There was a lot of hype leading into the 2024 Nebraska football season. More than one expert said the Huskers could start 7-0.
Nebraska football fell short of that. They are 5-1 right now, so the best possible record for the Huskers after seven games would be 6-1. Still, it’s the first 5-1 start in 10 years.
The Huskers are one win from being bowl-eligible. But they are also a couple of wins away from being in playoff contention. If Nebraska can beat Indiana and USC on the road, even with a loss to Ohio State, suddenly, the Huskers might be in the playoff race.
I’m not trying to get ahead of myself. Just pointing out how far Nebraska has come in the second season under Matt Rhule, despite some bumps along the way.
The Illinois game feels like a turning point. Nebraska has allowed 17 total points since then and even that was a game the Huskers should have won. However, this team is still learning and growing and that’s where we start with five things we learned during the first six games.
Nebraska football is learning how to win
The win at Purdue won’t look super impressive at the end of the season. The Boilermakers are struggling, but, some of Scott Frost coached teams might have found a way to lose that game. Nebraska did lead 7-3 in the fourth quarter. It was a close game until it wasn’t.
Rhule said after the Illinois game that he had a team of winners, he just had to teach them how to win. Building a program requires patience and sometimes, fans don’t have it.
Yet, Rhule is living up to his word. His players are learning how to win and you saw it, especially in the last two weeks, but even dating back to the Colorado game.
Dylan Raiola is even better than expected
There have been moments where Dylan Raiola looks like a true freshman, but not many. Most of the time, he looks like a seasoned Big Ten quarterback — one with elite talent.
Just on arm talent alone, there isn’t a better quarterback in the Big Ten right now. Dillon Gabriel and Will Howard — the starters for Oregon and Ohio State — wish they could throw a ball like Raiola.
Now, there’s more to playing quarterback than talent. Yet, Raiola’s brain is one of his best assets. He hasn’t thrown many risky passes this season and two of his three interceptions weren’t his fault.
Three turnovers from the quarterback in six games is a huge improvement. He’s on pace to throw for nearly 3,000 yards and just under 20 touchdowns. The offense is averaging 28 points per game compared to 18 last season and the average first downs via passing plays have doubled from five to 10.
The impact of Raiola is easy to see but with his ability to protect the ball, while making NFL-caliber throws, the kid has been even better than expected.
The offensive line has taken a step forward
There have been some shaky moments for the offensive line. Nebraska still ranks 79th in college football in sacks allowed (12) but Nebraska football has also had to shuffle some pieces due to injury.
The Huskers are down to their third-string left tackle. Yet, they have found a way to produce. Some of those sacks were the result of a freshman quarterback holding the ball too long. Raiola will get better at that with experience.
Gunnar Gottula has been fine at left tackle. But the run blocking has been more impressive. Nebraska isn’t running it as well as it did last season, but they are still churning out 3.9 yards per attempt, plus 136 yards per game.
Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Nebraska runs it 35 times per game compared to an average of 30 passes. That’s a smart thing when you have a young quarterback and you saw the offensive line deliver with a bunch (7 by my count) of short-yardage conversions last week by running the ball.
If you can consistently convert third-and-one and fourth-and-one, you know you’ve got a decent running game and a pretty decent offensive line.
Defense is the strength of the team
The Blackshirts were spectacular last season, allowing just 18 points per game. This season, Nebraska football is allowing 11.7 points per game (7th in college football).
They are also the only team in the Big Ten that hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown. Rutgers even got the ball at the two-yard line on Saturday after a blocked punt and actually went backward.
Illinois exposed the Huskers a little bit. Yet, Ceyair Wright has really come on in recent weeks and if Nebraska football can get Tommi Hill and Wright on the field at the same time, you’ve got two future pros on the perimeter.
Oct 5, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive lineman Ty Robinson (9) celebrates after a sack against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Marques Buford and Malcolm Hartzog could cover more of the slot stuff. To me, that means the pass defense could get even better. That’s particularly true when you have James Williams rushing the passer as effectively as he has recently with four sacks in the last two games.
John Bullock has been All-Big Ten caliber in the middle and truly, there isn’t a weakness on this defense when everyone is healthy and playing at their best.
Special teams have to get fixed
Brian Buschini was spectacular last week and won Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. However, there are a lot more negatives than positives for the special teams as a whole during the first six games.
Nebraska probably beats Illinois if John Hohl makes that 39-yard field goal. The Purdue game also would have had a different feel if the three first-half field goals were all made (two were blocked).
The Huskers had two field goals blocked in one game, then two punts blocked the very next week. They won both games but that’s unheard of.
Getting Tristan Alvano back from injury will help. Hopefully, the bye week will allow Nebraska to focus more on fundamentals because there are issues at kicker and long snapper.
Nebraska is good enough to at least contend for a playoff spot down the stretch, but that won’t happen if the special teams keep making costly mistakes.
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