Back on September 17, 2016, a Nebraska Cornhusker football team led by second-year head coach Mike Riley defeated the ranked Oregon Ducks 35-32. Nebraska would start 7-0 that season before finishing 9-4, the last season the Cornhuskers had gone to a bowl before 2024. On that date, that was the last time the Huskers had defeated a ranked opponent. This Saturday, the Huskers will take on the No. 23 USC Trojans, with a chance to break a 28-game losing streak against ranked opponents. The question is: what will it take for the Huskers to come out on top finally?
What Nebraksa Must Do To Beat USC On Saturday
Nebraska Must Win the Battle in the Trenches…
Against the Minnesota Gophers, the then-ranked Huskers lost 24-6 on the road. Strangely enough, the following week, Minnesota got destroyed 41-3 by Iowa, a team that is very similar to Nebraska. The Huskers got killed in the trenches, rushing for just 38 yards while the Gophers ran for 186. The problem for Nebraska in their two losses has been the incredible inability to protect Raiola, run the ball well, or defend against the run.
The USC Trojans basically defeated Michigan by doing exactly what Nebraska couldn’t- shutting up the Wolverines on the ground and playing well on both sides of the ball. Nebraska could’ve won both games they lost with a better O-Line and D-Line, but that’s not all. The Huskers haven’t done well in multiple games this season.
Nebraska Must Execute Way Better
The problem in the past has been execution. This season, it really hasn’t been different. Nebraska left 10 points off the board in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines, a game they lost by three. There have also been too many missed opportunities, as Nebraska left a lot of points off the board against the Gophers, Northwestern Wildcats, and Michigan State Spartans. In order for the Huskers to beat a ranked opponent, they must play well.
Playing well means successfully putting points on the board and converting on opportunities. A only team that can beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers is the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska must not beat themselves into the ground. No missed FG, converting redzone opportunities, getting turnovers, not turning over the ball, and simply executing on both sides of the ball is what is needed.
Nebraska and It Fans Must Bring the Energy
One thing is for sure, Nebraska has an good amount of talent. USC is not more talented than Nebraska. The game can definitely be won by Nebraska. Last year, the Huskers played the Colorado Buffaloes. In the end, Travis Hunter and Co. left with their tail in between their legs. It was one of those games where if anyone, regardless of who, had played Nebraska at that moment, the Huskers would’ve won.
Travis Hunter with some high praise for Husker Nation. 🌽 pic.twitter.com/Sl6cJ6PYEh
— Blackshirts (@blvckshirts) September 11, 2024
Hunter himself mentioned how hard it was to play there. As Nebraska takes on USC in primetime, they must bring the same kind of energy. That season, Colorado ended up being a pretty good team, showing that the Huskers, who are even more talented now, can bring it. Sometimes, people can forget that Nebraska hold 90,000 fans in an extremely loud stadium. If Nebraska wins on Saturday, it could be the main reason why. The Huskers and fans themselves must bring it…
As the Huskers look to break out of a major slump, this game is the one to do it. It’s time for an upset now. It’s primetime, the perfect time for Nebraska to get it’s most important win in years.
Main Image: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
