Nebraska Preps for Las Vegas Bowl Clash with No. 15 Utah, and It’s Personal for a Few Huskers
LAS VEGAS - As Nebraska gears up for its New Year’s Eve showdown with 15th-ranked Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl, there’s more than just a bowl game on the line. For a few Huskers, this one hits a little closer to home - literally and figuratively.
The team held practice Saturday at Bishop Gorman High School, but the headline of the day was the return of quarterback TJ Lateef. After going down with a hamstring injury during the Black Friday loss to Iowa, Lateef looks fully recovered and is set to make his fourth career start under center. It’s a big moment for the young QB, who gets another shot to lead the offense in a high-profile matchup - and in the same city where Nebraska’s season unofficially kicked off five months ago during Big Ten Media Days.
There’s also a hometown storyline brewing. Safety Justyn Rhett, the only Las Vegas native on the Huskers’ roster, is back on familiar turf.
Rhett played his high school ball at Bishop Gorman - the same field where Nebraska practiced Saturday - and he’s no stranger to Allegiant Stadium either. He won a state championship there during his prep days, and now, he’ll get the chance to suit up on that same field in front of friends and family.
Rhett, a Georgia transfer, saw action in seven games this season, contributing on both defense and special teams. But according to head coach Matt Rhule, he’s in line for a bigger role against Utah. It’s a fitting opportunity for the hometown kid to make an impact on one of college football’s biggest stages.
And Rhett isn’t the only player with ties to this bowl game. Offensive lineman Tyler Knaak, a Utah transfer, will face off against his former team.
Knaak suffered a broken bone in his left hand during practice last week, but Rhule confirmed he’ll still start at right tackle - cast and all. That’s a gritty move from a player who clearly isn’t letting a little pain keep him off the field for this one.
As for Utah, the Utes are dealing with some major changes of their own. Longtime head coach Kyle Whittingham is on his way to Michigan, and defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley - long considered the head coach-in-waiting - will officially step into the top job. That coaching transition adds another layer of intrigue to an already compelling matchup.
Before the Huskers and Utes square off, both teams will get a taste of the big stage on Sunday. They’re set to attend the Raiders-Giants game at Allegiant Stadium - a chance to soak in the atmosphere before they take the field themselves.
After that, it’s all business. The stadium crew will flip the field, and come New Year’s Eve, Nebraska and Utah will close out the year with a clash that’s got personal stakes, comeback stories, and plenty of reasons to watch.