Nebraska heads into Eugene with a case to make, and the argument starts with familiarity. If Dylan Raiola is under center for Oregon again, the Huskers should know exactly what they’re looking at.
Raiola was listed as out again this week, and after last week’s 6 of 19, 43-yard line in which he threw no touchdowns and two interceptions, Nebraska’s staff and players have plenty to study. The defensive coaches may be new, but the Huskers on the field are not strangers to Raiola’s tendencies.
The plan, as laid out, is simple: get after the pocket and force him to move.
There’s also the matter of Anthony Colandrea, who keeps carrying this offense with his legs and his arm. He posted 311 yards of total offense last week, his fifth game in six with more than 250 total yards. That kind of production gives Nebraska a real edge if it can keep feeding the offense through Colandrea’s scrambling ability and playmaking.
The ground game is set up to matter, too. Nebraska comes in third in the Big Ten in rushing offense at 213.8 yards per game, while Oregon sits ninth in rushing defense.
That’s the kind of matchup the Huskers want. Jamal Rule, Mekhi Nelson, and Isaiah Mozee are expected to help drive the attack, with the offensive line positioned to control the line of scrimmage.
Vincent Genatone gives Nebraska another option when it needs a different look in the backfield.
There’s also a turnover opening to exploit. Oregon gave it away seven times against UCLA last week, and even if ball security was a major point of emphasis afterward, Nebraska has a chance to attack the same vulnerability. The idea is that the Huskers can use that tape and turn it into an advantage of their own.
And then there’s the bigger-picture pressure point: the streak. Nebraska is again facing a ranked opponent, at least by the Coaches poll, where Oregon is No. 25 even though it is unranked in the AP poll.
Last week brought plenty of conversation about Nebraska’s 0-31 record against ranked teams. This is the chance to stop that talk, and the belief here is that the Huskers will do it.
In Other News...
Nebraska Just Got A Break Before Oregon But The Challenge Remains
Oregon is heading into its matchup with Nebraska a little thinner than expected, with quarterback Dante Moore ruled out and wide receiver Evan Stewart downgraded to doubtful. That changes the look of a game that already carried plenty of weight for Nebraska, which has spent the week preparing for one of the most difficult tests on its schedule and now gets a slightly different version of the Ducks than the one it may have been game-planning for.
Even with those personnel questions for Oregon, the challenge for Nebraska does not disappear. The Huskers still have to deal with a program that has the speed, depth and organization to make life difficult on either side of the ball, and the broader Nebraska sports picture keeps rolling too, with volleyball stretching its regular-season win streak to 49 matches in a sweep of Northwestern and basketball set to return with an exhibition against BYU featuring returning players Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Real Road Test As Oregon Prep Gets Complicated
Matt Rhule said Nebraska is spending the week not just on Oregon, but on the logistics that come with a late kickoff and a difficult road environment. The Cornhuskers have had to adjust their routine for the unusual start time while keeping the emphasis on football, and Rhule pointed to the kind of details that can decide a game away from home, including crowd noise and cleaner communication.
Jamir Conn has been ruled out, which opens the door for other Nebraska players to take on more leadership as the Huskers get ready for one of their tougher tests of the season. Oregons quarterback situation is still unsettled, adding another layer of preparation for Nebraska, but Rhules message has been straightforward: stay locked in, handle the noise, and be ready for whatever version of the Ducks shows up. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Stayed Unbeaten But This Sweep Raised New Purdue Concerns
Nebraska kept its perfect record intact with a sweep of Northwestern, but this one looked a little different from the routs that had come before it. Manaia Ogbechie sat out with the flu, which pushed Kenna Cogill into the starting lineup for just the second time in her career, and the Huskers also got extended looks for several bench players as the match unfolded.
Even with some hitting errors in the mix, Nebraska still found plenty to like in its serving and the way it handled a lineup adjustment without losing control of the result. For a team carrying unbeaten momentum, the bigger takeaway may be how the Huskers responded when the margins tightened a bit, because the next stretch will likely demand that same kind of depth and composure. [Read more 🡒]