5 things to watch for Nebraska football vs. Rutgers

For the second time in three weeks, an undefeated team comes to Lincoln Memorial Stadium to take on the 4-1 Nebraska football team.

It feels like both Rutgers (4-0) and Nebraska football are on the verge of being ranked. The Huskers were ranked until they dropped a home game to Illinois. But more important than any of that is getting a fifth win. That would tie last season’s win total and get the Huskers within one win of bowl eligibility.

The Huskers are a touchdown favorite right now against Rutgers, a team they last played back in 2022. Nebraska won that game with a late touchdown and this feels like another that will come down to the fourth quarter.

Here are five things to watch for Nebraska football vs. Rutgers

Can Nebraska football contain Kyle Monangai?

This might be the biggest thing to watch on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln. Kyle Monangai has been stellar this season averaging 6.1 yards per attempt and going over 100 yards in three of four games.

The one team that held him under 100 yards was Virginia Tech. He still got 26 carries for 84 yards. That’s probably the best Nebraska can hope for, but my hope would be that Rutgers doesn’t have the ball or the lead enough to give him 26 carries.

If ever you wanted to get a lead early, it’s against Rutgers. I like the prospect of Athan Kaliakmanis having to beat Nebraska with his arm more than Monangai, a preseason All-Big Ten selection, doing it on the ground.

Unless the offense has a better day than expected, it’s hard to see the Huskers winning if Monangai can churn out a 100-yard day.

Dylan Raiola against the Rutgers pass defense

The freshman quarterback has been spectacular for Nebraska football this season. Dylan Raiola is completing 70.9 percent of his attempts and has 1,224 yards in addition to nine touchdown passes. More importantly, through five games, the Huskers QB has just two interceptions.

That’s an incredible turnaround from last season when Nebraska quarterbacks turned it over multiple times per game. Raiola is averaging 0.4 turnovers per game. Keep doing that and Nebraska will be tough to beat.

The pass defense numbers of Rutgers look really good through four games. However, Will Rogers threw for over 300 yards last week in New Jersey, Washington just struggled in the red zone and lost the turnover battle. But the Huskies had more than 500 total yards.

Rutgers also comes into the game with just four sacks. Those don’t always tell the story of pressure but if the Huskers can protect, this is a matchup Raiola and the pass offense should win.

A similar style of play

Nebraska football and Rutgers are a combined 8-1 so far this season. There are a few reasons for that. For starters, Rutgers has two giveaways in four games. Nebraska football has three giveaways in five games. The Huskers are forcing 1.6 turnovers per game. Rutgers is forcing 1.3.

Both teams have run the ball well and have been effective in converting third downs. Each has been solid when it comes to red zone defense too. Rutgers is eighth in time of possession, 17th in third-down conversions, and is also one of the least-penalized teams in college football.

The Scarlet Knights have done a stellar job of playing mistake-free football. However, Nebraska has also been good on third downs. They have possessed the ball well (44th) and are 41st on third-down conversions.

You’ve got two former NFL head coaches on the sidelines and outside of one having a star at quarterback, these two teams are eerily similar.

The turnover battle

Both teams have been so good at protecting the ball that it feels like whichever teams win the turnover battle will win the game. That’s not always true but most of the time it is. A positive turnover ratio has been a huge key for both teams and if the Huskers win the turnover battle, there’s a very good chance they win the game. As long as it’s just even I like their chances.

Nebraska has forced eight turnovers through five games. The Huskers have two defensive touchdowns and they also have 17 sacks in five games. That pressure has led to takeaways and if they can keep getting home, Nebraska should win the turnover battle, especially since Rutgers has just four sacks in four games.

What if it comes down to a kick?

Rhule said that the blocks were a snapping issue. John Hohl missed another kick from the hash, but misses are going to happen.

There’s no word on when Tristan Alvano will return to the lineup. So Hohl is the guy for now. Rhule believes in his talent. He’s just not reliable right now.

Hohl already missed a go-ahead field goal with less than four minutes against Illinois. Nebraska is 1-for-5 on field goal attempts the last two weeks. We have all seen Nebraska miss big kick after big kick in recent years, but who knows, if Hohl gets the chance, maybe he’ll exorcise the demons and deliver.

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