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!!!

Badger Cheese

Dan Holgersen showed up in Lincoln about three weeks ago, but this week we finally got to hear from him in person.

And did we hear a lot!

Holgersen started calling out players for poor performance based on what he had watched on film.  Wide receivers not blocking and running backs not hitting an open hole against USC were a couple of items he mentioned.  He basically said the wideouts were blocking like “crap” in their previous games.

It made a lot of Husker fans happy to hear, because to be quite honest, most Husker obsessed fans were saying the same things.  It felt a lot like therapy to hear him talk about effort and the fact that he expects more.

It became even more obvious that a lot of the offensive players at skill positions simply had tuned out the other offensive coaches.  Who knows why, but it was disheartening to hear that either, A: Nebraska wasn’t playing as hard as they could, or B: They weren’t being coached well enough to understand what maximum effort is.

Matt Rhule has said all along that the standard is the standard.  To me, that means that he expects that standard to be high and those that don’t meet that standard won’t be playing.  Of course, after the last four losses, fans could tell that the standard wasn’t being met.  And for whatever reason nothing was changing.  

For the first time, it’s been hard to trust that Coach Rhule understood what that means to Husker fans.

Nebraska fans, for the most part, truly understand what it’s like to watch great football.  When they keep hearing that the coaching staff tell us that what we are seeing isn’t what we are seeing, it gets harder for fans to trust the process.  

Hiring Holgersen to come in and light a fire under the offense and bring in a new method of play calling shows that Rhule does see that the standard isn’t being met.  Hearing from Holgersen this week, we finally heard a coach tell everyone that the standard is much higher that what we have watched, and that he is looking to make changes to make that work.  It was a refreshing change for Husker fans.  Hopefully it resonates on the field the final two games of the season.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was USC 31, Nebraska 20.  The actual score was USC 28, Nebraska 20.  Nebraska was burnt by bad luck.  At least three passes could have, or should have, depending on your view, been intercepted.  All three of those plays either ended in a touchdown or extending drives to score touchdowns.  Even so, the defense and special teams did their part.  The offense continues to let the team down.  The defense has been so snake bit lately though, it’s hard to trust that they can get a stop when they need to.  Nebraska continues to play well enough to get beat by one score.

Quick Notes:

Ceyar Wright…Of all the newcomers to Nebraska in the offseason, Wright has made the most impact.  His play against his former team was inspired and kept Nebraska in the game until the end.  Wright has played at the level that we expected Tommi Hill to play at.  Speaking of Hill, he has been shut down for the last two games of the season, so it’s such a big deal that Wright is playing so well, Nebraska needs him to play at a high level.

Emmett Johnson…Johnson had a nice touchdown catch and run and made some nice inside runs, spinning himself into 5.5 yards per carry.  Dante Dowdell was banged up, so Johnson received the lion’s share of playing time.  He continues to be the most consistent running back on the roster.  If Nebraska has any chance to beat Wisconsin or Iowa, Johnson needs to have big games.  

Janiran Bonner…Bonner didn’t lead the team in catches or yards, and he didn’t score a touchdown, but he made a couple of plays that certainly got your attention.  He runs hard and is explosive.  If Holgersen is planning on playing some different guys and getting the ball to them, Nebraska could do worse than Bonner as he just seems to make positive plays.

Brian Buschini…Buschini has certainly had his ups and downs in his Husker career, but this season he has been fantastic.  He averaged 46 yards per punt against USC and pinned them back and took out a big part of their weapons on return.  Wisconsin and Iowa play field position games better than anyone in the country.  If Nebraska continues to struggle on offense, Buschini could be the difference between winning and losing.  So far, he has delivered.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 17, Wisconsin 16

Everything about this game screams that Nebraska should beat Wisconsin for the first time in over a decade.  They have been so close the last three seasons.  Last year’s overtime loss was particularly devastating because they led by two touchdowns early in the game only to watch it slip away in excruciating pain.  Nebraska has so many demons right now, it’s hard to tell which one is the most glaring, but beating Wisconsin would certainly show a ray of light that has been sorely missing.  If Nebraska is going to win a game, this one is the best opportunity.  I feel like it’s either 0-2 to close out, or 2-0.  This game sets the tone, so GBR!!!

New Husker Offensive Coordinator: Is Dan the Man?

So where were we?  Ah, yes, gearing up to play a losing UCLA team at home, after going toe to toe with Ohio State.  And then Nebraska had the ball once in the first 17 minutes at home versus the Bruins.  The crowd was out of the game, the defense couldn’t stop the Bruins and Dylan Raiola played his worst game of the season, putting a nail in the Huskers’ own coffin throwing a pick six to start the second half.

Man, what a swing of emotion coming out of Columbus.

But wait…there is more!  Unless you were living under a rock out in Rock County, you probably heard that Nebraska brought in a new offensive coordinator in Dana Holgersen.  Holgersen, formerly the head coach at Houston and West Virginia, comes in highly accomplished as a play caller and has been a head coach or offensive coordinator for many NFL quarterbacks and players in his career.

Bleed Husker Red Tees Sale!

So, what does that mean in Lincoln?  Well big picture, it allows Holgersen to have a shot to get to know Dylan Raiola before the offseason.  It also allows Nebraska to have a head start in replacing the offensive coordinator job before all the other teams in the nation start looking to make changes.  

Small picture though, I don’t know that it will mean much this fall.  Holgersen is said to be keeping the same playbook that Marcus Satterfield uses so that only he must learn it, and not the entire team.  How will that affect communication when he is trying to call plays?  If he wants a certain pass package, but isn’t sure of the name during the game, it could be costly in the tensest of situations.  Also, I don’t know that Holgersen will be able to figure out which players are cut out for pushing the Husker offense into the upper tier of the Big Ten, because the current cast of characters has them at the bottom.

It's possible that going on the road is a good thing coming out of this bye, because there has been so much distraction this week, the Huskers being away from Lincoln may allow them to shelter themselves from people that are certain to want to question them about the changes.  Head Coach Matt Rhule has kept the players away from the press this week, simply because he knows how distracting this change has to be in the midseason.

Throw in that this really hasn’t been tried before.  Bringing in a new play caller that isn’t already on staff just isn’t done in college football.  NFL?  Sure, but those are professional players that have the opportunity to work 18-hour days.  College kids can’t do that.  And will Holgersen help the running backs hit the right hole better?  Can he help the offensive line move the line of scrimmage better?  How about the wide receivers block better?  All of those are items that need fixed and Holgersen won’t be able to do that in two weeks.

If you include the special teams that continues to confound with inconsistencies, and this isn’t a scenario that screams “Nebraska wins in L.A!”  The Blackshirts are in for a mighty challenge this week as well, as USC has as good of offensive talent as anyone in the Big Ten.

Change has been on the table for the Huskers since the 5-1 start that is a distant memory at this point.  Unfortunately, it may have come too little, too late.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 31, UCLA 17.  The actual score was UCLA 27, Nebraska 20.  When the Huskers look back at 2024 this loss will burn the most.  UCLA played great and offensively, they really took the Huskers apart in the first half and on one drive in the third quarter.  Defensively, they blitzed Dylan Raiola mercilessly and Nebraska looked like a deer in the headlights.  Even with all that, Nebraska had a chance to tie the game on the last drive.  It’s games like this one that Huskers fans have endured over and over again the last decade.  Sometimes you wonder if it’s ever going to stop.

Quick Notes:

Dante Dowdell…Dowdell continues to find the end zone on offense, and sometimes it feels like he is the only one.  The issue is, between the 20’s, Dowdell is 2 yards and a cloud of dust way too often.  It almost seems like Dowdell is so focused on not fumbling that he misses holes and I’m not sure he is capable of making guys miss at the second level.  Dowdell has a big game this weekend.  USC is not a great run stopping team.  He needs to step up if Nebraska is going to have any chance to win.

Isaiah Neyor…Neyor hasn’t been perfect, but he at least is catching the ball when it is thrown to him.  Neyor is a mismatch, but too often he doesn’t run his routes with the intent that he needs to.  He still isn’t getting the separation that he needs early in the route.  Throw that in with below average blocking and Neyor has a long way to go.  That said, he is the best target on the outside and Nebraska needs to continue to give him chances down the field.  

Ty Robinson…I have to give Robinson a lot of credit.  He could have transferred to Oregon, Alabama, Michigan, you name it, this offseason, but he chose to stay a Husker.  He has been the most consistent player on a defense that runs really hot and then cold.  Robinson should be up for all conference honors this season, but probably won’t because Nebraska’s win total isn’t as high as it could be.  Don’t worry about that, enjoy Robinson, he has given his all for the program.  Hopefully he is rewarded at some point.

Tommi Hill…UCLA picked on Jamal Charles from the outset, and it really set them up for early success in the first half.  Hill had to come in, and it looked like he was as close to healthy as he has been since the Colorado game.  Hill is an NFL player, and it has really hurt the Blackshirts that their best defensive back has been out so much.  Hill will be needed against USC; they have the best wide receiver talent the Huskers will play this season outside of Ohio State.

Bleed Husker Red Tees Sales

Score Prediction: USC 31, Nebraska 20

Even coming out of a bye, I just don’t think the Huskers offense is up to the challenge this week.  They clearly have confidence issues, and you can tell that they don’t have anything that they run that they know they can have success.  Maybe I’m way off and Holgersen will waive his magic play calling wand and all will be well, but I don’t see it this week.  It doesn’t mean that all is lost, it just means that Nebraska will have two other chances to get bowl eligible.  They need to figure out what works this week and prepare it for Wisconsin at home the following Saturday.  It’s dark early in Nebraska, but it will always be GBR!!!

Husker Nation Needs Bowl Eligibility

As the Huskers took Ohio State into the fourth quarter and led on the road in Columbus, I started to get a little twinge of, “are they actually going to do this?”

Nebraska has been rather mercurial as of late. Just when I thought they were ready to go show the world that they are ready to go to another level against Indiana, only to be blown out, I thought for sure they would get hammered by Ohio State, and yet, they played toe to toe with one of the best rosters in the country.

So goes an actual real life rebuild, I guess. Like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get. (With apologies to Forrest Gump fans).

One thing I feel confident in as UCLA comes to Lincoln, is that the Blackshirts are for real. They may not be dominant, but they should carry Nebraska through November and hopefully help Nebraska become bowl eligible for the first time in eight seasons.

I feel much more confident about this November than the last one. Last season against Michigan State, you could tell the offense was out of gears. They really were limited to running the football and the passing game was almost nonexistent. This season is a lot different. As much as Dylan Raiola’s statistics haven’t been great in October, I honestly think he is improving. His decision making on audibles seems to be playing out as the coach’s hope. If he starts to hit open receivers a little more consistently, he will start to see a big jump in touchdown throws.

Nebraska sort of figured out the run game in the second half of Ohio State as well. Nebraska should use more stretch plays and continue to have a lead blocker in for Dante Dowdell. I could do with less screen plays of course, but they also have a time and a place. Throw in Thomas Fidone becoming a security blanket for Raiola and Jacory Barney leading the team in catches and all of a sudden Nebraska has found an identity on offense. If John Hohl keeps kicking field goals, Nebraska might just find themselves with a winning record in November.

First, they must get this 10,000-pound bowl game gorilla off of their back and it starts this Saturday against UCLA. I’ve said it before, Nebraska continues to knock on the door. This week they need to blow it off its hinges.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Ohio State 38, Nebraska 14. The actual score was Ohio State 21, Nebraska 17. Nebraska’s defensive line was the story of this game. I was as shocked as anyone with how well they handled Ohio States offensive line. If I was a Buckeye fan, I’d be a little worried that Nebraska exposed them. Nebraska gambled a few times to try and score touchdowns and turned the ball over on downs, but to be honest, some unbelievably bad spots of the ball probably cost Nebraska that game. It’s always going to be a little suspect playing in Columbus, but the refereeing was about as bad as I’ve ever seen it. Hard to pull off a big time upset going against something you have little control over.

Quick Notes:

Jacory Barney…Barney has established himself to be the go-to receiver on the offense. He clearly is getting the most opportunities each game and has quietly started the lead the team in catches. Barney gives Nebraska an edge on offense because of his quick feet and his toughness. If the rest of the team can follow his lead, the offense can take another step forward these last 4 games.

MJ Sherman…When Sherman transferred in from Georgia, I thought he would play immediately and probably provide instant production. When he didn’t last season, I thought he was just another in a long line of SEC transfers that busted at Nebraska. I was wrong on both accounts. Sherman has figured out what his role is at Nebraska and now as he plays free, he has started to make the game changing plays we all hoped he would. He tormented the Buckeyes in the backfield last week.  

Jimari Butler…Butler had about three plays against Ohio State that he looked unstoppable. One of them he was basically tackled, and he didn’t even get the benefit of a holding call. Butler can change the dynamic of the defensive line when he is healthy. Teams can’t afford to double team both Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher if Butler is disruptive. Ohio State couldn’t handle him with a tackle alone and Nebraska’s defense feasted. Maybe Butler is finally healthy.

John Hohl…The Lincoln native showed up big time in a national televised game, on the road, against a top ten team. And WOW what a difference it made for Nebraska. For the first time this year, I thought Nebraska should have just had Hohl attempt a field goal rather than going for it after Malcom Hartzog’s interception had the offense inside the Ohio State 10. It makes the offense’s job a lot easier knowing they have 3 points in their back pocket moving forward. Hohl has had some bad luck this season, but him putting it together might propel Nebraska into an extra win this year.

Malcom Hartzog…Just when you think the Blackshirt should have a seat on the bench, he makes a game changing interception. Hartzog is likely out against UCLA this week. Normally, I would say that’s ok, but Hartzog has a knack for finding picks as evidenced by his team leading total of four. He led the team in 2022 as well. Hartzog gets picked on a lot because of his size, but pound for pound he really is an asset for the Blackshirts. They will miss him while he is out.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 31, UCLA 17

I don’t know what to do. I’ve been so far off on score predictions lately; I should just put down that Nebraska will lose by a field goal and then they might win by three touchdowns. Nebraska is primed to break out on offense eventually and while I don’t know that UCLA will comply, I think the Husker fan base and this team are aching to get their sixth win of the year this week. I also think the Huskers found themselves in Columbus and will finally make it pay off at home. I also predict Dylan Raiola will throw three touchdown passes this weekend. A lot of the recent past will get buried in Lincoln this weekend, so GBR!!!

OSU Vs. Huskers Preview

If you like a good kick in the shins, then as a Husker fan, last week was right up your alley.

We are supposed to be past this at Nebraska, at least that is what many of us believed. You don’t think you are ever going on the road to get hammered by Indiana. I mean, come on. Indiana?

Last year when Michigan came into Nebraska and basically humiliated the Huskers, you could blame that on the Scott Frost culture, the fact that Nebraska had been beaten down for years on end and the fact that, as we know now, Michigan was blatantly cheating and figured out every team’s play calling. (Not that the cheating mattered, Michigan was going to kill Nebraska regardless of cheating.)

But who you do you blame now? It’s easy to start with Matt Rhule. How could he have not known that the Huskers weren’t ready? Marcus Satterfield, the offensive coordinator? Tony White the defensive coordinator? Ed Foley, the special teams coach?

Let’s face a fact, Nebraska played a game that we have become accustomed to seeing on a regular basis the last decade. Even Bo Pelini, who won 9 games each season was blown out multiple times. I doubt anyone forgets Nebraska’s one and only Big Ten championship appearance.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

So how and when does it stop? Well, I have a theory about that, but most Husker fans aren’t going to like it. Nebraska is just going to have to be patient with Matt Rhule. I know it sucks that Curt Cignetti has Indiana primed for a playoff run in his first year at Indiana. I get that first-year coaches across the country are winning at a level never before seen in college football. That is going to happen in this day and age of NIL and free agency that occurs, allowing coaches to bring kids from their prior successful stops into their new environments.

We will know at the end of the year if Matt Rhule is up to the task of winning at Nebraska. I’ve seen enough from him at Baylor and Temple to know that eventually he will get the program in a good spot. How high that spot is, well that is up for debate. The thing I’m reminded of about Baylor is that when he left, there were multiple NFL guys on his football team, but he took raw athletes and made hay with them. His first recruiting class is basically playing for the first time this season. It’s going to be at least another year before his overall impact on the program is felt from the Jimmie’s and the Joe’s side.

So, if the players on the field continue to get better, then it really is up to coaching. On that, I was sold on Matt Rhule until last weekend. He can easily turn it around by playing Ohio State competitively. And while I doubt Nebraska is there to compete with the Buckeyes on an even field this week, if they bounce back and get two more wins this season, that will basically meet the prediction that I had at the beginning of the year. All is not lost, and I think Rhule has shown the fortitude to make changes if needed to be successful. In today’s world of instant gratification, Husker fans are going to need to show some patience for this to work out. Hopefully Nebraska football will reward Husker Nation soon, otherwise that patience is about to wear thin.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 31, Indiana 24. The actual score was Indiana 56, Nebraska 7. Tag me as someone else that didn’t see this coming. I had watched Indiana play two other games this season and nothing prepared me for them playing like this and on the flip side, Nebraska playing this poorly. It’s gut check week in Lincoln. And if I’m Coach Rhule, the first time a guy dogs it, he is out of the game. You can’t have anyone, especially veteran players hanging their head when things get tough.

Quick Notes:

Thomas Fidone II…The only bright spot in this game was Fidone and the fact that Nebraska used him in the passing game in a way that they haven’t all year. I still can’t forgive Fidone for his lousy blocking part of the time, but if he can provide a spark in the passing game, hopefully Dylan Raiola can use him as a security blanket, as opposed to the running back check down that every team has figured out.

Mikai Gbayor…Gbayor was about the only Blackshirt that showed up last weekend. He didn’t play great, but he had the lone sack on a blitz and made some stops that stemmed some of the tide. The linebackers didn’t play great, but they had little or no safety help in the running game and were left in limbo most of the game because of Indiana’s RPO offense. For the first time this season, John Bullock did not shine for the defense.

Dylan Raiola…Raiola finally had a freshman game. I talked about it in last weeks blog, but it’s a long season for a freshman, no matter how talented. Top it off with the fact that Raiola clearly isn’t healthy and has some sort of ankle issue and right now Nebraska can’t rely on him to be a star. He needs help in the running game, and it must come this week. If Raiola is truly hurt, then put Heinrich Haarberg on the field for a series or two. Nebraska needs a spark and if Raiola isn’t healthy, then it is ok to rest him.

Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, Nebraska 14

It pains me to type this out, but these two schools are meeting at the worst possible time for Nebraska. Ohio State had a bye weekend and is coming off a close loss that they most certainly will be wanting to atone for, and Nebraska is a wounded duck right now. Nebraska will have to play a perfect game to have a chance, but I believe Ohio State is too talented and Nebraska has lost some of its mojo. It’s not a great week to try and get that back. Either way, I’ll be hooting and hollering for the Huskers and hope I’m wrong again this week and GBR!!!

Indiana Vs. Nebraska Preview

A long time ago, Tom Osborne said something to the effect that if you start a true freshman, you will lose at least one game a season you were expected to win.  

That has stuck with me for a long time. Nebraska has been in the position to start a true freshman many times in the last 15 years. More often than not, it’s because that was the best player at that position. However, that hasn’t been a big benefit in most cases.

That’s what makes this season with Dylan Raiola playing so intriguing.  

I don’t consider Raiola in the same class as say a Cody Green, Adrian Martinez, Tyler Moore or an Earnest Hausman. All of those players started games as freshman at Nebraska and all but Adrian Martinez didn’t make it all four years in Lincoln.

You have others that have started, like Wan’dale Robinson, Maurice Washington or Gabe Ervin that you thought may be ok, but only Ervin has been on the Husker roster throughout his career and Ervin still has eligibility left so you never know.

So where does that leave Raiola? His closest comparison is probably to Adrian Martinez, but unlike Raiola, Martinez had no veteran on the team that started the prior season, like Heinrich Haarberg. Raiola also played his senior season of high school, which Martinez did not and certainly cost Martinez valuable repetitions at a position that needs them. Martinez started out getting hurt in the first game of the season and the Huskers were 0-6 before we knew it in Scott Frost’s first year, so this season clearly is not like that one.

Raiola sticks out, unless you want to count Tommie Frazier. Frazier didn’t start the first few games of the season but took over for a veteran Mike Grant. Frazier of course lost a heartbreaker against Iowa State that season. That’s why the Osborne quip came up in my mind this season. Was Raiola’s loss to Illinois his loss? He likely played his worst game against Rutgers so far this season. The easy part of the Husker schedule is now over. Arguably the Huskers have three games remaining that they will be favored in, but for the most part, they will be underdogs a lot going forward. Dylan Raiola has played way better than even the most rose-colored glasses fan would have guessed. It’s only natural to wonder if the Rutgers game was a speed bump or a precursor for the rest of the season? 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 28, Rutgers 24 (OT). The actual score was Nebraska 14, Rutgers 7. Nebraska played a great first half and held on for a ride in the second half. Rutgers was so physical, yet Nebraska absorbed the absurdly high temperatures and the Scarlett Knights running game. Nebraska has yet to give up a rushing touchdown on the season, as they are the only team in the country that can make that claim. Rutgers came into the game with a top-notch rushing attack and the Blackshirts took their steam away from them. The offense played great ball control in the first half, but Dylan Raiola’s first game where he didn’t play great certainly influenced that side of the ball. Hopefully Raiola got his clunker out of the way.

Quick Notes:

Rahmir Johnson…Every week it seems like the Husker’s third back in the rotation ends up making the biggest plays. Johnson had a huge catch on a screen pass that set up Nebraska’s first touchdown and he also had the longest rush of the game, an 18-yard scamper. Nebraska needs more out of its running game, eventually Johnson, Dowdell and Emmett Johnson are going to need to break out for Nebraska to hit their ceiling.

James Williams…The Blackshirts were the main story in this game and the lead of that tale was Williams. Williams applied pressure to the Rutgers quarterback the entire second half. He finished with 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss, but more importantly, he was in the defensive backfield consistently. If Williams can supply that sudden pash rush, Nebraska could have a field day in games that they have the lead in the second half. Williams doesn’t play all the snaps, but when he out there he has been a game changer.

Ty Robinson…Big *** Ty continues to create havoc for opposing teams. Robinson had another sack and a couple of tackles for loss. It is amazing how well he and Nash Hutmacher play each week. Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano said that the Husker defensive line is one of the top five in the nation. Robinson leads the way, not just by is vocal role, but his active play and terrific motor. Robinson has been the best player up front all season, which is no small feat considering Hutmacher is playing right next to him at a high level.

Ceyar Wright…What can you say about Wright? He has been the best cornerback on the field since he became a starter for Tommi Hill. As great as Hill had been last season and this season before he hurt his foot, Wright has been even better as of late. If they can ever get Hill back on the field, we could see the most dominant set of cornerbacks Nebraska has had since Prince Amukamara and Alfonzo Dennard roamed the defensive backfield for the Blackshirts.

Bleed Husker Red

Score Prediction: Nebraska 31, Indiana 24

This is probably the only prediction that has A. Nebraska winning and B. Nebraska scoring 31 points. Indiana has arguably been a top 3 offense in the Big Ten this season and for good reason, they have killed everyone they have played. What hasn’t happened yet is that they haven’t played anyone that has a defense as good as Nebraska’s. On top of that, if Dylan Raiola is healthy after a bye week and Nebraska starts to go with a bigger run package that includes Micah Mazzccua, I expect the Husker offense to break out against an Indiana defense that is undersized for the Big Ten. Nebraska’s physicality will show on the road, and I predict a big Husker upset! GBR!!!

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