Nebraska is headed into the stretch run with a chance to make the back half of the schedule matter in a big way. With one last game before November, the Huskers can get to 6-2 and set themselves up for the final four games with some momentum.
Washington is next, and after that Nebraska has winnable matchups against Illinois and Rutgers. If the Huskers take care of business, they could be sitting at 8-2 when Ohio State arrives in Lincoln. To have any real shot at the College Football Playoff, Nebraska would need to beat the Buckeyes - though the Indiana game showed exactly how hard that can be.
Before any of that, though, the Huskers need to tighten up a few areas that have held them back. Consistency has been an issue, games have not always been finished cleanly, and several position groups need to play better coming out of the bye week.
Running backs are the first group under the microscope. Strip out Anthony Colandrea’s rushing numbers, and Nebraska is averaging only 3.3 yards per carry in Big Ten play.
Isaiah Mozee is the lone back above four yards per attempt at 4.1. Mekhi Nelson is at 3.3, while Jamal Rule sits at 2.8.
Rule has missed time against Michigan State, Maryland and Oregon because of injury, so getting him back healthy matters. Nelson also needs to raise his level, and Mozee could be another boost if he returns. He was practicing in pads this week, which at least gives Nebraska a chance to have him back against Washington.
That matchup looks like a real opening for the ground game. The Huskies are 11th in the Big Ten against the run, so this should be a spot where Nebraska can reset after a couple of rough outings.
The offensive line also has to be better. Nebraska is 17th out of 18 teams in sacks allowed during Big Ten play, and while Indiana and Oregon both feature strong defensive fronts, that number still has to improve.
Anthony Colandrea is part of the equation, but it’s not all on him. The line has to hold up more consistently, and even with injuries in the mix, that’s the standard.
This Washington game feels like it will come down to work at the line of scrimmage, which is exactly where November football gets decided. Nebraska has struggled in those kinds of games, and better play up front would go a long way.
Special teams round out the list. Nebraska has slipped there, too.
Against Indiana, a bad snap on a missed field goal cost the Huskers. Against Oregon, Archie Wilson caught a punt with his knee on the ground, and that led to three points for the Ducks.
Those were costly mistakes in both games. The punting itself has mostly been solid, and coverage has held up, but the return game has offered very little, other than occasional field-position setbacks inside Nebraska’s own 20.
There has also been at least one special teams mistake in nearly every Big Ten game. A penalty helped save Nebraska from a blocked punt against Michigan State.
For a team this good, those kinds of errors are too frequent. If the Huskers are going to finish strong, cleaning up special teams has to be part of it.
In Other News...
Nebraskas Washington Matchup Still Hinges On One Huge Injury Question
Nebraskas availability picture is starting to clear up ahead of Washington, and that matters with a Big Ten opener carrying plenty of early-season weight. The Cornhuskers are likely to have defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel and running back Isaiah Mozee available, while Jamal Rule also appears ready after missing parts of previous games. Safety Jamir Conn, though, remains out, leaving one spot on the roster still unavailable as the Huskers prepare for a matchup that could turn on depth as much as star power.
Washingtons injury report is the one to watch, with quarterback Demond Williams among several players listed as questionable or doubtful, along with offensive linemen Justin Hylkema and Jake Flores. For Nebraska, the uncertainty across the field could shape both the game plan and the pace of the afternoon, especially if the Huskers are forced to adjust to a different look at quarterback or along the line. The biggest question now is how much of Washingtons offense will actually be intact when the game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Blackout Comes With One Huge Question Husker Fans Can't Ignore
Nebraskas blackout look will meet a prime-time setting at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Washington and a forecast calling for mild weather with only a slight chance of showers. It is the kind of stage that should feel big even before the first snap, especially for a Huskers team trying to steady itself in a game that already carries plenty of weight.
The matchup also brings some familiar concerns into the spotlight, starting with Nebraskas special teams issues, most notably in punt returns. Add in an injury situation that still needs watching and a Washington offense that has shown enough recent life to demand respect, and the margin for error feels thin. For Nebraska, this is the sort of night that can shape the mood around the program quickly, because in a can't lose spot, even the smallest mistake tends to loom large. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Landed An Early Opening With A Coveted Missouri RB
Nebraska is getting an early crack at one of the most intriguing young backs in the Midwest, with 2029 Missouri prospect Rocky Sharp set to visit during the Ohio State game in mid-November. The De Smet Jesuit High School standout is already drawing attention on a national scale, and the Cornhuskers are getting involved while the recruitment is still in its early stages.
Sharp is a four-star running back with scholarship offers stacking up from multiple programs, and his appeal goes well beyond carrying the ball. He has shown value as a runner, receiver and return specialist across his freshman and sophomore seasons, the kind of versatility that tends to keep schools watching closely once the offers start rolling in. [Read more 🡒]