The biggest names on Friday’s injury report didn’t budge.
Nebraska defensive tackle Riley Van Poppel is still listed as doubtful, and Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart remains doubtful as well, keeping both sides waiting on key pieces heading into the matchup.
For Nebraska, Van Poppel matters because of what he brings to the defensive front. The Huskers already went without him in their 20-17 loss to Indiana, with back flare-ups keeping him sidelined.
Oregon’s concern is different, but no less significant. Stewart is one of the Ducks’ top playmakers, and he’s been a consistent threat early in the season.
He has at least 72 yards in four of Oregon’s first five games, and in the other one he still finished with 56 yards on seven catches. He also delivered a 44-yard touchdown with 2:16 left in Saturday’s 17-15 loss to UCLA, cutting the deficit to two points.
The Ducks’ quarterback situation is another major storyline, and it may be headed toward a change. As of Friday night, Oregon was trending toward starting Brock Thomas over former Husker Dylan Raiola, according to Chris Hummer and Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports/247Sports.
Thomas gave Oregon a lift after replacing Raiola in the fourth quarter last week, and that late spark has pushed the competition into the spotlight.
Nebraska defensive coordinator Rob Aurich said the Ducks will keep their basic identity intact no matter who lines up behind center.
"They're going to be who they are. They're going to be '11' and '12.'
They're going to have play-actions off that," Husker defensive coordinator Rob Aurich said about the Ducks, regardless of their QB. "They're going to have a little bit of RPO free access.
They want to get their playmakers involved as a priority for them, I understand that. But they all do it a little bit differently.
"So as we navigate each quarterback, I don't know if it's necessarily adding this plan to (that) plan, but we pull from what best matchups from what we like in the plan against all their core stuff."
Nebraska’s injury list on Friday also included DB Jamir Conn, DB Rex Guthrie, WR Larry Miles, DB Kahmir Prescott, LB Jase Reynolds, LB Jacob Bower and DL Gabe Moore all out, with OL Preston Taumua listed as probable.
Oregon’s report listed QB Dante Moore, WR Jeremiah McClellan, DB Aaron Flowers, RB Simeon Price, ILB Brayden Platt and OL Trent Ferguson out, with OL Dave Iuli probable.
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 Has A Real Shot To End Its Ranked-Game Misery
Nebraska heads into the Oregon matchup with more reason for optimism than it usually carries into a ranked showdown. The Huskers know quarterback Dylan Raiola well enough to at least feel comfortable with the challenge, and they have some offensive answers of their own if Anthony Colandrea can help keep the offense moving and the rushing game does its part.
Oregons recent turnover issues give Nebraska a path to stay in the game, and maybe more than that if the Huskers can capitalize when opportunities arrive. The bigger backdrop is impossible to ignore: Nebraska has spent too long coming up short against ranked opponents, and this one offers a chance to finally change that story. [Read more 🡒]