Homecoming, Time for Spartan Beatdown

(Predictions are at the end if you don’t want to read the rest!)

 I swear, these bye weeks coming after a loss have to be the longest in recorded history of sport.  Nebraska losing a close game to Michigan was bad enough, but then you get to sit and stew on it for another week with nothing to clense the losing palette.

And that long wait is even more painful when you rewatch the game, because as bad as it seemed during the real time version, watching the Michigan defense dictate the entire game plan again makes a person want to lose their lunch.

Nebraska has so many things going in the right direction, and the game was close, despite the Wolverine’s obvious talent advantage on defense, it makes you wonder if we have a false sense of reality or if the Huskers are really good, needing a few pieces to be great?

And that is why the bye week sucked so bad.  We all watched the Nebaska offense keep the Huskers in the game through the air.  We all watched the Hail Mary just before half that let Michigan know that Nebraska wasn’t going to fold in this game.  We can see that Dylan Raiola is the most talented quarterback, likely since Eric Crouch, to wear the red N.  

We don’t know though, if Nebraska is still climbing, or did Michigan just fall back to earth?  And if Michigan isn’t really that good, but had a good game plan with a freshman quarterback, how much improvement will we actually see this season?  

It’s hard to know what to exepct after a bye.  Nebraska hasn’t had much, if any, success the last few years after a bye.  This weekend could be the same.  Michigan State has an NFL quarterback and wide receiver combo.  They will pose every bit of the problems that Cincinnati posed when Nebraska played them.  Can the Blackshirts rise to he occasion?  Or will the trio of wide receivers and Luke Lindenmeyer carry the offense so the defense doesn’t have to?  We have had to wait two weeks.  One way or another this season is about to get interesting.  The wait was too long.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 24, Michigan 23. The actual score was Michigan 30, Nebraska 27.  It was a game that never seemed close in many ways, but Nebraska was a defensive stop and a field goal away from overtime against a team that won the National Championship two seasons ago, with many of the players that were on that title team still playing.  Nebraska isn’t quite there yet in the trenches, when it comes to overall built up talent.  They may be a season, if not two away from having the depth and age needed with better athletes to compete at a super high level.  

Quick Notes:

Jacory Barney…It’s hard to imagine where this team would be without it’s fantastic sophomores.  The Dylan Raiola to Barney combo has been lethal, almost since Barney arrived.  He continues to make big time plays all over the place, running the football, catching the football or returning punts.  If Nebraska could get him the ball 10 times every game they should.  He delivers.

Dylan Raiola....I don’t care what anyone says about Raiola.  People think it’s funny he tries to copy Patrich Mahomes and they give him a lot of grief about it nationally on sports shows, but I’ll be honest, I’m not sure there are 3 quarterbacks in the country I’d rather have.  Raiola kept Nebraska in the game against Michigan.  Without him, Nebraska loses by 20 points.  I just hope we don’t waste his talent.  He is a tremendous college quarterback.

Vincent Shavers Jr....…Shavers has played as well as any defensive player on the Blackshirts so far this season.  He has missed some tackles and he has been blocked out of his gap a few times, but he is one of the few players that has made game changing plays each game this season.  Whether forcing a fumble, making a tackle for loss, or a shoestring tackle that keeps someone from breaking a big run, Shavers has done it all.  Nebraska could use 5 more of him on defense.

Dasan McCullough…McCullough has quietly become Nebraska’s best edge rusher.  He had success against Michigan in the backfield and is difficult to block if you don’t get to him quick enough.  Nebraska will need that kind of pass rush this entire season.  If McCullough can start to earn help from the offense in their schemes to block him, that helps the entire defensive front.  The veteran needs to be the leader on the D-Line and help bring some of those young guys along with him.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 27, Michigan St 24

I know the spread is double digits, and I realize that the Spartan defense gives up a lot of big plays.  The thing that I keep going back to, is that games in the Big Ten are close.  Outside of Ohio State and Oregon, and the occasional Indiana blow out, each week the Big Ten teams slug it out, and it seems as if most games are within one score.  Now maybe Las Vegas is right and maybe Nebraska will roll, but I’m skeptical that he defense can contain the Michigan State passing game, and I’m also skeptical that Nebraska can win without running the football more and with success.  I see the Huskers coming out on top, but this game will likely be closer than many want. GBR!!!

Husk that Wolverine!

(Predictions are at the end if you don’t want to read the rest!)

Can you feel it?  I don’t know about you, but I’ve been pumped all week to watch Nebraska play Michigan!

I think the state feels it too.  It’s not that we are guaranteed to win, far from it, but for the first time in a long time, it feels like Nebraska has the tools to play a top 25 team and beat them.  Now, I thought Nebraska would beat Iowa the last two seasons and I think they were ranked once, but that’s Iowa.  This is Michigan!  Winged helmets, the most all-time football victories in college football, the National Champions two seasons removed.  It’s a class Nebraska hasn’t played in for a while.

So here we go, presented after a close win and two blowouts, a Husker team that we all think can be really good, but maybe they don’t know it yet?  Or maybe that is Husker fans that don’t know?  It’s hard to say. Is it hard to say that this is a monkey to get off the proverbial back either?

If Nebraska wins this game, it will be another milestone for Matt Rhule and another box to check that Nebraska is on the way back to national prominence.  If Nebraska loses, hey, it was Michigan.  I haven’t thought about a game from this perspective in a long time.  The consequences are big, but winning the game makes those consequences seem gigantic to Nebraska.

The thing is, Nebraska has lost 27 games in a row to ranked teams.  It’s a crazy streak, going back to 2016, almost a decade.  There was a time when Nebraska didn’t lose 27 games in a decade.  Of course that is long time ago now, but for Nebraska to start sniffing around that territory again, there is an attractiveness to this game that as a fan, you want to be a part of.

Nebraska has everything to gain.  Dylan Raiola has an opportunity to present himself on the biggest stage, and I guarantee he is hungry and ready.  He came to Nebraska to try and win these types of games.  And recruits see it as well.  Nebraska will have the top ranked player in the 2027 high school class at the game, along with all sorts of other highly rated four-star players from 2027 and 2028. Those highly ranked recruits wouldn’t be coming here if Nebraska didn’t look like they are starting to rise.  

So, as I get ready to watch this weekend, I think back to the times that Nebraska played Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame, before the 2002 swoon into mediocrity.  Those games were games against highly rated schools, with great tradition and Nebraska was a top-notch program at the time as well.  I was as excited to watch Nebraska play those games as I could be.  It’s nice to return to that feeling.  It’s been a long time.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 6. The actual score was Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 7….so close!  Nebraska is done with the nonconference schedule and overall, they did what they needed to get done.  It was great to see the kids that aren’t starters play a lot and have success.  That will trickle down as they get older and are needed later this season or next.  It was also good for Nebraska to play Cincinnati, who may be much better than I anticipated.  All these experiences were good and should help propel Nebraska into a successful conference season.

Quick Notes:

Dane Key…The Senior transfer from Kentucky has scored a touchdown in each of the first three games and had a bit of a breakout against Houston Christian.  Despite all of this, Key was brought in to help Nebraska beat the likes of Michigan.  Key has been a big part of the receiving trio including Jacory Barney and Nyziah Hunter so far.  If those three continue to play at this level, Nebraska will have a top three receiving corps in the Big Ten.  That’s heady praise, but clearly a goal that is attainable.

TJ Lateef....If you are thinking that Lateef should start over Dylan Raiola, then you probably should see a therapist.  Not that Lateef hasn’t been outstanding, but it was against two junior varsity teams.  That being said, Lateef has shown far brighter as a true freshman that many of us could have imagined.  It’s not often a freshman quarterback comes in and plays at high level immediately.  It’s crazy to think that Lateef and Raiola have come in back-to-back seasons.  If Nebraska can hang on to them both next year, that is one position Nebraska will have an advantage over every team they play.

Andrew Marshall...…I’m not going to single out Ceyair Wright because teams refuse to throw at him, so I have no idea if he is even playing in the games so far!  I kid, Wright has been fantastic.  On the flip side, Andrew Marshall has been amazing opposite of Wright.  Marshall is big, physical, and makes plays.  He really gives Nebraska another lock down corner, and you can’t say enough about the pass defense so far from Nebraska.  They will be severely tested this week against Michigan, but Nebraska is bringing their “A” game against the Wolverines in the defensive backfield.

Marques Watson-Trent…It has been questionable if Watson-Trent has been a good pickup through the portal for Nebraska.  He is clearly undersized for the Big Ten.  Despite that, against Houston Christian, I started to see the explosiveness and the violence that Watson-Trent provides.  Nebraska is starting to develop a good linebacking group, with Vincent Shavers Jr. and Dawson Merritt.  If Javin Wright can continue to play at a high level when he returns this week, Nebraska should have a nice group to rotate and keep fresh to take on Michigan’s ground and pound rushing attack.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 24, Michigan 23

I imagine this will be a close game, and probably very nerve wracking for Husker fans.  Michigan is clearly not as good as they were two seasons ago when they won a National Title, but they still have highly ranked players all over the field.  They are very athletic and their true freshman quarterback, Bryce Underwood, is as talented as anyone in the country at the quarterback position.  Nebraska needs to take advantage of the fans, hopefully using the crowd and the environment to shake his confidence early.  And if Nebraska gets down, say 14-3, they need to not panic.  Michigan is not Ohio State, Nebraska can take advantage of their secondary, and they should have an advantage in Special Teams.  I expect the game to go back and forth, but for some reason, I think that Nebraska will make the plays down the stretch and win with a Kyle Cunanan field goal late.  Nebraska needs to be pumped and ready to roll, it’s a big-time game in the Old Grey Lady and we need all hands-on deck! GBR!!!

Houston, We Have a Problem!

 

(Predictions are at the end if you don’t want to read the rest!)

You like touchdowns?  How about them touchdowns!

Nebraska did something they haven’t done in a long-time last week, exercising some demons along the way.  They pitched a shutout for the first time since 2009.  They scored the most points in a game since 2012.  They also had 728 yards of offense, the most since 2014.

It was cathartic to Husker fans as much as anything.  In the second half we were able to see players that many of us have heard of, but they simply haven’t played many snaps.  Against Akron, many of them played prominent roles.  Rex Guthrie, Kade Pietrzak, Gabe Moore, Caleb Benning and Sua Lefotu were all players on defense that shined at one point or another.  On offense, TJ Lateef, Isaiah Mozee, and Mekhi Nelson all made significant contributions during the game. 

Part of the reason it was so relieving was because Nebraska has not really put a team far enough away that the backup players are able to get so much playing time.  Even bigger though, the non-starters kept the pedal to the metal when they got in the game, scoring three touchdowns of their own.

It was a throwback, to a time when Nebraska fans knew each player at each position, sometimes eight deep on the running back chart, because they were able to play in games before they ever became starters.  They were rewarded for their work in practice and when they were able to show off, they made the most of their opportunities.

It’s the best way to show depth, but it also gives players that aren’t starters an incentive to get on the field.  It makes you work harder in practice and it makes it apparent to the coaching staff that if you are forced into a game, you will provide the same amount of effort and skill as a starter if you are given the opportunity.

It is a bit wild in this day and age of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) that you are forced to worry to a certain extent that teams will see that depth and try to poach it off your roster with promises of more money and playing time.  However, I believe that it’s the price you must pay to have a deep and talented roster to survive and give yourself a chance to make the playoffs.  It may cost Nebraska some down the road, but it’s a tradeoff that Husker fans are happy to see, with some blowout games, reminding them of the past Husker glory.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 42, Akron 10. The actual score was Nebraska 68, Akron 0.  Ok, this is when I love to be really, really wrong.  Nebraska struggled to finish at the goal line in the first quarter, and they gave up a drive right before halftime, blocking a field goal to keep Akron off the board.  Other than that, the offense and the defense had little to no trouble with the Zips.  Nebraska may still have a long way to go for improvement in this season, but you saw the potential against a lessor opponent that we haven’t seen for a long time.  I expect this week to be another showcase.  I’ll be curious to see if Nebraska calls off the dogs a bit earlier this game.

Quick Notes:

Emmett Johnson…Ok, I see you, Emmett.  I don’t know if EJ can carry the ball as often as he has against the Big Ten, but so far, he has been dynamic and is coming into his own.  He has always been a good receiving back, but he has started to break longer runs and his toughness does not need to be questioned.  Back-to-back career highs in rushing bode well for him as he develops.  He is playing at a high level, ready to lead the rushing attack.

Jacory Barney....If Barney is playing hurt, I’d watch out for him when he gets healthy.  He posted over a hundred yards receiving and another 87 yards in punt returns.  He has blossomed into a go-to player for Dylan Raiola and his special teams play has sparked him and the team this year.  He has more punt return yards already than the whole team has had per season in at least the last four seasons.  As weapons go, Barney combined with Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter gives the Huskers the best receiving trio in at least a decade.

DeShon Singleton...…Singleton so far has been as the Swiss army knife that Nebraska needs to make the 3-3-5 defense hum.  He has made purposeful tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and he has been very good in coverage.  With his size and athleticism, he acts like a linebacker, but he plays a combo corner/safety type role as well.  He has been very successful so far and provides a hammer from the back end of the defense.

Kade Pietrzak…The true freshman from Fargo, North Dakota blasted onto the scene making a tackle for a safety in the first quarter.  Pietrzak is explosive off the line of scrimmage and you can see why Nebraska had to fight off Oklahoma and Kansas State to get him to come to Nebraska.  He weighs in at 260 pounds according to the roster, but he plays bigger than that.  I don’t believe that he will redshirt this year, and he looks like he will be a big piece of the defensive line.  This kid is the type of top recruit that Matt Rhule needs to continue to land if Nebraska wants to get to the playoffs.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 6

If this game goes half as well as last week, I suspect Nebraska won’t play their starters as long in this game.  Not that Houston Christian is as bad as Akron, they seem to be a heavy run team, which will be good for the defense to see and play.  On the flip side, they are an FCS team, and their talent level is at least two rungs below Nebraska.  I expect Nebraska to come out and score as much as they can in the first half so they can rest their starters for the start of Big Ten play.  Early morning games are always a bit sleepy, so if you are going to the game, be loud, be proud and GBR!!!

Akron Game Preview

Ok, so I went to Kansas City to watch Nebraska play Cincinnati.  Outside of the game a couple of items.

First, Arrowhead Stadium is old, someone told me it is the third oldest in the NFL, and since I know that Soldier Field and Lambeau Field are the oldest, I would guess that is accurate.  The stadium itself is built to hold in crowd noise, and I must admit, it was really…..really loud.  Probably as loud as I can remember hearing a sporting event.

Second, the scoreboards are awful.  The ribbon board never showed any statistics and it was nearly impossible to find the two places where they kept the game clock and play clock from where I sat in the lower bowl.  To top it off, the video boards are smaller than the ones at Nebraska high schools.  

On the flip side, it really felt like an old school game.  There weren’t 25 ads playing during commercial breaks for Aker Farm Equipment, Bryan Health or any other Nebraska commercialized and monetized item the University can throw on the video board.  I know it takes a lot of money to run the University and the athletic department, so I’m not upset, but the in-game experience with just a college band and few other distractions was a welcome break from the normal home Husker games.

Finally, I cannot stress this enough, it is hard to digest what is going on in a game when you are at the lower level of the stadium and you can’t get a bird’s eye view, like on TV, of what is really going on.  I thought Nebraska’s defensive line was bad, and for the most part they were, but not bad for the reasons I thought.  In watching the game, I thought they were getting manhandled, but rewatching on TV, they were getting up field, and they seemed to be winning their battles way more against the O-line, they just were not assignment sound.  After the review I felt much better about the future of the defensive line than I did leaving the stadium.

It also looked like Nebraska should be able to throw deep and I couldn’t figure out why we didn’t try to go over the top against the Bearcat defense.  What I couldn’t see is that they were playing mostly with a three-safety high cover that kept our offensive players in front of them and that they weren’t letting us go past without making sure Nebraska’s wide receivers were covered in full.  After the rewatch, it made me appreciate Dylan Raiola’s efficiency in the passing game.  He continuously hit open receivers, didn’t force much and played well.  It was difficult to see all that in person.

I say all of this as a reminder, not just to anyone reading this, but to myself as well that it was game one.  The biggest improvements should come between week 1 and week 2.  If that happens, and the team continues to improve week to week, it should be a very fun season.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 34, Cincinnati 17. The actual score was Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17.  Nebraska dominated the middle two quarters of the game, and it was enough to come home with a victory.  The reality is, they should have probably scored at least one more touchdown, but they just as easily could have given up a free touchdown on an almost interception by Raiola on a swing pass on fourth down.  I felt like the offense could have played better, there were multiple times when beating one more defender would have been the route to a long touchdown.  Nebraska needs to make more big plays on offense.

Quick Notes:

Emmett Johnson…If you were looking for a player of the game, Johnson was it.  He carried the ball a career high 25 times and was targeted 10 times in the passing game.  It was an unusually large load for a running back but considering the youth and the minimal experience behind him, it was probably necessary.  Johnson is the bell cow at running back for sure, but he will need to be efficient and have about a third of the carries this week and next, so he has a chance to survive the Big Ten gauntlet.  If you were to tell me that there was a top three players Nebraska would struggle without, Johnson would be in the top three, easily.

Nyziah Hunter....Of the transfer receivers, Hunter really impressed me.  He made an acrobatic catch early in the game that if he had stayed on his feet, was an easy touchdown.  He then made a spectacular contested catch in the end zone for a touchdown right before halftime.  Dane Key is clearly a veteran that is going to be a big part of the offense, but having Hunter as the opposite outside receiver along with Jacory Barney in the slot gives Nebraska as good of a set of wide receivers as they have had in at least a decade.  This group should be enough for Dylan Raiola to have a big year in the passing game.  Hunter is really fun to watch, and he will score some big touchdowns this season.  

Ceyar Wright..…As I listened to Husker talk radio this week, it was great hearing everyone talk about how people weren’t sure that Wright even played.  That’s how great he was in coverage against the Cincinnati wide receivers.  Wright and Andrew Marshall shut down the passing game for the Blackshirts on the back end.  Throw in the great play of Donavan Jones and the pick by Malcom Hartzog and the defensive cover backs had what I would consider an excellent game.  Nebraska has some issues up front, but they certainly have the guys in the back end of the defense to keep them in any game.

Vincent Shavers Jr…Shavers wasn’t always where he should have been, but he made the play of the game by forcing a fumble in Cincinnatti territory right before half, recovered by Williams Nwaneri, that turned into a touchdown to give the Huskers a 10-point lead at halftime.  Shavers is the best linebacker on the team.  The thing that holds him back the most is experience.  The more he plays, the better he is going to get.  He plays fast and when he makes mistakes, he makes those fast as well which allows him to recover.  The Blackshirts inexperience showed up in Kansas City, but the potential is high with many of them.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 42, Akron 10

As an opening home game goes, you couldn’t ask for a better opponent to get healthy with.  I don’t mean to bag on the Zips, but Akron lost 10-0 to Wyoming last week and it wasn’t pretty.  Nebraska needs to put up some points in this game so their back up players can get valuable experience before conference play.  Nebraska’s youth clearly showed in the opening game.  It’s true, the starters are veterans in a lot of places, but there are so many young players in new roles and new situations, the repetitions are the biggest benefit of playing a team that isn’t that great.  Nebraska should dominate from the get-go, and I hope the offense opens it up and goes for the throat early so they can work on their game going forward.  As always, be loud, be proud and GBR!!!

Goin’ to Kansas City, Kansas City Here I Come!

Since I last wrote a blog, Nebraska has won their bowl game, dropped their spring game, brought in a huge transfer class, had fall camp, handed out Blackshirts and single digit jerseys, and had recruits take pictures with a huge bull.

Talk about a full offseason!  

Now Nebraska gets to kickoff the season in Kansas City against the Cincinnati Bearcats, a game that was supposed to be played in Cincinnati but conveniently was moved to Kansas City to provide more revenue for the Bearcats.  Husker fans will be helping them out, filling out at a minimum 90% of the stadium on Thursday night.  

And what do our wandering eyes get to see on Thursday night?  A lot of change, but a lot of the same things as well.  

Dana Holgerson is now the full-time offensive coordinator.  John Butler is now the full-time defensive coordinator taking over for Tony White.  And you can also toss in Mike Ekeler as the new special teams coordinator as well.

On the flip side, it is the same thing as last season that could have the biggest change and impact on the Huskers.  It’s no secret that Dylan Raiola, playing as a true freshman, came with some bumps and bruises.  Now, the hope is that Raiola will blossom in year two, into the beacon of light that the program has been searching for since Bo Pelini left Nebraska.  

As much money as Nebraska poured into his surrounding cast mates, the time for Raiola to become a budding star is now.  Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter at wide receiver, Elijah Pritchett and Rocco Spindler on the offensive line are just a taste of the new players on the Husker roster.  Bringing back Emmett Johnson at running back and Jacory Barney at wide receiver, along with a strong tight end group should provide enough options for Raiola to open up the offense and keep teams guessing at which way the team will move the ball.

The Blackshirts added new players as well, although not all of them will play right away.  Linebackers Marques Watson-Trent and Dasan McCullough, along with cornerback Andrew Marshall headline a group that should provide immediate input for the defense, that must replace the likes of Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher to continue to have an impressive defense under Head Coach Matt Rhule.

This has been one of the most exciting off-season’s in the last decade for Nebraska.  Coach Rhule seems to have the culture in place that he wants, and the players and coaching staff that he worked so hard to put together.  They say hope springs eternal, but for the first time in a long time, I start to see the full picture coming into focus for Nebraska.  The question is, will this year be another small step, or a big leap?  Dylan Raiola probably has the most to do with answering that question. 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 30, Boston College 27. The actual score was Nebraska 20, Boston College 15.  The game felt closer than it was, and Nebraska’s special teams continued to haunt the team, even in their bowl game.  That’s why Mike Ekeler was brought in to shore up that unit.  Nebraska arguably lost at least two games due to poor special teams last season.   It’s time for them to at least make that part neutral in 2025.  Getting the bowl win, and the “no postseason” monkey off of the teams back should free them up as well moving forward.

Quick Notes:

Emmett Johnson…Johnson entered the portal, oh so briefly, after last season.  Along with Dante Dowdell, Nebraska had a solid two headed monster by the end of 2024, but Dowdell also entered the portal and took the money that Kentucky offered and left Lincoln.  Despite all of this, Johnson decided to come back and should be the main leader of a backfield that is VERY young going into this season.  That doesn’t mean they don’t have options, they have plenty, but it does mean that they will have a lot of inexperience beyond Johnson.  Players like Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee will be forced into action and how they perform may tell us early if Nebraska will have depth to run the football to close out games.  Also, keep an eye on Wahoo native Conor Booth, I have a feeling he may end up getting carries as well this season.

Dylan Raiola....There are so many reasons why this year could be the year that Raiola blows up and becomes an All Big Ten player.  He has weapons around him, a top-notch offensive coordinator, a veteran offensive line and a year of playing in the Big Ten under his belt.  I remember Eric Crouch’s sophomore year in 1999, and how much he improved from his redshirt freshman season.  Raiola won’t have the team around him that Crouch did, but he could have just as much offensive success.  This team will reflect so much of what Raiola does, if you predict a big season from Nebraska, it will require a big season from the sophomore quarterback. Raiola continues to stir the Husker’s drink, and as he plays, so will go the Huskers.  

Keona Davis..…If the Blackshirts are going to be able to stop the run this year, Davis will need to be at the forefront of that effort.  Losing Robinson, Hutmacher, Jimari Butler and John Bullock will leave big shoes to fill for the defense in the run game.  I’m confident that Nebraska will be able to play the pass, and their pass rush should have more athletes than last season but being able to clog the middle was such a vital part of the defensive success.  Players like Davis, Riley Van Popple and Elijah Jeudy must leave a mark on this defensive season to continue any of that success.  It will be interesting to see how they start, as I feel like they will be much better as the season progresses.

Season Prediction…If you believe in the Matt Rhule third year jump, then folks, this season should be a great one for Husker fans!  I think Nebraska is still a season away from really blowing up, but that doesn't mean that this year won’t be a good one.  Despite all the NIL transfers and having Raiola back for a second season, this team is crazy young with around 90 total players that are sophomores, redshirt freshman or freshman.  If Nebraska improved their special teams play last year, they were likely 8-4 instead of 6-6.  I think this season, while maybe not at first, will have a much better special teams by the end of the year.  The downside is the defense will likely take a step back in league play.  If the offense improves enough to score 28 points per game, that will likely push Nebraska to 8 regular season wins.  Anything above that number would be gravy. If you go beyond that, you could be in playoff contention at the end of the season.  I’m going with 8-4 and another bowl game for the Big Red.  It’s not quite the leap Rhule normally has, but it might be the final push to the top of the hill that the Huskers need to get back into college football royalty.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 34, Cincinnatti 17

I could see this game being relatively close in the first half, but I’m guessing Nebraska enjoys the lead at halftime.  Cincinnatti is a good Big XII team, but Nebraska is and should be better than the mid-level team in a conference that is clearly a notch below the Big Ten.  Nebraska will be breaking a lot of opening day skids by beating a Power four conference foe.  The offense should be able to show off all their new toys and I expect to see some fireworks from the new punter/kicker combo.  I think Nebraska uses the Husker energy that will take over Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday and put an exclamation on the first game of the season.  It should be packed with Husker fans, hungry to push Nebraska to a big win. GBR!!!

Pinstripe Bowl Husker Preview

If you have been on a Husker football break since they lost versus Iowa on a crushing last minute field goal, it would be understandable.  If you haven’t been paying attention though, man have things changed.

Name, Image and Likeness, or more commonly referred to as NIL, has changed the entire landscape of college football, and in 2025, it will be changed like it’s on steroids.  With basically no rules, teams are spending money up front on players, knowing that Congress is attempting to set some parameters on the payouts that can be made starting as soon as next summer.

Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal, but the NCAA is also implementing a cap on players a team can have at 105.  This is a big blow to walk-ons.  Nebraska will no longer be able to carry a bigger roster than everyone else in the Big Ten.  Nebraska will be forced to let players that are on scholarship go as well as the walk-ons.  Throw in the fact that Nebraska lost their defensive coordinator Tony White to Florida State and the defensive line coach Terrance Knighton or “Pot Roast” as he is called, and Nebraska had a handful of players leave along with them.

And if that wasn’t enough, Nebraska went out and grabbed their own group of players from the transfer portal.  If you want to know how they have done so far, keep in mind that they pulled the number 6 overall player from the 2024 class on the defensive line (Williams Nwaneri, one spot above Dylan Raiola) and outbid teams like Georgia, Missouri, Kansas State and Miami for a list of other players that were highly coveted all over college football.

Where does that leave Nebraska overall?  Well in this new age of college football, cheering for certain players will lose its luster as many of them choose to move on.  They may be here one year, two years or five, but it’s going to be hard to put all your faith in a player that could easily be snatched up by the highest bidder the next season.  Nebraska will counter that by paying for top players from other schools to offset those losses.  That is the life of a college football team right now and moving forward.  It won’t be the same, but Nebraska seems to be keeping in line with the changes, which is all you can hope for right now.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 27, Iowa 20. The actual score was Iowa 13, Nebraska 10.  Nebraska dominated the game for all but one play on defense and it was super costly.  A long touchdown run by the Hawkeyes changed the game an altered Nebraska’s room for error.  Of course, it was Iowa’s special teams that caused them to come out ahead again, with Nebraska missing a field goal, fumbling a punt return and giving up a long field goal at the gun.  It’s not hard to see that Nebraska has better overall players than Iowa, but until they get coached up to the level that Iowa is at the least, Nebraska will continue to lose one score games to Iowa.

Quick Notes:

Emmett Johnson…Johnson ended up being Nebraska’s lead back at the end of the season and should play the most snaps in the bowl game against Boston College.  Johnson had an ok game against Iowa, but Dante Dowdell was the back that found the end zone.  Dowdell has since left for Kentucky, so Johnson can take over full time next fall.  If he improves as much from this last season into next season, Nebraska could have a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since Devine Ozigbo.  

Ty Robinson.…Robinson was a huge pain in the butt for many opponents this season, and Iowa took the brunt of Robinson’s pain as well.  Robinson ended up third team All-Big Ten, which in my opinion was a farce, he should have been first team.  Robinson may not play much in the bowl game, in fact I only expect him to play in the first half.  Nebraska will miss him immensely in 2025, he has been the best defensive lineman since Randy Gregory and probably the best defensive tackle since Jared Crick and Ndamukong Suh played together.  

Jacorey Barney Jr..…Barney will be the big gun in the bowl game and should be a big weapon for the Huskers next fall.  Nebraska added two big time transfers to the wide receiver room for next fall and two highly rated four-star players as well, but Barney will be the lead in that group.  If he and Jaylen Lloyd can team up with Jamal Banks and Carter Nelson, the wide receiver group should cause problems for Boston College.

Dylan Raiola…Raiola has started every game for Nebraska this fall.  It’s been a long time since Nebraska has been that fortunate.  Raiola has had his ups and downs, but there is no doubt that the future is bright for the Big Red as long as Raiola continues to improve.  Adding Dana Holgersen into the mix at offensive coordinator should help Raiola, as Holgersen’s offense is very quarterback friendly.  Nebraska continues to add weapons to the team as pass catchers and will also add some offensive lineman in the transfer portal.  If Nebraska’s offensive line improves along with the quarterback, the soon to be sophomore should have a great season in 2025.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 30, Boston College 27

Nebraska will be fully rested on offense and that should carry them to a victory.  Nebraska has lost a starting linebacker, defensive end and plenty of backups to the portal.  I would be lying if I said that the Blackshirts should dominate this game.  Boston College will put up points, but Nebraska should be able to match them.  Nebraska will get their first bowl win since beating UCLA in 2015.   It’s been a long, strange season and maybe it was a little disappointing, but I will miss Nebraska football mightily until it comes back to us in August.  Enjoy it and GBR!!!

Husker/Hawkeye Pregame Report and Prediction

Ok. I accept that win against Wisconsin. I bet you did too. And I bet you weren’t thinking, “man, I bet Nebraska puts up 44 against the Badgers!”

What the hell did we just see? The offense, that felt like it was stuck in mud for about 6 weeks, trotted themselves out there like a filly headed to the best track she could find and raced back and forth across the green pasture with the glee of a three-year-old kid eating their own bowl of ice cream.

It was amazing. All that pent up anger, all that pent up frustration, poured over Wisconsin like the gravy that they cover their cheese curds in.

The offensive line was fantastic and the play calling was a well-orchestrated symphony.

Alright, enough with the hyperbole, what really happened?

For one, Nebraska was able to get out in front, which made the play calling easier, because it was less predictable. Second, Nebraska ran the football like it hadn’t ran in conference play. They made the line of scrimmage their own personal space, and then the outside blockers, including the tight ends blew up any extra blitzers or linebackers trying to hit run fits. It was a thing of beauty.  

On top of that, Dylan Raiola looked like he did the first five weeks of the season. A future first round draft pick. All of the bad mojo and anguish of a team that was out of bullets on offense fell to wayside. It seems like a small miracle. And yet, when Dana Holgersen arrived, it put an immense amount of confidence in the offense and has allowed players to flourish.

We probably won’t ever be able to put our finger on it all as fans, but it was clearly the best situation imaginable for Husker Nation. It was a season that seemed all but lost two weeks ago and now it seems as if the sky is the limit. Granted, nothing is completely solved and this week against Iowa could still be a heartbreaking affair, but for a week, all things seemed possible for Nebraska. And for Husker fans that realize that this episode with Dylan Raiola may be fleeting, it at least let you dream that the next couple of years could be magic.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 17, Wisconsin 16. The actual score was Nebraska 44, Wisconsin 25. In some ways Wisconsin did what Nebraska has done so many times before, making an untimely mistake. Giving up a touchdown to the Huskers right before half wasn’t great, but to compound that with a fumble that allowed Nebraska to kick another field goal at the end of the half and really push the lead had to be frustrating for the Badgers. Nebraska finished with points on almost every possession in the middle two quarters and Wisconsin couldn’t recover. It was the best offensive output in the Matt Rhule era.

Quick Notes:

Emmett Johnson…It’s hard not to start with Johnson who had a career game against Wisconsin. Johnson ran with fire, becoming the first running back of the season to go over 100 yards rushing, but he also complemented that with 85 yards receiving. Johnson couldn’t find the end zone in this game, other than that, he played almost perfect. Johnson is playing not only for this season, but to be a feature back next season as well.  

Jacorey Barney Jr.…Barney was the Big Ten offensive freshman of the week in the Big Ten. Barney set the tone in the game with a huge kickoff return at the start. He broke the receiving record for a true freshman as well at Nebraska. Barney has been unleashed, and to me has followed the prediction of Bobby Newcombe almost to a tee. Barney takes some unbelievable shots as well, making very difficult catches look routine. Teams make a big effort to pop him, and he just absorbs that and fights on. The future is bright at wide receiver in Nebraska.  

Nate Boerkircher.…Boerkircher played more snaps against Wisconsin than he had all season. He took advantage of it. Boerkircher has always been a very solid back up at tight end, but this game in a more prominent role, he responded with two big catches, but also with some huge blocks on the perimeter. Putting tight ends in motion, including Luke Lindenmeyer, brought a bit of uncertainty to the Husker plays because it wasn’t apparent if it was a run or pass. The tight ends made a big difference in the offense.

Dylan Raiola…When you put up 44 points against Wisconsin and secure a bowl game for the first time in 8 seasons as a true freshman quarterback, it’s hard not to understate the impact of Raiola’s play this season. He has had some “freshman” moments for sure, but he also has played at a level that no other passing quarterback in my lifetime has done at Nebraska. Raiola was close to a 300-yard passing game, but not only that, he looked in total control on each play. Raiola guaranteed a Nebraska bowl game prior to last week and he delivered. Hard to quantify his play in the overall resurgence of the Husker offense, but his ability to throw the football is one of the best in the country.

Black Friday At Bleed Husker Red Tees!

Score Prediction: Nebraska 27, Iowa 20

I said it last week, but it really felt like Nebraska was either going 2-0 the last two weeks or 0-2. I still believe Nebraska will win this game. The offense won’t put up 44 on Iowa, but they have shown that they have a resiliency, and the play calling has been masterful. That’s not to say that Iowa won’t be primed to keep their foot on Nebraska’s neck again this year. It will be cold, and I expect a special team’s disaster on a punt for the Huskers, but Nebraska’s ability to bounce back has shown this team has the fight to absorb adversity and drive on. Iowa has a lot of injuries on offense, hopefully the Blackshirts show up and win this game on their own, GBR!!!