It feels amazing to be 2-0. For the first time since 2019, Nebraska is ranked in the AP Top 25. The No. 23 ranked Cornhuskers move on to week three versus FCS No. 21 Northern Iowa (NIU). Nebraska Athletic Director Troy Dannen will be welcoming in his alma mater. The “Dannen Bowl” will occur at 6:30 p.m. Saturday night, on Big Ten Network.
Statistics were gathered from ncaa.com and espn.com.
Northern Iowa Offense
During Monday’s press conference, Coach Rhule said, “You’re facing the No. 4 rushing offense in the FCS; you’re facing 298 yards per game and you’re facing a coach in Coach Farley who has won a ton of games. When I was in the NFL, I looked at Northern Iowa o-linemen; I never looked at Nebraska o-lineman. You better be ready for a physical battle.”
Northern Iowa will be bringing in a great running game, as Rhule mentioned. Senior running back Tye Edwards is a giant, coming in at six feet, four inches and 230 pounds. He is averaging 10.5 yards per carry through two games, 315 yards, and two touchdowns. That’s not all they have out of the backfield. Omaha, Nebraska native Amauri Pesek-Hickson has a rushing average of 6.2 yards per touch, also two touchdowns and 186 total rushing yards.
How About Them Blackshirts
The Blackshirts will have their first real test defending the run. They’re currently sitting at No. 5 in the country with 72 rush yards allowed through the first two games.
On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Tony White was asked about Dylan Raiola, saying the Huskers defense is “the best in the country.” White said, “It’s Tuesday; right now, we’re the worst defense in the country. It comes back to; you can’t preach the process one day and then do something different.”
The accountability and humbleness from the defensive coordinator should ensure that the Blackshirts will be ready to play Saturday, even though they’re facing an FCS opponent. Linebacker Mikai Gbayor will have to sit out the first half, due to the targeting ejection he had against Colorado.
Offensive Focus
Big Red’s main focus this week is to keep the pedal on the gas the entire game. On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said on the performance against Colorado, “Very pleased with the start, very pleased with the two-minute situation before the half, we have to continue to prove as coaches to develop our competitive stamina and not relax when we’re up 28-0.”
Moving on to the penalties from the offense, Satterfield said, “They were penalties; we have to coach the technique better; we have to demand the technique better as coaches; that can’t happen-176 yards of offense and a touchdown that were called back.” The penalties the Huskers had on offense were questionable at the time with the Big 12 crew refereeing versus Colorado. Still, the offense must clean up many simple holding calls to avoid giving up nearly two lengths of the field, which could cost them games when facing elite opponents.
Satterfield went on about the perimeter blocking, saying, “We’re not very good at perimeter blocking right now. We have to clean that up and we’re going to have to prove this week and next week; we’re going to need to get the ball on the perimeter to win games this season. To have the big wideouts we have, that has to be a strong suit for us.”
If the offense can improve blocking on the perimeter, the rushing attack will only continue to improve and will allow Raiola to have even more success in the play-action pass. Rhule issued a challenge for the offense to raise their level of efficiency to Raiola’s.
Northern Iowa will be bringing in the No. 7 ranked rushing defense in the FCS that is giving up only 2.93 yards per rush. The passing defense from NIU is not far behind, being ranked No. 19, allowing 138 yards per game. Yes, this is an FCS program, that is playing lower competition but they have proven to be one of the better programs on the defensive side. This might be a tougher test for Nebraska on the offensive side than Colorado was.
Special Teams Questions
On Monday, Rhule said, “The worst special teams performance I’ve had in a long time. I’m disappointed, and it’s a lot of things; it’s not one thing.” NU’s kickoff coverage was lacking during the Colorado. Containment on the edges will need to improve or they will continue to give up the long return like Jimmy Horn had on Saturday.
Positives and negatives across the board. The biggest improvement on the special teams unit has been in the punt return game. Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda has changed the narrative of “The University of Fair Catch.” Garcia-Castaneda has 42 return yards through two games. In 2023 Big Red had a whopping 48 the entire season. Rhule said, “People are not talking enough about what Isaiah is doing for us in the punt return game.”
Punter Brian Buschini has improved his consistency issues from last season. Through two games he is averaging 50.1 yards per punt. In 2023 he averaged 40.7. The blocked punt did not look good on film. Front line guard Mikai Gbayor and punt shield Elijah Juedy seemed to relax towards the end of the game on this play allowing the CU defender to blow through.
The place-kicking is my biggest concern for the Cornhuskers. Sophomore kicker Tristan Alvano better get his craft together, or walk-on John Hohl might take his spot. Missing 32-yard field goals will cost the team games down the line, as Husker fans have witnessed over many recent seasons.
What To Expect
Expectations for this weekend’s game are simple: beat them the way a top-25 team should. There is no doubt that Nebraska should make this a second and third-team game in the second half but they will still need to go out and execute. This will be a good test for the offensive and defensive lines as NIU brings a similar physicality that the Big Ten entails.
I predict Big Red beats Northern Iowa 49-7 and has the 2nd team in the game midway through the third quarter. Now that the Huskers are ranked, it’s time to take another step in proving they are a force to be reckoned with: play four full quarters. And as Northern Illnois proved last week beating No. 5 at the time, Notre Dame, small school upsets happen if you don’t show up, same way with Idaho almost winning in week one in Eugene.
Shoutout To The Volleyball Team
Tuesday night, the No.5 ranked Huskers won the in-state showdown against No. 9 Creighton, which went five sets. Coach John Cook said, “I was expecting tonight, a five-gamer. Creighton is a great team, they have two special players. They play really hard and are hard to kill the ball on. I thought our team handled game five really well for our fifth game.”
Outside hitter Lindsay Krause led the team in kills with 17. Her, Harper Murray, Merritt Beason and Andi Jackson combined for 62 kills altogether. After winning the first two sets, the Blue Jays won the third going back and forth, 33-31 and they took the fourth set as well, 25-16. When Nebraska entered set five, they finished the job winning 15-10. The Huskers will take on Arizona State this Friday, at 7 p.m. at the Devaney Center.
