5 things to watch for Nebraska football in the Pinstripe Bowl

For the first time in eight years, Nebraska football will play in a bowl game on Saturday against the Boston College Eagles at Yankee Stadium.

It’s not the way some fans wanted the Huskers to return to postseason play, but the 6-6 Nebraska football team has a golden opportunity to earn some positive momentum heading into 2025, plus clinch the first winning season since 2016.

Coaching matters in games like this, a lot. The teams that are focused and motivated win bowl games. Boston College will get up for this game and Nebraska football shouldn’t have any problems getting excited for it either.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, here are five things to watch.

The motivation factor

When you’re talking about bowl games that aren’t part of the College Football Playoff, motivation will always be a factor.

For Nebraska football, motivation shouldn’t be an issue. The Huskers haven’t played in a bowl game since 2016. They haven’t had a winning season in eight years too, which should be all the motivation Nebraska needs on Saturday.

Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher, and Bryce Benhart — those kinds of dudes — deserve to go out with a win and nothing would make me happier as a Nebraska football fan.

However, Bill O’Brien and the 7-5 Boston Colleg Eagles will be motivated too. QB Grayson James has one year left to play and could cement the starting job for next season. This program, like Nebraska, also feels on the rise after winning three of the last four to end the season, so the other guys will be motivated too.

Dylan Raiola

Nebraska football will have the best player on the field Saturday at Yankee Stadium in starting quarterback Dylan Raiola.

Boston College has some talented players. Keep an eye on Reed Harris, a dude from Montana who is averaging 30 yards per reception as a redshirt freshman.

But Raiola could and should be the most impactful player in the game. If he plays like he did against Wisconsin, and the guys around him do their part, the Huskers won’t just win this game — they’ll win it by double digits.

Nebraska football running backs

We know that Emmett Johnson will be RB1 for the Pinstripe Bowl and also heading into next season. Beyond that, there is little clarity about the running back position following the transfer of Dante Dowdell.

Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen talked about Kwinten Ives during his pre-game press conference last week, so keep an eye on him. Mekhi Nelson, a true freshman, is another back who’s generated some buzz since arriving on campus.

Both of those backs will get opportunities and what they do with it could impact whether or not the Huskers seek to add another running back from the transfer portal (to replace Dowdell).

Young players getting opportunities

If you look at the Nebraska football depth chart heading into the Pinstripe Bowl, there are 51 players on the offensive or defensive depth chart and only 13 of them are seniors. 18 of those players are true freshmen or redshirt freshmen.

The majority of these players will be back for Nebraska football next season and there are more than a few to watch out for in this game.

Outside of the running backs, I’ll be watching guys like Carter Nelson (WR), Quinn Clark (WR), Dylan Rodgers (LB), Mario Buford (DB), Caleb Benning (DB), Rahir Stewart (DB), Keona Davis (DL), Mason Goldman (DL), and a bunch of others.

Not all of these guys will get their chance in the game on Saturday, but some will and that’s one of the reasons I’m most excited to watch.

The turnover battle

By the time Boston College and Nebraska take the field on Saturday, it will have been a month since they have played a football game.

So expect sloppiness and mistakes. That’s just the nature of bowl games. Turnover margin is the most indicative stat in sports. Boston College was plus 0.5 in turnover margin this season while Nebraska was -0.1.

Turnovers have been the bane of Nebraska’s existence in the past decade and avoiding them will be the biggest key to a bowl win on Saturday.

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