3 keys for Nebraska football in order to beat Indiana

Nebraska football has a huge opportunity ahead of it on Saturday as the 25th-ranked Huskers (Coaches Poll) will take on Indiana, ranked 16th in the AP Poll and 18th in the Coaches Poll.

Not only can Nebraska end its losing streak against ranked teams that dates back to 2016, but it can end the bowl drought, officially, with a win.

The Huskers would also move themselves up in the playoff race. They’d still have to win a few more games to become a real contender but win in Bloomington, and suddenly, Nebraska football is in the conversation.

Getting pressure on the QB

Kurtis Rourke has been spectacular for Indiana. He’s only got two interceptions, has 14 touchdown passes, and is completing 74 percent of his throws.

Part of his success has to do with the offensive line. The Hoosiers are just outside the top 10 nationally in sacks allowed (6). Nebraska football, on the other hand, is tied for seventh in all of college football with 20 sacks.

Indiana has been great but the Hoosiers haven’t faced a defensive line anywhere close to the caliber of Nebraska. Whichever team wins this battle probably wins the game.

Dylan Raiola needs to have a day

The Indiana defense is flawed. It’s not in the category as Nebraska. The Hoosiers allowed 243 yards and two touchdowns to Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch. Billy Edwards of Maryland threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

Both Northwestern and Maryland had competitive games against Indiana. Yet, the Huskers have a better defense and a better quarterback. Dylan Raiola has just nine touchdown passes but is averaging 226 yards per game.

I feel like he can throw for 300 on Saturday. The Huskers like to eat the clock so maybe he won’t get enough attempts. All I know is that if the Huskers win, we’ll be singing the praises of Raiola as a reason why.

Win the rushing battle

It’s easy to say win the turnover battle. Nebraska does need to do that, but what will make that easier is winning the battle on the ground — on both sides of the ball.

If the Huskers can establish the run, which won’t be easy against a defense allowing just three yards per rushing attempt this season, the Huskers will make life easier on their quarterback and their defense.

Raiola will face less pressure and the play-action pass is a way to create explosive plays, which we have already seen this season. From an Indiana perspective, Rourke has enjoyed a running game that averages 200 yards per game and 5.1 per attempt.

Nebraska allows 2.6 per rushing attempt. If the Huskers can out-rush the Hoosiers, that should mean they’ll be able to make Indiana one-dimensional. That usually leads to pressure on the quarterback, which again, is probably the biggest key to victory.

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