The Fallout: Nebraska football expectations with TJ Lateef, hoops season, and more

Losing to USC was a tough pill to swallow for Nebraska football. What made it even more bitter on the way down was the season-ending injury suffered by Dylan Raiola.

It was confirmed on Sunday by the Nebraska football program shortly after a report came out from Pete Thamel of ESPN about a broken fibula.

It was the nightmare scenario, but there were rumors early Sunday that Raiola was out for the season. Before he was knocked out of the game, Nebraska football felt like it was going to break through. I think they would have won had the catastrophic injury not happened.

Maybe Nebraska football really is cursed. It feels like that way sometimes. The 21-17 loss ended any hopes of a playoff push, as remote as that was. Outside of winning more games than last season, the only thing left to achieve is beating Iowa.

Maybe the Hawkeyes will be ranked by then, but probably not. Regardless, the one thing this program can’t do is fall apart. There’s no reason Nebraska can’t win out. The Huskers certainly shouldn’t lose out.

UCLA and Penn State are programs led by interim head coaches. Penn State is also playing with its backup quarterback, who is young and inexperienced. Iowa has mostly relied on Nebraka giving the game away, so there’s no reason the Huskers can’t win all three, even without Dylan Raiola.

Saturday’s loss was still bitterly disappointing. Emmett Johnson was great. He’s already over 1,000 yards and leads the Big Ten in rushing yards. The pass defense was incredible, too.

Nebraska held USC to its lowest passing yards total since 2018, as well as the lowest completion percentage since 2012. The offensive line even allowed just one sack, something it has done three times in four games.

The problem is that one sack knocked Nebraska’s best player out of the lineup for the season. Any dreams of making the playoffs or being ranked are dead. It’s gut-check time for Rhule, his staff, and the players.

They need to rally about Lateef and prove this isn’t the same old Nebraska by winning two of the next three games, and most importantly, beating Iowa. Progress has been made, but even more is still possible.

Rhule’s buyout was raised to $71 million last week. If he’s worth his salt as a head coach, Nebraska football will win two of the next three games.

Nebraska volleyball keeps trucking

The Huskers extended two streaks against Oregon on Sunday night with a three-set sweep of the Ducks (25-21, 25-20, and 25-12). Nebraska volleyball, the No. 1 team in the country, has won 40 sets in a row. The win was their 19th consecutive, as well as the 13th consecutive sweep.

Taylor Landfair led Nebraska with 10 kills. Harper Murray added nine, while Andi Jackson and Rebekah Allick each finished with five kills and three blocks. Bergen Reilly dished out 26 assists as Nebraska hit .405.

On Friday, Halloween night, Nebraska volleyball spooked the hell out of Wisconsin, beating the 11th-ranked Badgers by the scores of 25-22, 25-19, and 25-13. Murray stood out for the Huskers wth 15 kills, eight digs, and four blocks. Jackson also had 12 kills without a single hitting error.

Nebraska hit .349 as a team.

Nebraska basketball teams open seasons Monday

Both Nebraska basketball teams will open the regular season Monday at the Vault. The women’s team, which is receiving votes in the AP poll after an NCAA tournament appearance last season, will host Northwestern State in a game that will tip off at 12 p.m. CST on BTN+.

The men’s basketball team will also tip off its season against West Georgia, which is ranked 318th in the preseason KenPom rankings. Nebraska is ranked No. 51. Rienk Mast will be back from injury, while Pryce Sandfort will make his Nebraska debut, along with a slew of transfers.

Tip-off time is set for 7 p.m. CST on BTN+.

Nebraska wrestling opens season with Navy Classic title

The Cornhuskers crowned five champions as the Nebraska wrestling team won the Navy Classic for the fourth year in a row. Brock Hardy (174), Antrell Taylor (157), LJ Araujo (165), Christopher Minto (174), and Silas Allred (184) each won their respective weight classes. 11 Huskers placed when it was all said and done.

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