After back to back weeks on the road against AP top 25 opponents, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are set and ready for a return to Memorial Stadium this Saturday against the 2-5 UCLA Bruins.
The Huskers are coming off a disappointing, yet promising loss to the #4 Ohio State Buckeyes 21-17, a week after getting blown out by the Indiana Hoosiers 56-7. who are now 8-0 and rank #13 in the country.
The Bruins are bringing momentum into Lincoln this weekend, as quarterback Ethan Garbers accounted for five total touchdowns while beating Rutgers 35-32 before heading into their bye week.
It is going to look and feel like your typical big ten football game, with projected temperatures around 60 degrees at kickoff with rain forecasted for most of the day.
How will the Huskers look against a struggling team coming off a big win and a bye? Will the ever so close loss to another top five opponent haunt the Huskers the week after?
Protect the Football:
After committing just four turnovers in their first six games, the Huskers offense has turned the ball over a total of six times the last two weeks.
Granted, UCLAs defense doesn’t necessarily bring the same physicality and ability to turn the ball over like the Hoosiers and Buckeyes did, ranking 126th in the country with only five takeaways, it’s looking like it should be raining for a good portion of this football game.
The good thing is, the turnover comparisons are night and day different for the Huskers compared to last season.
Through eight games a season ago, the Huskers committed a total of 19 turnovers, so sitting at 10 through eight games in 2024 is a huge improvement.
300:
True freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola has yet to eclipse the 300 yard passing mark in a game with the Huskers so far this season.
Early on in the season, the pass game seemed to be running smoothly, as Raiola had totaled 1,224 yards passing through the first five games, but has now only added 520 yards in his last three games.
Barring the weather, his matchup against the Bruins pass defense might be the game that Raiola finally eclipses that mark.
The Bruins have allowed two 300 yard passing games this season, as well as allowing four quarterbacks to throw for over 250 yards.
Maybe the Huskers take the option of establishing the line of scrimmage with the run early, but there shouldn’t be an issue for the Huskers passing the football.
It will be fun to watch how offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield calls this game against the Bruins, as he has been getting criticized for his play calling the last couple of weeks, specifically in the passing game.
With big bodied receivers in Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, countering that with the speed of Jacory Barney Jr. and Jaylen Lloyd could really do some damage to the Bruins defensively.
More Opportunities Defensively:
After a solid showing defensively against the Buckeyes last week, it was announced earlier this week that the Huskers would most likely be without starting safety Malcolm Hartzog Jr. as he battles a hamstring injury.
Cornerback Tommi Hill is questionable again this week with Plantar Fasciitis, which is looking more and more like he won’t be out there again this Saturday.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Jeremiah Charles will be getting the start at corner this weekend most likely, as we should also see numerous underclassman in Amare Sanders and more contribute in key snaps.
Sophomore cornerback Ceyair Wright has done a tremendous job filling in for Hill this season, and the athleticism that Charles brings in will make for a fun watch on Saturday.
Prediction:
Last week was huge for the Huskers, no one is big on moral victories, but sometimes those moral victories instill confidence in a program that just needs something to go right for them.
Rain or no rain, I don’t see a scenario where the Bruins test the Huskers for all four quarters this weekend.
It’ll be very interesting to watch how the game is called this Saturday by Satterfield, the Bruins give up 29 points a game defensively, and this might be the week where we see a lot scoring out of Raiola and this Huskers offense.
Nebraska: 35 UCLA: 16
