Friday Flakes opened with a reminder that fan judgment can swing fast, and Nebraska punter Archie Wilson is the latest example.
Not long ago, Wilson was taking heat after a stretch of shaky punts in early October. Some fans on X made it clear they thought the sophomore from Australia either had a weak leg or was being told not to outkick his coverage. The criticism got louder after a few rough kicks, including the play against Oregon when he bent down for a low snap and let his knee hit the ground.
Now the conversation looks a lot different.
Wilson was named to the Ray Guy Award Midseason Watch List, putting him in the mix for the honor given to the best punter in the country. He also earned Ray Guy Punter of the Week after a big performance against Washington, when he averaged 49.8 net yards per punt. He pinned four punts inside the Washington 20-yard line, every punt traveled at least 40 yards, none were returned, and he blasted a 59-yard punt and a 60-yard punt.
That kind of turnaround is exactly why the early reactions never tell the whole story.
Wilson has now had 31 punts this season, and only four have been returned. The point is simple: let the season breathe before settling on a verdict.
The rest of the day’s notes centered on Nebraska’s search for answers as it tries to snap a three-game skid Friday at Illinois. The 3-2-1 column dug into three things learned, two questions and one bold prediction, while also noting some movement on the injury front.
Two veteran Huskers were upgraded to probable in Wednesday night’s Big Ten injury report for the Illinois game. Offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula and safety Jamir Conn both moved from questionable to probable. Gottula had suffered a head injury at Oregon and was later ruled out mid-week before the Washington game.
Elsewhere in the roundup, there was a look at what a 24-team College Football Playoff would resemble after Tuesday’s rankings, with Notre Dame in and Ohio State out in the current 12-team field. The piece noted that if the CFP started today, the SEC would have five teams in the bracket and the Buckeyes would be first in line for the Citrus Bowl.
The day also included a story on Troy Aikman and Joe Buck’s ESPN unraveling, including the report that before their blowup in the SoFi Stadium booth before ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” game on Oct. 12, Aikman had a tense one-hour conversation with network chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
In Other News...
Nebraskas Fourth Straight Loss Exposed Two Bigger Problems
A promising start in Champaign still ended the same way for Nebraska, which dropped a 24-13 decision to Illinois on Friday night and watched its losing streak reach four games. The defense opened with a scoreless first quarter and gave the Huskers a chance to settle in, while freshman running back Jamal Rule returned from injury and provided a needed spark with 69 yards on 15 carries.
But the longer the game went, the more Illinois found answers, and Nebraska could not keep the Illini from landing the key plays that swung the night. Wide receiver Collin Dixon turned in a record-breaking performance, another reminder that the Huskers are still searching for consistency on both sides of the ball as the season keeps slipping away. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Gets A Key Friday Night Boost With One Big Question Left
Nebraska is set to get a needed lift up front Friday night, with Gunnar Gottula expected back on the offensive line against Illinois after working his way through a head injury. The Cornhuskers have been waiting for help in that area, and Gottulas return gives the group a little more stability as it heads into a game with real Big Ten weight.
There is also encouraging news on the back end, where safety Jamir Conn has returned to practice and is listed as probable, though he still needs final clearance before he can suit up. Even with those positives, Nebraska is still managing a short list of absences, including Anthony Jones, so the final availability report will still matter when the Huskers line up Friday night. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Friday Night Test Fans Will Not Want To Miss
Friday night brings a familiar kind of pressure for Nebraska, with the Cornhuskers heading to Memorial Stadium in Champaign to face Illinois in a nationally televised Big Ten matchup. Fox will carry the game at 7 p.m. CT, with streaming available on Fubo, giving this one a spotlight that should feel bigger than a typical conference road trip.
Nebraska is trying to stop a three-game skid, while Illinois enters with momentum from a three-game winning streak. That contrast alone makes this a useful measuring-stick game for the Cornhuskers, who need something to steady the mood and keep the season from slipping further as the calendar turns to another high-stakes Friday night. [Read more 🡒]