A football game is a long, 60-minute grind.
It is truly a game of inches that comes down to hours of practice and tedious preparation. Games in college football are not just won by talent on the field but by strategy and weeks of game planning.
Nebraska has a golden opportunity Saturday, at home, to be over 500 for the first time in the Matt Rhule era. Here are a couple of things they’ll have to do to avoid squandering it.
Don’t Buy The Hype
Nebraska Football is riding a high after their gutsy road victory against Illinois two weeks ago. Vibes after the win and a great week of practice during their bye week seem to be at an all-time high during the Matt Rhule Era. Now, the Cornhuskers will welcome the Northwestern Wildcats on a momentous occasion: the 100th birthday of the iconic Memorial Stadium. Despite the teams identical 3-3 records by all accounts, Nebraska is the more talented team.
Nebraska’s 4-year composite recruiting average, according to 247 sports, is 27. Northwestern’s is 48. Nebraska holds advantages in most major statistical categories, including total defense, scoring defense, total offense, rushing offense, rushing defense, and passing defense. But Northwestern does hold an edge in passing offense, scoring offense, and turnover differential.
Also, there is a high probability that Northwestern’s starting quarterback, Ben Bryant, will not be suited up against Nebraska after suffering an injury three weeks ago against Penn State.
Adding together all of these factors, this is a game for all intents and purposes that Nebraska should win. Despite all this, the Huskers still need to show up on Saturday.
Head Coach Matt Rhule admitted the Big Red are not talented enough to sleepwalk through this game
“This is a team that has to learn how to be the same team every week, that’s hard to do.” Rhule said, “There are some teams that are so talented that they have to get up for three or four games, we have to get up for every game.”
Rhule said at his Monday Press conference.
This contest against the Wildcats is the ultimate trap game, and if the Big Red don’t answer the bell, their hopes of going to their first bowl game since 2016 will be all but gone.
Step on Their Throats
Going back to this contest being a trap game, Nebraska cannot allow what Northwestern did to Minnesota. The Wildcats trailed Minnesota 31-10 with 12 minutes remaining in the 4th quarter. The Gophers all but won the game until they took their foot off the gas and allowed Northwestern back into the ball game, eventually losing in overtime.
Despite the lack of dynamic talent and major turmoil, Matt Rhule says the team plays with a lot of grit.
“He’s (David Braun) He’s got this team battling man,” Rhule said. “They’re fighting for their lives.”
Northwestern is not a team that will roll over, they will fight Nebraska until the very last second. With all of that to consider, if the Huskers get up early, they cannot let up and give life to a relentless Wildcat team.
Run the Damn Ball
This might be the third or fourth time I used this as a key. I don’t know; I’m losing count.
But it stands as true now as it did before.
Not only does Northwestern have an abysmal rush defense, allowing 172 yards a game and ranking 106th in the country, but their pass defense is sharp. The Wildcats only allow 189 passing yards a game, ranking 26th in the country and 5th in the Big Ten.
This plays into Nebraska’s hand.
The Skers aren’t a team made to pass the ball 50 times a game, and Despite fumbling problems from lead back Anthony Grant, Nebraska’s strength on offense still comes from the ground. Grant, Heinrich Haarberg, and Emmet Johnson all have the talent to gash the Cats in the Run game.
If the Huskers can hold onto the ball and be effective on first downs, they’ll wear out the Cats and easily win the ball game.