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!!!