5 things to watch for Nebraska football vs. UCLA

Fresh off a bye week and the end of a five-game losing streak, the UCLA Bruins are the next team up for Nebraska football.

It’s the start of a critical four-game stretch for the Huskers. They need one win to become bowl-eligible, but after going 0-4 last November, this isn’t a game this team can afford to lose.

Two of the last three games are on the road against USC and Iowa, plus a home game against Wisconsin. Those are all winnable. They can all be lost too and the 2-5 Bruins are the best chance to get win No. 6.

Clinching a bowl game would release a lot of pressure. It would allow the Huskers to play with house money over the last three games. That could lead to some positive results down the stretch.

A loss against the Bruins would only reinforce the “here we go again” mentality Matt Rhule is fighting against. The only way out is through — meaning the only way to get past that is to win.

Nebraska nearly did Saturday against No. 4 Ohio State. This win won’t be quite as satisfying but bowl eligibility will taste incredibly sweet (if it happens) after an eight-year drought.

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

Which team can establish the run?

Neither team is great at running the ball. Nebraska football is averaging 3.7 yards per attempt, while UCLA is averaging 2.7. The Bruins might be the worst rushing team in the Power-4.

After shutting down the Buckeyes last week, the Blackshirts should be able to stonewall the Bruins run game. You’d also think the offensive line would be able to open holes too after rushing for 121 yards last week, although some of that came from Dylan Raiola on scrambles.

As poor as the UCLA pass defense is, and Nebraska should attack that, offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield needs to remember his press conference last week when he talked about committing to the run.

That’s what the Huskers need to do on Saturday. If they can run the ball and stop UCLA from running it, that’s a formula for success, just like we saw in Columbus.

Can Dylan Raiola get going?

Raiola is a freshman and has played top-10 teams in back-to-back weeks but his numbers in Big Ten play have left a lot to be desired.

The five-star freshman hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since the Purdue game. Over the past three weeks, he’s thrown five interceptions compared to zero touchdown passes. Consequently, the offense has averaged just 10 points per game (in the last 3).

Running the ball will make it easier on Raiola but he needs to start connecting on some of the touchdown throws he’s missing. Dylan missed two on Saturday. He missed the one late against Illinois and it’s time to start delivering on some of those throws.

The kid is nine games in. It’s time to stop playing like a freshman.

The Bruins aren’t as bad as their record

Just be aware, this isn’t your usual 2-5 football team. Nebraksa has had a tough schedule, but UCLA’s has probably been even more difficult.

Already this season, the Bruins have faced Indiana, LSU, Oregon, and Penn State. Two of those games were at home — two were on the road. Nebraska has faced three teams currently ranked — with road games against two top-10 teams, but still, the Bruins don’t seem as bad as their record.

After watching last week’s game, it feels like the Huskers overlooked Indiana a little. That can’t happen this week. Nebraska needs to be at its best because UCLA showed against Rutgers that it’s capable of beating a decent team on the road.

Will Nebraska football lay an egg?

There has been lots of talk about moral victories this week. Nebraska shouldn’t be about moral victories. Yet, if the Huskers can build on how they played on Saturday and play that way consistently, we can look at the Ohio State game as a sign of progress.

But if Nebraska lays an egg as it did against Minnesota in 2021 after nearly upsetting No. 3 Michigan, then people will be justified in saying “same old Nebraska” once again.

Can the pass defense hold up?

It’s easy to say the pass defense did well against Ohio State, but the Buckeyes only attempted 16 passes which turned into 221 yards and three touchdowns.

The pass rush needs to get home. Tommi Hill needs to get back on the field but slowing down Ethan Garbers and the Bruins passing attack will be critical. If Garbers can have the kind of success he found against Rutgers, the Huskers will be in trouble.

However, the Nebraska pass rush is better than Rutgers. The defensive line will need to dominate and that includes guys like MJ Sherman, who continues to progress as a pass rusher.

Jimari Butler was a beast last Saturday and if the defense carries over that performance to the UCLA game, the bowl drought will finally come to an end.

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