Scarlet and Cream > Scarlet and Gray

What do we think of the Blackshirts so far this season? After a rough outing against Northern Iowa, in which they didn’t perform overly well, they back that game up with probably their worst performance against Illinois, arguably back to playing Michigan at home in 2023.

So which version is going to define this season? With Rutgers coming into town, it makes you wonder if Illinois was a bump in the road, or will the defense bow up like they did against Purdue, making the game a one-sided affair, that the offense only had to find themselves to get the Huskers a win.

I think the Blackshirts may have found themselves a little bit last week against Purdue. It’s no secret that the Boilermakers running back Devin Mockobee has been a sore spot against the Huskers. He ran wild in 2022, churning out 178 yards, helping Purdue win a shootout against the Blackshirts. He was injured in 2023, and Nebraska won easily at home. This time Mockobee was healthy, and Nebraska went to work, bottling him up for only 41 yards on 13 carries. The prior week he had gashed Oregon State for 10 yards a carry on 16 carries, so he was in a groove.

Ceyar Wright has been a godsend for Nebraska, replacing preseason All-Big Ten selection Tommi Hill while he battles a foot injury. He has been so good in fact that Nebraska can go back to leaving him on an island and play with an extra player in the box. It was no coincidence that Isaac Gifford had a much better game last week, being freed up to be a playmaker instead of worrying about help side pass defense.

The defensive line looked better as well. Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson have been solid players so far, but having guys like MJ Sherman and James Williams step up and help put pressure on the quarterback is a big help. With Jimari Butler battling injuries, Nebraska needs all the help they can get on the defensive line.

So now that Rutgers brings in the leading rusher in the Big Ten, will the Blackshirts stand up to him like they did Mockobee? If the Nebraska that played against Purdue shows up, Nebraska will be in great shape. If the Nebraska that played against Northern Iowa and Illinois shows up, it will be a long bye week in Lincoln.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 24, Purdue 20. The actual score was Nebraska 28, Purdue 10. It was obvious with score tied at 0-0 at the half that Nebraska was going to need to step it up on offense. The field goal unit was about as miserable as they could be in West Lafayette. Two blocks and another outright miss, Nebraska could not get anything going in the kicking game. Dylan Raiola to the rescue, as he led three second half scoring drives. I don’t think Nebraska’s offense is bogging down anytime soon. They continue to move the ball with ease. When they needed to put points on the board, they stepped up and delivered in the red zone last week. Rutgers will likely be the same type of bend but don’t break defense. The Huskers will need to play like the second half this week to have any chance of winning.

Quick Notes:

Dylan Raiola…This kid, I swear, he just never sweats. When Nebraska needed to score in the second half, after Purdue took a field goal lead, he just calmly led the team down and put it in the end zone. He would tack on two more scoring drives in the fourth quarter. Whatever you think about Nebraska football, it is clear that Raiola is the straw that stirs the drink in Lincoln.

Emmett Johnson…Nebraska needed a running back to step up against Purdue and that back was Emmett. Johnson continues to have the most make you miss move in the running back room. On top of that, he has as good of hands as Rahmir Johnson. As Emmett starts to make plays blocking in the passing game, I believe he will start to see more carries. It’s apparent to me that Dante Dowdell and Emmett are the top running backs for the Huskers and the carries should reflect that. Although Gabe Ervin ran like a man possessed last week. It will be interesting if he his finally starting to recover from his injury.

John Bullock…I feel like Bullock is becoming a mainstay on this list each week. Again, he was the prominent player for the Blackshirts, this time, sealing the game with an interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Bullock has been a one-man wrecking crew. Clearly the most consistent player for the Blackshirts.  

MJ Sherman…Whether it was two sacks, or one and a half (I’ve seen both) Sherman had his best day as a pass rusher for Nebraska. Sherman has been a leader on the team, saying all the right things and working hard. It was nice to see him have a breakout game. If he and James Williams and Kai Wallin can continue to get to the opposing quarterback, the Blackshirts still have another level to reach. It was a great game for Sherman.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

Score Prediction: Nebraska 28, Rutgers 24 (in overtime)

Nebraska played the first half last week like a team that wasn’t sure they could beat Purdue. They played the second half like I thought they would play against Illinois. They carved up Purdue on defense and held the Boilermakers offense in check throughout the game. I expect Rutgers will have a plan up their sleeve and expect one special teams’ touchdown for them in this game. I think Nebraska will play well enough to win, but not in regulation. This week, Nebraska gets a monkey off it’s back by winning in overtime and starting the season 5-1. The best start of the season in 8 years, and GBR!!! 

Please Put Purdue Away Today!!!

It seems as if anytime Nebraska gets any momentum rolling, they manage to find a way to stop it themselves.  Not that other teams don’t have good coaching, solid NIL money and lots of Big Ten television money to build with.  It does seem though, that anytime Nebraska is in a tight game, the other team just has to wait for the meltdown, and they can come out with a win.

Not only is Nebraska 0-10 in their last 10 overtime games, but they also don’t get first downs.  Other teams score at will on the Blackshirts, and the offense gets penalties and sacks that drive it so far back it might as well punt.  And yes, I do recognize that punting in overtime is never something you do.

Nebraska has a big bullseye on it’s back.  You can see it as far away from Lincoln as Scottsbluff and other Big Ten teams continue to use it to their own advantage.  I could sense it from head coach Matt Rhule after the game.  How do the Huskers continue to lose tight games over and over?  The bullseye is that Nebraska will fold themselves in a game if you can keep it close.

Someday, Coach Rhule will get if figured out, or else he will follow Bill Callahan, Mike Riley and Scott Frost into the pile of coaches that couldn’t figure out the code to win in Lincoln.  

Don’t get lost in the loss though.  Nebraska could have and arguably should have led against Illinois 28-10 at halftime last Friday.  If two pass plays wind up as touchdown drives, instead of a field goal and an interception, Illinois is hoping not to lose two in a row in Penn State this weekend.

Instead, Nebraska hits the road with their rooking quarterback, trying to get back on track.  An all too familiar feeling in Husker Nation.  Now would be a great time for the Huskers to respond to something with positive momentum.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 28, Illinois 10.  The actual score was Illinois 31 Nebraska 24 in overtime.  Nebraska had multiple chances to win this game.  A terrible missed pass interference call in the first quarter that made Nebraska settle for a field goal and a questionable play called a touchdown on the field, but overruled into an interception on replay were both plays that altered the course of the game.  And the final drive in regulation that wasn’t a kneel down included a wide open Husker in the end zone and a just missed field goal try that wasn’t necessarily the right call.  I won’t question the coaches on the field goal, because they had a touchdown call the play before.  Either way, Illinois did a great job of handling the Blackshirts and held on for dear life that Nebraska’s wunderkind quarterback wouldn’t get the Huskers to the promise land.

Quick Notes:

Dylan Raiola…You could easily argue this was Raiola’s coming out party.  He dominated a good Big Ten defense through the air for four quarters.  Long pass plays to Isaiah Neyor, Thomas Fidone and Jacorey Barney Jr. were simply breathtaking to watch.  He converted third and long multiple times, and made NFL throws throughout the game.  Never mind the overtime, he made some errors, but without him, Nebraska would have lost that game by 3 touchdowns.  Raoila is a problem for the Big Ten, and Husker fans better just enjoy the ride, he won’t be in Lincoln more than 3 years.

Isaiah Neyor…Neyor continues to find the end zone for Nebraska.  He has made arguably the biggest plays for the Huskers through the air in the first third of the season.  If Neyor had been able to make the crazy catch in the end zone count on Friday, he would have had three touchdowns and likely the player of the week in the Big Ten.  He has that type of potential.

John Bullock…I’m not sure that Bullock is the best player on Nebraska’s defense, but I’d argue he has been the best player the last two games for sure, and likely all season.  His attention to detail includes batting down passes, making sacks and covering short catches across the field and bulleting in to make a tackle.  The rest of the Blackshirts could use some of the effort that Bullock has given week in and week out.  

Ceyar Wright…When Tommi Hill went out of the game in the first half, Wright was the next man up.  Not only did Wright play well, but he also actually played himself into a starting role.  Even if Hill can play this week, or next, Wright played so well that Marques Buford Jr. should be able to move back to safety or even nickel.  Wright looked like a top 100 player coming out of high school.  If that lasts, Nebraska may have found their next high draft pick.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 24, Purdue 20

I was way off last week.  I thought Nebraska was ready to springboard into Big Ten play and show that they are a top 5 conference team.  They aren’t there yet, and probably aren’t this season.  That doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty to play for.  Heck, if Nebraska can win all but two more games, they would have an outside shot at the expanded playoffs this season.  Unfortunately, they travel to Purdue, and honestly, that place has not been good to Nebraska.  I expect another ugly game, where the Huskers need to run out the clock to win on Saturday.  There are always three to four plays in West Lafayette that seem like they are from a bad fairy tale.  I think the Huskers will survive and advance this week.  And that will be good enough, GBR!!!

Friday Night Lights in Lincoln

 

Preseason is over. That’s what I said after Nebraska finished up 3-0 in the non-conference game on Saturday and then Coach Matt Rhule stated the same thing at his press conference on Monday.

Nebraska is off to their best start since going 7-0 in 2016. Consequently, Nebraska has only opened the conference season with a win two times since then, in 2017 against Rutgers and home and in 2019 against Illinois on the road. The last 7 years haven’t been kind to Nebraska, but the Big Ten hasn’t done them many favors, opening with conference games to start the season. Nebraska hasn’t won any of those season openers in conference. 

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

Nebraska is finally in a place that they should start to beat teams like Illinois more consistently. Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern have been better programs in the last decade than Nebraska. That shouldn’t happen. Nebraska’s resources are so much more than those programs. You could argue that they all have better in state and regional recruiting, but Nebraska has a national brand, and let’s be honest, they should go into those states and take the best players from places like Illinois, Minnesota or even Iowa and Wisconsin occasionally.  

The next step in the evolution of this current Husker team is that they have the best player on the field. Dylan Raiola is starting to look like he is a top 10 quarterback in the country. If that is truly the case, then a game against a team like Illinois, who is well coached, physical and has talent, won’t matter as much because they don’t have a player like Raiola. Nebraska needs to continue to strike while the iron is hot and land these difference makers because that is what separates the top from the middle in the Big Ten.

There is a unique opportunity to play at home in Lincoln on Friday night for the Huskers. I don’t like the fact that Nebraska is playing on Friday nights, I’ve always felt like that should be limited to high school games. However, because of the 400th sellout and it’s a night game at home against a Big Ten antagonist, Nebraska should use that platform to their advantage. It’s the perfect time for Raiola to lead the team to a win and keep the momentum going.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 50, Northern Iowa 7. The actual score was Nebraska 34, Northern Iowa 3. I have to give Northern Iowa a lot of credit for a solid game plan. They held the ball from Nebraska, using their running game to extend drives and made the Blackshirts work. They held the ball for 38 minutes, compared to Nebraska’s almost 22. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the game really was never in doubt and Nebraska simply didn’t get a chance to run up the score. Another game where second and third string Huskers were playing early in the game, gives Nebraska yet another opportunity to build depth and give young guys experience.

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

Quick Notes:

Carter Nelson…The big-time athlete from Ainsworth came out firing on the Huskers first possession, catching his first Husker touchdown pass. The big freshman can move and is going to be a huge piece of the puzzle for the Husker offense in the future. It will be interesting to see how Nebraska incorporates him into the Big Ten season.

Jacory Barney…Barney continues to show his explosiveness. Every time he runs an end around or runs behind Raiola on the snap I just sit and wait for him to blow up on a play. His 10-yard rushing touchdown last weekend was so perfect. He set up his block, followed it into the end zone and even though he got popped at the end, he jumped right up like a kangaroo. If he ever gets to return a kickoff, look out.

Isaac Gifford…If Gifford isn’t the quarterback of the defense, he certainly plays like it. He was consistently in the right spot on plays, helping to keep Northern Iowa in check, leading the team in tackles. Every week someone from the defense steps up onto this list. It will likely be someone else next week.  

Tristan Alvano…Alvano was two for two on field goal tries last week. That was a welcome sight after a miss the week before. Nebraska will need Alvano’s leg this season. Hopefully he continues to get more opportunities to deliver. His injury in camp is still keeping him from being consistent according to the coaches, so Saturday was a good step in the right direction.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 28, Illinois 10

Every year my predictions usually hit stride around conference time. Nebraska knows that kind of team they have at this point, and I think Coach Rhule knows that this team is as good as the upper 1/3 of the Big Ten. This type of game is where we find out for sure. Nebraska needs to dominate the group in the middle third of the conference. This is one of those games. If Nebraska doesn’t cover the 7.5 point spread this weekend, I will be surprised. I expect the Blackshirts to dominate and Raiola to keep on trucking. Friday night football, Memorial Stadium will be loud and GBR!!!

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

Ranked and Ready for Northern Iowa

Well, well, well, look at who is ranked this week!  Nebraska joined the AP writer’s poll and the Coaches Poll for the first time since 2019 this last week after dispatching Colorado at home.  And it is not the kind of ranking built on momentum from the prior year, but rather based on the outcome of the current season.  Since 2016, Nebraska’s last winning season, Nebraska has not enjoyed a ranking based on merit of played games in the same season.  

And while Nebraska dominated a suspect Buffalo team, they left plenty of meat on the bone to work on before Big Ten play starts against Illinois.  A surprisingly good Illinois, now that the season has started.

Nebraska missed another field goal with Tristan Alvano.  It has been a rough start to the season for Nebraska’s kickers.  Alvano and John Hohl have each had mistakes, missing field goals and kicking the ball either out of bounds on a kickoff or to Jimmy Horn versus Colorado for a big return.  Top it off with Head Coach Matt Rhule opening up the long snapping and short snapping duties for competition this week, and it’s clear that special teams, at least in the kicking department need to work out some kinks.

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

It hasn’t been all bad though.  Another Ty Robinson blocked field goal this last week, along with Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda returning punts for positive yards for Nebraska, there continues to be parts of special teams looking good.  Of course, a partially blocked punt, and a muffed kickoff return offset some of those great plays.

And while freshman quarterback sensation Dylan Raiola has at times looked like a pro, Nebraska’s wide receivers were relatively quiet against Colorado.  Jamal Banks and Isaiah Neyor did not provide a lot of stats against Colorado’s defensive backs.  Freshman Jacory Barney, Jr. however did provide explosive plays, but the run of holding calls against Nebraska negated most of those.  Top it off with Rahmir Johnson’s long touchdown run being called back and the second half of the game really was kind of a bummer on offense.

The great thing about all those problems?  As Matt Rhule said, it’s a perfect game to teach because Nebraska won easily despite struggling in so many areas.  It means Nebraska hasn’t hit their ceiling yet.

Nebraska has another opportunity to work on their own team this week against Northern Iowa.  This is basically the end of the preseason for the Huskers.  Once Big Ten play starts, that’s where the rubber hits the road.  Illinois, Indiana, USC and Rutgers have all shown that those games are probably going to be more competitive than they seemed prior to the start of the season.  Nebraska needs to work out the kinks, because the difference between 28-10 versus Colorado, might be the difference between 13-10 scores in the Big Ten and we all saw how that worked out in Matt Rhule’s first year.  After last week, Nebraska seems to be trending up for those games, rather than down.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 37, Colorado 21.  The actual score was Nebraska 28, Colorado 10.  The Huskers made sure this game was over at halftime.  They sucked the venom out of Colorado and spit it on the turf in front of them in that first half.  The crowd didn’t disappoint and the Blackshirts rode that wave of fury and noise and dominated the high scoring Buffaloes.  This game score could have and probably should have been 45-10.  If that is any indication of where things are going this season, Nebraska is going to be a lot of fun!

Quick Notes:

Ty Robinson…Look who is back again!  Robinson set the tone against Colorado from the first snap.  Batting down passes, hitting Shedeur Sanders, getting a sack and blocking a field goal were all in a night’s work from the stud defensive tackle from Arizona.  Robinson was a highly recruited four star when he was in high school.  That potential is being realized this season and should make him an easy draft pick for the NFL.

John Bullock…Bullock was a nightmare against Colorado.  He made multiple plays on multiple drives and played like a man possessed.  Bullock was instrumental in the pick six by Tommi Hill and dominated and entire series in the second half making seemingly every play on defense.  Bullock and Mikai Gbayor have been stalwarts for the defense.  Bullock coming back for one more season has paid huge dividends for the Huskers.

Tommi Hill…Hill made the play of the game against Colorado, a 7-yard interception return for a touchdown after a great punt by Brian Buschini.  That play lit an already fired up crowd, and really put doubt and fear into Colorado.  That play cemented the Blackshirts as the dominant force on the field and made the Huskers almost unbeatable against the Buffaloes.  

Dante Dowdell…Dowdell set the tone on offense, running over Shilo Sanders and breaking the safety’s arm in the process.  While we didn’t want to see Sanders get hurt, the play set the tone for the Husker offense that it was going to pound away at their defense and that is exactly what Nebraska did.

Jacorey Barney Jr.…I’ve stated it before, but Barney is the most explosive player I can remember for Nebraska since Bobby Newcombe.  He completely changes the game when he makes a reception or does an end around.   While Jalen Lloyd also has some of those same skills, Barney has been able to showcase more of his speed the first two games.  If Lloyd gets healthy, he and Barney together will be a hard duo to contain.  Barney had a game of yards overturned by holding penalties that had little effect on the actual play itself.  Nebraska needs to stay more disciplined, and those plays will help blow out games.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 50, Northern Iowa 7

If Nebraska is as good as I think they are, they will be playing the backups early in the third quarter.  I expect Nebraska to work on their passing game and get the tight ends more involved in this game.  I also expect to see Dowdell and Rahmir Johnson both with big days.  Nebraska shouldn’t be run over by the Northern Iowa rushing attack.  That is all Northern Iowa has to counter the Blackshirts and it likely won’t do much.  Nebraska should roll in another night game, and then the Big Ten season begins.  GBR!!!

Bleed Husker Red Tees

It’s Go Time In Lincoln! Beat CU!

 

The air has been pretty cool in Lincoln this week.  Almost like the city if calmly prepared to host an old ex-in law at home, but this time, we don’t plan on being hospitable!

I can’t remember the last time the state has been this pumped up for a game.  There is so much momentum right now in the program.  Nebraska is hosting over 40 high school prospects that they have offered scholarships this weekend.  Dylan Raiola is the talk of college football when it comes to new and exciting freshman quarterbacks.  Deion Sanders is the perfect foil, flamboyant, yet charming, but arrogant enough, Nebraska Nice, doesn’t apply.  Nebraska has lost three straight to Colorado, but certainly feels like this time, the Huskers have the horses to come out on top.  Throw in a night game at Memorial Stadium and that is one wicked gumbo ready to be eaten up.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

So how will Nebraska respond?  

I think a lot of about Nebraska playing two games in the last 20 years that mirror a lot about the emotion and expectations of this game.  In 2010, Nebraska was poised to win the Big XII, expectations were a mile high, and Texas came to Lincoln.  Nebraska was looking for revenge for the :01 second game loss that Mack Brown seemingly willed into existence, denying the Huskers a conference championship from the prior year.  Nebraska was teed up to blast off back into college football relevance, but the game was a disaster from the start.  The Huskers played about as poorly as they could play and an average Texas team left Lincoln winning 20-13.

The next game I think of is 2014 in Lincoln against the Miami Hurricanes.  Nebraska fans remembered every Orange Bowl matchup with Miami and now it was time to get them on their own turf.  It was probably the most intense matchup from a non-conference game that I ever attended.  Nebraska was really good that year, but for many Bo Pelini reasons, could not get over the Wisconsin hurdle.  Nevertheless, the team, especially the Blackshirts made play after play in that game, feeding off the crowd that was restless and relentless.  It was a great atmosphere, and Nebraska sent the Hurricanes packing with a 41-31 loss.

This Colorado game falls in that same category to me.  I’m not sure Colorado is better than Miami in 2014.  I think they are better than the 2010 Texas team, but I expect the Huskers to respond better than they did that day.  Expectations are a wild part of these games.  Nebraska should have beaten Colorado twice under Scott Frost but failed both times.  You could argue Nebraska never had a shot to beat CU in Boulder last year, but the game itself certainly lead one to believe that Nebraska, with an actual offense, could have won that game.  This year, with the game in Lincoln, I foresee a different outcome.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 45, UTEP 17.  The actual score was Nebraska 40, UTEP 7.  The start of the Dylan Raiola era in Lincoln was about as good as it could get.  Nebraska only turned the ball over once, gave up one quick touchdown drive, had some great highlight reel touchdown catches and the Huskers played over 100 players in the game.  The starters were out of the game in the middle of the third quarter.  Those are old school Nebraska type game events.  Nebraska is good.  They may be very good.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

Quick Notes:

Dylan Raiola…He will get mentioned in this blog a lot this year.  After last year’s quarterback roulette wheel, Nebraska looks about 10 times better this season with Raiola.  He didn’t force throws.  His accuracy out to 20 yards is as good as any Husker quarterback I’ve ever witnessed.  He has a huge spotlight on him this week.  I’m not sure how he will respond, but I will say this week has little bearing on his career at Nebraska.  If he stays healthy, by the time he leaves he will be a first round NFL draft pick.

Ty Robinson…Pro Football Focus said that Nebraska didn’t blitz one time against UTEP.  Robinson and the defensive line did a great job getting pressure in the backfield without any help.  Robinson had to sit out the first half of last year’s game at Boulder against CU.  He could be a major disrupter against the Buffaloes freshman five star left tackle, making his first start on the road.

Rhamir Stewart…Shoutout to the young safety.  He had his first interception of his career against UTEP.  In a game that had fewer turnovers than the Huskers may have wanted, Stewart and Malcom Hartzog both had picks.  Stewart likely won’t play a lot this season, but it’s good to see the young depth building up on the Blackshirts.

Dante Dowdell…His fumble notwithstanding, Dowdell had the best look of any of the Husker running backs in the first game.  I still think Emmett Johnson is going to be really good, but Dowdell has power that Johnson doesn’t.  Rahmir Johnson is still the starter this week, but I could see Dowdell being the hammer against Colorado.  He just can’t put the ball on the turf.  Luckily, he doesn’t have a history of fumbling in high school, so it may be a one off.  Nebraska has some nice options in the backfield.

Isaiah Neyor…The transfer from Texas made the highlight play of the game on a deep throw from Raiola for 59 yards.  Neyor caught the ball, stumbled away from two defenders, then rebalanced himself and scored.  The play was great from the get-go and Neyor certainly is someone that Nebraska should be able to use consistently this season.  He and Jahmal Banks barely came out of the game before it was a blowout.  It will be interesting to see if Nebraska rotates more at receiver this week.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 37, Colorado 21

To me this game is going one of two directions.  One of these teams is going to take the game by the horns and handle it.  I’m just not sure which team will do it.  All the signs point to Nebraska finally cracking this egg and letting the yolk run.  Matt Rhule has been a master at rebuilding programs at Temple and Baylor and he seems to be headed in that direction in Lincoln.  Sometimes you have to walk before you can run, but honestly, with this set of Blackshirts, Dylan Raiola under center, and a crowd that will be rocking at night, this game points to a Nebraska convincing win.  I’ll be there screaming my head off and GBR!!!

Hallelujah! Husker Football is Back!

Year Two of the Rhule Era, Nebraska is Ready

It feels like forever ago that Nebraska threw a pick to Iowa that pretty much sealed the Huskers bowl drought would last another year.

Chubba Purdy, who threw that pick is now a backup at Nevada.  Jeff Sims is a backup at Arizona State.  Henrich Haarberg is the backup in Nebraska.  That is three starting quarterbacks that are not expected to be starters with new teams, when they all had that opportunity in Lincoln in 2023.

So, what’s changed since last November?  

Dylan Raiola entered the chat.  Raiola is arguable the biggest recruiting win for Nebraska since Tommie Frazier over 30 years ago.  Yes, that is a long time.  You would have to live under a rock as a Husker fan not to know Raiola’s background and relationship with Nebraska prior to committing.  After spending over a year committed to Ohio State and then Georgia, the legacy felt the tug of “home” and chose to play in Lincoln.

The commitment also coincides with the expected second year bump of Matt Rhule’s overhaul of the Husker program.  Nebraska looked much improved last season from the prior year under Scott Frost and Micky Joseph, but the record didn’t reflect that improvement.  Nebraska lost their final four games of the season, almost all in the final minutes of one score games.  Husker fans have been taking gut punches for a half dozen years, but last year seemed to be the last straw.

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

Rhule was working hard to bring it all together, but he needed to put a bow on the present for 2024.  After courting Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, Raiola called up coach Rhule and told him he wanted to play in Lincoln.  When that happened, not only did excitement ratchet up, but expectations have as well.

Nebraska went to work in the portal and added three huge pieces on offense.  Jahmal Banks, Micah Mazzccua and Isaiah Neyor will all start in the opener against the University of Texas, El Paso.  Nebraska also closed on other prized offensive recruits like Carter Nelson and Jacory Barney, Jr.  This type of infusion of talent likely doesn’t transpire without the commitment of Raiola.

Adding these pieces, along with bringing back arguably the best defense of the Big Ten era, Nebraska hopes to make the bowl drought a long-lost memory.  Rhule has always seen a big jump in year two from his teams in his other stops.  Dylan Raiola will need to be the reason that jump happens for Rhule in Lincoln.  That last interception against Iowa seems so far away.

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 17, Iowa 14.  The actual score was Iowa 13, Nebraska 10.  Everything about that game was ugly.  Nebraska’s defense played well, but when they needed a stop at the end, they couldn’t get it.  Nebraska’s offense often looked like they could make plays but always came up just short.  It was like the last four losses all rolled into one.  Nebraska lost three games by this score last season.  I’ll bet Nebraska scores more than 10 in every game this season.

Quick Notes:

Dylan Raiola…It’s reality.  Raiola has earned the starting job, and he needs to play well for Nebraska to have a shot at the season they want.  The kid has all the tools, and I mean all of them, to be successful.  Nebraska needs help Raiola out with protection.  If he takes minimal hits during the season, his arm will put Nebraska in multiple scoring positions and bring Nebraska bowling.

Jahmal Banks…An All-ACC receiver, Banks has come to Lincoln on a mission.  He was given the number 4, as a single digit and was the only offensive player to earn one.  By all accounts, Banks has delivered as a leader on the team and has helped drive the wide receiver room to be at their best.  I think Isaiah Neyor may have the better statistical season, but Banks is the leader of the skill players.

Nash Hutmacher…Hutmacher developed so well last year that he is considered a lock, along with Ty Robinson and Jimari Butler, to be an All-Conference type of player.  Hutmacher really changed the Blackshirts last year with his relentless play and consistent leadership.  If the growth curve continues with Hutmacher, after redefining his body by wrestling for the Huskers, he will be getting ready for the NFL season next year.

Tommi Hill…With all the Blackshirts coming back from last season, to me Tommi Hill is the most important.  Hill showed that he can be the best player on the field toward the end of last season.  When you have a cornerback that can take away the number one option on a team, it really changes the dynamics of how the team can play defense, allowing it to be much more aggressive.  I’ve made the call that Tommi Hill will be a first-round draft pick next year.  That means he needs to play like an All American.

Season Prediction:

Nebraska has the athletes to win 6 games in their sleep.  The problem is, they haven’t done it for seven seasons, so there is a bit of a mental hurdle that they need to get over.  I think Nebraska will go bowling this year, my floor for this team is 7 wins.  My ceiling is 11 wins.  That ceiling means that Dylan Raiola is as good as the hype, the Blackshirts are more dominant that last season and Nebraska avoids any major injuries.  Since the chances of that happening are slim, I’m going with an 8-4 season, along with a bowl win.  It’s not the breakout season that Husker fans probably are hoping for but winning 8 or 9 games after seven straight losing seasons will feel really good.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 45, UTEP 17

This is such an old school prediction, something that I haven’t had the guts to make in years.  If Nebraska truly has improved as much as we all think they can on offense, they will certainly put up a lot of points tomorrow.  UTEP likely won’t score 17, but I think Nebraska will be on their fourth string defense by the end of the game on Saturday and will give up a touchdown late.  Nebraska is due for a perfect opening day, and I think they get it.  Let’s get this thing started!! GBR!!!

Nebraska, To Bowl, or Not to Bowl, That is the Question

What a heartbreaker this season has become for fans.  To start, the world was falling apart, Nebraska lost a Big Ten gut punch to Minnesota, then got routed on the road at hated Colorado.  Nebraska seemed to turn it around, winning 5 games out of 6 and everyone is thinking about possibly playing to win the West division.  November hits and Nebraska loses two games by a field goal and another in overtime and still hasn’t qualified for a bowl game.

Carriker Chronicles: Iowa Preview

Now Iowa comes to Lincoln with the West Division sewn up and not much to play for on their end, other than to slap their western rivals one more time before the divisions leave the Big Ten.  Iowa may not have much to play for this week, but believe me, Nebraska put a bad taste in their mouth last season and the last thing the Hawkeyes want is to have a losing streak against the Huskers.

If Nebraska wants to go bowling and I do believe that they hoped to have that clinched before this weekend, it makes Iowa a must win.  Nebraska didn’t want to be in this position, but horrible quarterback play in November has put them in a place that they can’t seem to escape.

Enter Chubba Purdy.  Purdy came out and blew the doors off the Badgers in Wisconsin last week in the first quarter.  More than that, Purdy didn’t turn the ball over until the overtime, on a basic last minute Hail Mary heave on fourth down with no one open.

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Purdy wasn’t an All American outside of the first quarter, but he did something that Nebraska has needed all season.  Someone to take care of the football.  

For the most part, 17 points is enough for the Huskers to win a lot of games this year.  Unfortunately, the way the Huskers have turned the ball over this season, it has forced the Blackshirts to burn a lot of energy just keeping Nebraska in games.  

If the Huskers want to go bowling tomorrow, the Blackshirts will have to take them.  Iowa’s offense, while starting to click, is no where near as potent as Maryland and won’t have a quarterback like Tanner Mordecai in Wisconsin that will force them to defend a running quarterback.  Iowa may try some trick plays, but if Nebraska can get to the quarterback, they should have ample opportunity to put Iowa in situations that they might produce turnovers.

All Purdy has to do is keep the ship afloat on offense.  Can Nebraska score enough points to make Iowa play from behind?  If they can do that, they will beat Iowa…if not, it will be another cold winter in Lincoln, with nowhere warm to go bowling.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Wisconsin 15 Nebraska 10.  The actual score was Wisconsin 24, Nebraska 17 in overtime.  I have to give Wisconsin a lot of credit.  Nebraska tried to put their foot on their throat early, but the Badgers just kept making plays to claw back into the game eventually taking a lead.  Nebraska’s inability to move the ball the entirety of the second half was a little confounding.  Wisconsin played tight on the young wide receivers and Nebraska was unable to make them pay in the passing game.  Iowa will play the same way on defense this week.  The passing game will have to step up.

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Quick Notes:

Chubba Purdy…Purdy not turning the ball over until the overtime was almost astonishing after watching Husker quarterbacks hand it over game after game.  Purdy played well enough to win, but he didn’t go take the game.  If Purdy can play just a little better and continue to take care of the ball, Nebraska can win on Black Friday.

Ty Robinson…A HUGE announcement this week that Robinson is coming back next season.  Finding veteran defensive lineman out of the portal is almost impossible and Robinson is better than almost anything Nebraska could have found.  If Nash Hutmacher comes back next year as well Nebraska should have one of the better defensive fronts in the Big Ten.  Not a bad place to be with the west coast teams joining the league.

Jalyen Lloyd…Lloyd had another long touchdown catch at Madison.  The growing pains this season for the freshman wide receivers should pay off next season.  Lloyd, Malachi Coleman and Jaidyn Doss will be lynchpins for the Husker passing game next season.  I expect Lloyd and Coleman to make some big plays against Iowa.  Top that off with supposed scout team star Demetrius Bell, and the Huskers should have a big jolt of experience and talent returning.

Billy Kemp…Nebraska needs Kemp on offense this week.  Kemp helped the Nebraska running game by taking short passes and busting up the field.  When Kemp started to get shut down, the Husker running game went with it.  Nebraska will need to use Kemp to keep Iowa spread out enough to allow Emmett Johnson to run the ball.  If Nebraska can’t rush for at least 150 yards, they have no chance of winning, unless they totally surprise everyone with the passing game.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 17, Iowa 14

My head says no way Nebraska wins this game.  They simply aren’t talented enough or experienced enough on offense to beat a veteran team without some luck.  The Blackshirts, as good as they are, do not force enough turnovers.  And the special teams for the Huskers, has played about two games where they were better than the opposition.  Against Iowa, that won’t get it done.  My heart on the other hand says Nebraska takes a stand tomorrow.  The Huskers want to make a bowl game, they are at home for Senior day, emotions will be running high, and Iowa isn’t so much better that the Huskers can’t win.  Every fiber of my being says they won’t win, but screw fiber, it’s Thanksgiving and GBR!!!