Ah, the sweet smell of Big Ten football in the air. Nebraska heads to West Lafayette this weekend to take on Purdue in what’s shaping up to be an intriguing matchup of strengths and weaknesses. It’s Nebraska’s first road game of the season, and while traveling hasn’t always been kind to the Huskers, this is Matt Rhule’s squad—new coach, new team, new mentality, right? Well, we’ll see. Here’s what we know.
Nebraska: Can the Raiola Show Continue?
Nebraska walks into Ross-Ade Stadium at 3-1, fresh off a tough overtime loss to Illinois. Sure, that stung, but let’s focus on the positives. Dylan Raiola has been throwing dimes, racking up nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns in that game. And don’t forget about Isaiah Neyor, who’s been catching anything thrown within his zip code—four touchdowns in four games is a nice stat to flaunt. The offense? Explosive. They’ve shown they can move the ball both through the air and on the ground, which should keep Purdue’s defense guessing.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Nebraska’s defense, which had been so solid—allowing 24 or fewer points in 10 straight games—finally cracked against Illinois. They need to tighten things up again if they’re going to make a serious run in the Big Ten. The good news? Purdue’s offense isn’t exactly setting the world on fire. More on that in a minute.
Purdue: Ground Game or Grounded?
Purdue, oh Purdue. With a 1-2 record and two straight losses, including a 38-21 whooping from Oregon State, they’re looking a bit wobbly heading into this one. Sure, they can run the ball—averaging 183 yards on the ground—but that’s been about the only bright spot for them. Their defense? Well, it’s been decent against the pass, giving up just 123 yards per game, but we’ll see how that holds up against Raiola’s cannon of an arm.
The Boilermakers’ biggest weakness right now is that they’ve been getting pushed around by better teams. They’ve shown flashes of potential but can’t seem to string together a complete game. If Nebraska can make them one-dimensional, this could get ugly for Purdue fans real fast.
Key Matchups: Strength vs. Strength
- Nebraska’s Passing Attack vs. Purdue’s Pass Defense: Purdue’s pass defense might be their best asset right now, but they haven’t faced an air attack like Nebraska’s yet. Raiola and his receivers are going to test those defensive backs early and often. If Neyor and Jahmal Banks get loose, look out.
- Purdue’s Rushing Attack vs. Nebraska’s Run Defense: Purdue’s been solid on the ground, but Nebraska’s defense has been a brick wall for most of the season. If the Blackshirts can shut down Purdue’s run game, the Boilermakers are going to be in for a long afternoon.
- Nebraska’s First Road Test: This will be Nebraska’s first time playing outside of Memorial Stadium this season, which is always a bit of an X-factor. Will the offense keep rolling, or will we see some growing pains away from home? Time to find out.
Prediction: Huskers Roll On
This one feels like it’s Nebraska’s to lose. They’ve got more talent on both sides of the ball and seem to have a better handle on their identity. Purdue will hang around early, but Nebraska’s balance on offense and stout defense should be enough to pull away as the game wears on. Look for the Huskers to secure their first Big Ten win of the season.
Final Score Prediction: Nebraska 35, Purdue 17.