After a Ceyair Wright pick six to get the scoring started, you’d have thought the story of the game was already written— the former Trojan turned Husker makes a gigantic play in his return to the Coliseum, helping Nebraska to their first bowl game.
You’d have thought wrong.
The Huskers went on to do Husker things, and like a revolving door of hurt and sorrow, there’s another loss to add to the list.
Time and time again, USC found a way to create big plays on offense, the majority of their success coming in that fashion. In his first start of the season, USC Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Blackshirts did turn him over twice, once on the Ceyair Wright interception and then again on a forced fumble, but apart from the turnovers, Maiava played a solid game.
On offense, it was new play caller Dana Holgorsen’s first game, and there wasn’t much more success than what has been consistent thus far. To be fair, two weeks is probably not enough time to make significant changes to a playbook, especially this late into a season, but there were a few differences that seemed notable. The intermediate passing game looked improved, and by improved, I mean existed. There was a willingness to take shots down the field, and even though they weren’t executed, it kept the Trojan’s defense honest. Dylan Raiola didn’t play his best game, but he looked much more comfortable than he had in recent weeks. Credit to Holgorsen for trying to get Raiola in a rhythm.
In the end, Nebraska didn’t do enough to win the game. The completely blatant, missed pass interference call on the last play was horrendous, but to say that’s why the Huskers lost is nonsense. USC played to a higher standard, and Nebraska couldn’t match it.
Now, on a 4 game losing streak, Matt Rhule will have to find a way to instill some belief in a group that has been down this road far too many times. It’s now or never for some of these players, and I think now sounds better.
