 87 yards in the first half. The Panthers moved from their 20 to the Nebraska 25 on the game's opening series, which ended with Zach Potter blocking Cummings' 42-yard field-goal attempt.

"We were backed up a lot today," Wannstedt said. "We did a good job of getting ourselves out of holes on offense but we have to find ways to put the ball in the end zone."

The Panthers' secondary took a major hit when strong safety Mike Phillips broke an ankle while making a diving attempt at an interception.