5 things to know about Nebraska vs. UCLA

It’s very clear, at least from what players and coaches are saying, that Nebraska football is excited for the chance to play UCLA this weekend.

That was one of my questions. The goal of the program was to make the College Football Playoff, or at least contend for it. That’s over now.

With three games left and a bowl game wrapped up, leadership will be important. Good programs win football games, no matter the circumstances. Nebraska football needs to start doing that. 

You saw it with the Pinstripe Bowl last season. Well, this final three-game stretch is like the Pinstripe Bowl. It’s not going to drastically change the course of the program. But it will tell us a lot about Matt Rhule’s ability to lead, and this program’s ability to rally.

Also, Nebraska needs to start winning in November. Winning is a habit. You have to do it. So winning two of the next three would be huge, just to keep the momentum going forward, even if there isn’t anything tangible to achieve, other than a better bowl position, although seeing Nebraska back in the final Top 25 would be nice.

Looking ahead to a key game against 3-5 UCLA, here are five things to know.

Nebraska vs. UCLA odds

With Dylan Raiola out for the season, UCLA is a 1.5-point favorite. The over/under is 43.5, and the money line is +100 for Nebraska football. It’s -120 for UCLA.

Basically, this is a pick-em game.

Nebraska vs. UCLA: How to watch/kickoff time

It will be a late kickoff for Nebraska, with things slated to start at 8 PM CST in the Rose Bowl. It’s always a gorgeous atmosphere. It will also be Nebraska’s first trip to Pasadena since 2012. The game will be broadcast on Fox. The radio broadcast can be streamed at Huskers.com.

This game is about Emmett Johnson, not TJ Lateef

The conversation all week will be about true freshman quarterback TJ Lateef making his first career start. He threw for seven yards on seven attempts last week, so he will need to improve drastically.

Yet, with a week of practice and a game plan specifically designed for him, Lateef should be more comfortable. It’s up to the coaches to make him comfortable.

One way to do that is to run the ball. A good running game is a quarterback’s best friend. Just look at Michigan and Bryce Underwood.

Lateef isn’t on that level, yet, he’s got a big-time arm, and enough athleticism to do some damage with his legs. We should see some zone-read, some RPOs, and some easy completions. Easy reads, easy throws, and easy completions. That should be the focus.

Of course, that’s made much easier if Nebraska football can pound the rock. On that front, UCLA has been terrible. The Bruins allow 195 yards per game on the ground. UCLA is giving up an average of 5.2 yards per attempt, so Emmett Johnson should have a field day. He is the only 1,000-yard rusher in the Power 4.

Run Nico run

On defense, Nebraska has to stop Nico Iamlaeava. The former five-star recruit is throwing for 183 yards per game with 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Against a Nebraska pass defense that just limited USC to its lowest passing yardage total since 2018, and its lowest completion percentage since 2012, you’d think the focus would be running the ball.

As it stands, Iamlaeava is UCLA’s leading rusher, too. He averages 48 rushing yards per game, to go along with four touchdown runs. Jalen Berger is second on the team with 59 carries for an average of 4.2 yards.

After watching Brendan Sorsby and Bryce Underwood have success on the ground, as well as Aidan Chiles, that has to be UCLA’s primary focus. Matt Rhule even mentioned that this week.

Can Nebraska stop the QB run? That’s the question. If the Huskers can force Nico to beat them by throwing the ball, that’s a big win for the Blackshirts. He’s passed for over 200 yards three times this season, but the Bruins are 1-2 in those games, with Penn State being the lone win.

A great matchup for the Nebraska offense

If there was any defense in the Big Ten that you’d want to face with a freshman quarterback, it might be this one. The Bruins don’t pressure the quarterback (six sacks), and they aren’t good at taking the ball away.

UCLA has just three interceptions this season. They have recovered five fumbles, but that’s still just one takeaway per game. They do have 31 pass breakups and 27 tackles for loss. However, UCLA is allowing teams to complete 62.4 percent of its passes and surrenders 31 points per game (114th) with 1.9 rushing touchdowns allowed per game.

The Bruins had won three straight before the bye week. Indiana crushed them. Indiana is also crushing everyone right now. This should be a tight game. TJ Lateef will need to be productive, but Nebraska football shouldn’t have to rely on him to win.

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