3 takeaways from Nebraska football’s blowout loss to Penn State

Penn State was always better than its record showed, and it didn’t seem like Nebraska football was ready for it.

As shocking as it was, the Huskers weren’t physically ready to battle against a 4-6 team, one that nearly beat Iowa, Oregon, and Indiana.

It was clear to anyone paying attention that this was going to be a huge challenge. Nebraska was a double-digit underdog according to some Vegas oddsmakers.

Still, after a bye week, Nebraska could and should have played better. Emmett Johnson brought it, like he always does, but the Heisman graphics will be ending now. He needs a great last game to try and earn first-team All-American honors, which would be incredible in its own right.

Penn State ran for 231 yards. Nebraska football ran for 131. That was the difference in the game. TJ Lateef attempted 37 passes. Ethan Grunkmeyer threw 12, after throwing 13 in a win last week.

In my predictions, I said whichever quarterback threw the ball less was probably going to win the game. Penn State didn’t have the better QB. But it did have the better team. Here are three takeaways from the 37-10 loss.

The trenches are where Nebraska football is behind

What was an issue in the Michigan game is still an issue. It was going to be an issue all season because Matt Rhule and his staff didn’t do a very good job of replacing Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher. This team doesn’t have a single nose tackle on the roster, at least one that can play right now.

Nebraska has one 300-pounder on the D-line who plays regularly. That’s just not enough. There are some young pieces on the D-line, but this team needs two competent DTs in the portal, or it will be the same story once again next season.

The run game made the pass rush non-existent. It’s just hard to pass rush when the down-and-distance is manageable every time. On the other side, Lateef didn’t have great protection and was sacked three times.

Michigan, USC, Minnesota, and Penn State each rushed for at least 186 yards. Three of those teams went over 200 yards. Those four teams also sacked Nebraska quarterbacks 21 times.

If you can’t stop the run or protect the quarterback, you’re going to get your ass kicked.

Just enjoy Emmett Johnson

That 50-yard run on the opening drive was a thing of beauty. Nebraska squandered the opportunity and got stuffed on fourth-and-short again (wish a play-action pass was called), but it was a great run.

Johnson had 148 total yards. It was his seventh 100-yard game of the season. He’s now got 1,579 yards for the season with two games left to go. 2,000 total yards isn’t completely out of the question. Johnson would need a big game against Iowa, and obviously in the bowl game.

The redshirt junior would need 210 yards per game to reach 2,000, but after watching him do incredible things all season, nothing feels impossible.

Obviously, the most important thing is beating Iowa. Johnson will need an epic performance, and my money is on him to deliver it.

TJ Lateef wasn’t the problem

Lateef looked like a freshman at times. He also made some nice throws and ran for some first downs. If the offense had been able to score a touchdown on the opening drive, it could have made for a different game.

We will never know. Would Dylan Raiola have made the difference? It’s not likely. Maybe the game could have been more competitive. He would have been better suited to play in a 37-pass-attempt situation.

The buzz about Lateef will die down some. It will die down more if the Huskers lose to Iowa next week. The best-case scenario for the quarterback room is for Raiola and Lateef to each be part of it next season.

That’s not a guarantee, though. Nothing in college football is. Regardless, Lateef should be better prepared for what he’ll see against Iowa, and if the rest of the team has his back like UCLA, the Huskers will be just fine.

They will at least have a chance.

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