Matt Rhule’s goal for this season was clear, become relevant. That’s what he hoped for Nebraska football this year. He wanted to at least be a team people had to talk about, and that opponents had to be concerned with. He entered the bye week last week 5-1, and entered this week with a HUGE matchup against #16 ranked undefeated Indiana. BIG NOON kickoff was in town. The stage was set. Rhule wanted relevancy. Here was his chance to earn it.
Then the game started, and that was that. Nebraska got handled in every phase of the game for four quarters. Before the game started Matt Rhule said he did not want the game to be shootout. He stated that doesn’t play to Nebraska’s strengths. He wanted an ugly, physical game. Nebraska ended the game with 74 yards rushing. A week after Rhule said he did a deep dive study of the run game over the bye week. It also turned the ball over five times. Indiana ran for 215 yards. Enough said.
After the game Rhule said he didn’t sense any quit in the team. I am not sure I perceived the same thing. He said he was sorry for the performance and apologized to the fans. Ok. But what was done over the last two weeks? I am not willing to overlook that Nebraska had two weeks to prepare for this game. They didn’t look ready at all.
Nebraska remains irrelevant. And don’t look too far ahead, but Nebraska is on the road at Ohio State next Saturday.
Go big red.