3 Biggest keys to a Nebraska football win over Minnesota

It’s been hard to focus on Minnesota this week, but the Gophers are the next team up. Despite all the rumors about Matt Rhule leaving for Penn State, despite his statements, the Huskers have to stay focused on the task ahead.

Rhule called Nebraska football a “destination job.” He doesn’t sound at all like he’s leaving. Who knows what the future holds? The only people who really know if Rhule would take the job are he and his wife.

Beyond that, Nebraska football has an important game to win this Friday night. Here are the three biggest keys to making that happen.

Protect the football

Minnesota has always thrived on turnovers. It is averaging 1.7 takeaways per game. That’s pertinent because Dylan Raiola threw three interceptions last week.

Nebraska was able to overcome it. The Huskers were clearly the better team and were much better on a play-by-play basis.

Turnovers are the great equalizer, though. The Huskers turned the ball over just three times in the first five games. Raiola threw two interceptions in the first five games. He had three against Maryland. As long as he doesn’t have another game like that, Nebraska should win a second consecutive game on the road, something the program hasn’t done since 2005.

The Gophers are +6 in their two power-4 wins and -2 in turnover margin in their power-4 losses.

Stop the run

Nebraska fans will probably roll their eyes when they see this. It’s the one thing Nebraska hasn’t done this season, outside of the Michigan State game.

The Huskers held MSU below 100 yards rushing. Every Power-4 other team has found success on the ground. Michigan ran for 286 yards. Maryland, a team that has struggled to run the ball, got 130.

Minnesota has always been a power-running team. Yet, they have struggled to run the ball this season, averaging just 3.6 yards per attempt. Darius Taylor had just 34 yards on 14 carries in the 27-20 win over Purdue last week.

Quarterback Drake Lindsey has thrown an average of 43 passes in the Gophers’ two Big Ten wins. He’s also thrown five touchdowns and zero interceptions.

That’s not a great recipe for success against Nebraska. Minnesota’s offensive line isn’t great, and if the Gophers are one-dimensional, this defense should be able to make some plays.

Feed the ball to Emmett Johnson

The former three-star running back wasn’t recruited by Minnesota, even though that’s his home state. He’s been running like a man possessed. I don’t see that changing this week.

Johnson is third in the Big Ten in rushing yards. He leads the conference in carries, so Nebraska football has been feeding Johnson. If the Huskers keep doing it, that should lead to more good things on Friday night.

He looks like the best Nebraska running back since Ameer Abdullah. I hope to see that side of him again as the Huskers try to improve to 6-1.

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