5 things to watch for Nebraska football vs. Northern Iowa

Nebraska football has started the season on a high note. The Huskers are 2-0 for the first time since 2019 and also ranked in the Coaches and AP polls.

But a pesky Northern Iowa team is coming to Lincoln on Saturday night. The Panthers are ranked in the FCS top 25 after a 2-0 start. Nebraska football is a heavy favorite, with 34.5 points according to FanDuel, and here’s a look at five things to watch for the Huskers against Northern Iowa.

A bigger test in the running game

Nebraska stonewalled Colorado in the running game. You could also throw UTEP in that mix. Through two games, the Huskers are allowing an average of 1.6 yards per rushing attempt and just 36 yards per game, which ranks 5th nationally in each category.

Yet, Colorado didn’t want to run the ball. Their starting running back only got nine carries against North Dakota State. Northern Iowa, on the other hand, averages 298 yards per game. The Panthers’ starting back averages 10.7 per attempt. The backup averages 6.7.

So Nebraska’s run defense will face its sternest test of non-conference play on Saturday, which is probably a good thing with Big Ten play right around the corner.

Can Nebraska avoid looking ahead?

Don’t look now, but the Huskers could be part of a top-25 matchup next week. Illinois upset Kansas in Week 2 and the Fighting Illini are 26th in the AP poll.

Central Michigan awaits Illinois, just like it’s Northern Iowa for Nebraska. Both teams just notched big wins but will have to put it past them.

Nebraska has to handle success. The Huskers haven’t had a lot during this era. They did win three games in a row last season to get on the cusp of bowl eligibility, then the last four to end the season.

Things look great, but football is a week-to-week business and Nebraska needs to keep improving.

More production from the wide receivers

If there’s one position group that didn’t hold up its end of the bargain last week, it was the wide receivers. The blocking wasn’t up to snuff on the outside, according to Matt Rhule and Marcus Satterfield didn’t sound too happy with them either.

There was only one explosive play in the Colorado game produced by the wide receivers in the passing game and that was the Jaylen Lloyd reception.

Jacory Barney got 21 yards on the ground but his long reception was nine yards. Isaiah Neyor is the only other receiver to have a catch over 10 yards. Nebraska’s wideouts are too good for that.

My bet is that they will be challenged this week and I’m interested to see how they respond.

Nebraska football needs to clean things up

The Huskers have done a lot of really good things on offense this season. They have run the ball effectively, taken care of it, and been productive in the red zone.

But my goodness, they have to cut down on the penalties. I get that the refs were terrible. They missed a lot of holding calls on Colorado, but Nebraska was sloppy and that sloppiness won’t cut it in Big Ten play.

For as manageable as we thought the schedule was, Nebraska has a brutal schedule in the Big Ten — one that looks even tougher with the way Rutgers, Indiana, and Illinois are playing.

Matt Rhule said that Nebraska could have scored 40-50 points on Saturday and he’s right, they could have. Penalties are a reason they didn’t and that’s something I want to see cleaned up on Saturday.

A better day for special teams

The kicker competition might be back on after Tristan Alvano missed a short field goal last week. That’s another thing that can’t happen.

Nebraska lost how many games by three last season? Too many. When you have a great defense, and frankly, a great quarterback, a kicker can be a true weapon.

Alvano can hit from distance. We have seen him hit 50-plus-yard field goals in Lincoln Memorial Stadium. But even Rhule acknowledged that it’s an issue and it’s something to watch this weekend.

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