For the first time since 2016, families spent Christmas talking about a Nebraska football bowl game. With all the chaos within the transfer portal, it’s important to remember that the Huskers have a football game to play
The 6-6 Nebraska Cornhuskers will take on the 7-5 Boston College Eagles in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, on Dec. 28th, in Yankee Stadium.
Here is what to expect from the Big Apple:
Haarberg is a problem to defend
Junior Heinrich Haarberg switched from quarterback to tight end after the regular season. Yes, it finally happened. Haarberg was listed as the third tight end on the depth chart for the Pinstripe Bowl. Anticipate the Kearney native being used in many situations. The pro potential is there for Haarberg. This will be a nice glimpse of how they plan to deploy the converted quarterback for the 2025 season.
Raiola has a savvy day passing
Boston College is 118th in the country in defending the pass, allowing 262.5 yards through the air per game. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola had some growing pains as a true freshman, but he showed so much promise throughout the regular season.
Raiola will enter the bowl game with 2,595 passing yards and a 67 percent completion percentage. Ironically, this was nearly the same as Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who just led the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff.
Iamaleava finished the 2024 season with 2,616 passing yards and a 64 percent completion percentage. Raiola is not far off and should shine in the Big Apple against a weak Eagle secondary.
Young guys show what’s coming
Redshirt freshman running back Kwinten Ives has a golden opportunity after sophomore running back Dante Dowdell transferred to Kentucky. Sophomore running back Emmett Johnson will be the workhorse but Ives will spell him.
With senior wide receiver Isaiah Neyor opting out of the bowl game, this will give even a bigger opportunity for true freshmen wideouts Jacory Barney Jr., Carter Nelson, Keelan Smith and Quinn Clark. Sophomore receiver Jaylen Lloyd should see an increased role as well.
On the offensive line, redshirt freshman Gunnar Gottula will most likely take the vast majority of the snaps, after it was announced senior Micah Mazzccua underwent shoulder surgery. Another few guys to look for will be redshirt freshmen Sam Sledge and Brock Knutson and true freshman Grant Brix.
The Blackshirts might be the most intriguing. After defensive coordinator Tony White and defensive line coach Terrance Knighton departed, several defenders left to get paid. This might work in Nebraska’s favor in getting these young Blackshirts an opportunity to prepare for next season.
Freshmen linebackers Willis McGahee IV and Vincent Shavers Jr. have played a lot and their role will only increase. On the defensive line, anticipate sophomore Riley Van Poppel and true freshman Keona Davis playing the most of their young careers. In the defensive backfield, true freshman Amare Sanders is the most intriguing. He’s currently listed as the backup cornerback behind junior Malcolm Hartzog.
Seniors leave a lasting mark
They all finally got to a bowl. I foresee the Huskers taking this postseason contest by storm. Seniors such as defensive linemen Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher, linebackers John Bullock and Javin Wright, defensive backs Isaac Gifford and DeShon Singleton, running back Rahmir Johnson and offensive linemen Ben Scott and Bryce Benhart will all go full throttle.
These veterans have seen everything but a bowl game. They all could have opted out and prepared for a potential professional career. Instead, they all take honor in wearing the sacred red ‘N’ one last time.
Score prediction
Boston College is a respectable ACC opponent but they will not be able to match the heart or talent that Nebraska will bring on Saturday. The Eagles’ senior defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku leads the nation with 16.5 sacks but won’t be playing Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien announced on Friday.
I foresee Nebraska looking smooth in NYC, winning 31-20, taking the Pinstripe trophy back to Lincoln.
