If you ever wonder how other teams go about their business and if they have as much drama as Nebraska, you can limit those teams to basically anyone that fires their coach midseason. Nebraska has had more drama about a coach not leaving, than any time that I can remember.
Matt Rhule agreed to an extension with Nebraska, basically putting an end to speculation that he may leave to take over at Penn State. In signing the extension, Rhule agreed to a larger buyout if someone else wanted to hire him, and in turn, he added to seasons to his contract, and an agreement for more funding for Name, Image and Likeness, more commonly known as NIL.
If that wasn’t enough, USC is coming to Lincoln, and the Huskers are planning to have a “Blackout” game with alternate uniforms and a theme of “Blackshirts” paying homage to former defensive greats.
Nebraska does it big. The question now is, can they beat a ranked team in a big game?
USC isn’t ranked in the top ten, in fact they come into Lincoln ranked only 23rd in the country. Nebraska hasn’t beaten a ranked team since 2016. In fact, if Nebraska loses this game at home, they will officially be under .500 at home all time against ranked opponents, for the first time since the early 90’s.
Nebraska has taken many steps forward in the last two seasons. To be honest, one of the crazier things about the last decade has been Nebraska’s inability to beat a ranked team. Nebraska has played plenty of them, but for whatever reason, they cannot seem to put it all together to win. Heck, even Purdue, Maryland and Northwestern have beaten ranked teams in the last decade, and they have been arguably worse than Nebraska at multiple points in time during that ten-season period.
Nebraska really is out of excuses now, with the Rhule drama behind them, they need to come out and put together a full game of great effort and execution in all three phases of the game. If Nebraska is ever truly going to get out of the rut that they are in, that would be the next big launching pad to prove Nebraska is on the right track.
ON WITH THE REWIND…
Last game prediction was Nebraska 19, Northwestern 17. The actual score was Nebraska 28, Northwestern 21. A big kickoff return for a touchdown coming out of halftime was such a lift for Nebraska, they played a game to win, instead of playing not to lose in the third quarter. A terrible spot call overturned a fourth down for Northwestern, that in my mind would have put the game away. Credit Northwestern for capitalizing on their fortune, they almost stole one. Nebraska made the plays to win in the end, and that’s all you can ask for, although there was plenty of complaints from fans that the game came down to the wire.
Quick Notes:
Emmett Johnson…So far, Johnson has been the Huskers offensive MVP. He has been on a tear when he gets multiple touches and currently sits second in total rushing yards in the Big Ten. For someone that was third string coming into last season, it is amazing how far EJ has come, and now there is talk he may have played his way into the NFL. We will wait to see if that happens after the season, but for now, Johnson is playing his way into all conference territory. Nebraska will need to ride him over these last four games, if they have any hope of winning games in November.
Kenneth Williams....What a difference a play makes. Williams almost took a kickoff return to the house against Maryland, that Nebraska followed up with a touchdown that turned the game around on the road, and last week against Northwestern, Williams struck pay dirt and returned the opening second half kickoff to the house. Williams’s ability to gash teams in the return game continues to play huge dividends for the Huskers. Credit to his blockers, they are disciplined and attack relentlessly helping to spring Williams, but his speed is a game changer when he gets in the open field.
Rex Guthrie...…After earning a Blackshirt the week before, Guthrie played arguably his best game of the season. He has come out of nowhere to start at safety as a redshirt freshman, and he has established himself as a lynch pin in the back end of the defense. He will have his work cut out for himself this week, as USC has two great pass catching tight ends.
Nyziah Hunter....Hunter continues to make big plays for Nebraska. His touchdown catch, on the fade route that extended Nebraska’s lead 21-7, was as good of a catch as I have seen a Husker receiver make. Hunter now leads Nebraska in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns on the season. The transfer from Cal has provided a security blanket for Dylan Raiola as teams try to shut down Jacory Barney and Dane Key.
Score Prediction: Nebraska 33, USC 28
My head says that Nebraska won’t win this game. USC is so talented at quarterback and on offense, that it’s going to be very hard for Nebraska’s Blackshirts to hold them from scoring over 30 points. But my heart tells me that Nebraska is going to be able to have success running the football. It’s also telling me that USC’s special teams aren’t that special, and Nebraska should get a boost in that area as well. It won’t hurt that it will be in the mid 30’s at game time for the team from Los Angeles. Nebraska will need to play a perfect game in many ways to win, but my heart tells me they are going to get it done this week, celebrating Coach Rhule’s commitment to the Huskers! Wear black, be loud and GBR!!!
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