LINCOLN, Neb. — The second half of this football season for Nebraska rides on the Huskers’ ability to manage pressure.
The effectiveness with which they create pressure defensively. How they handle it offensively. And holistically, how they perform when facing it.
Each type of pressure has contributed to shaping key moments in a 5-1 start for Nebraska.
Notable examples:
• Defensive pressure works for this team. Nebraska rates seventh nationally in generating pressure against opposing quarterbacks at a 41.3 percent rate, according to PFF College. Its highest pressure rate in a game, 54.4 percent, occurred last week in a 14-7 win against Rutgers.
James Williams secured the game-sealing sack for the Huskers 💪#B1GFootball x @HuskerFootball pic.twitter.com/kJpBC6lkTL
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 6, 2024
The success in producing pressure comes despite a blitz rate that ranks 89th nationally. But the Huskers are blitzing more — on no lower than 29 percent of their defensive snaps in a single game — after rarely sending extra defenders at the QB against UTEP and Colorado to open the season.
The result: Nebraska’s 20 sacks rank fifth nationally. It has generated 10 turnovers, 15th nationally. It allows 4.37 yards per play and 11.3 points per game to rank ninth and seventh, respectively.
• On the offensive side, it’s a mixed bag. Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola completes 46.9 percent of his throws against pressure at 5.9 yards per dropback, according to PFF College, compared to a 73.6 percent completion rate and 8.2 yards per dropback without pressure.
But all three of his interceptions came while protected well. And Raiola’s efficiency rating against pressure of 127.5 rates 27th nationally.
• A more ambiguous form of pressure has affected Nebraska negatively at times. It showed up in the first half at Purdue in Week 5, when the Huskers failed six times out of six to get points after they advanced inside the Boilermakers’ 40-yard line.
Nebraska handled pressure well in building a 28-0 lead against Colorado. But it buckled offensively against Rutgers in the second half. Most notably, the Huskers wilted in the fourth quarter and in overtime against Illinois in their lone defeat.
“We were looking at the scoreboard, instead of playing the next play,” second-year coach Matt Rhule said of that Week 4 loss to the Illini.
The loss still wakes him up angry at night, Rhule said.
The Huskers concluded bye-week practice work Thursday before taking three days to rest ahead of full-scale prep for 18th-ranked Indiana, their second-half opener on Oct. 19 in Bloomington.
From there, the pressure is set only to rise as Nebraska plays at Ohio State and USC, sandwiched around a home game against UCLA before it closes with Wisconsin in Lincoln and at Iowa.
“I just want to be relevant,” Rhule said. “At least we are relevant.”
How long can the Huskers remain relevant? For as long as they successfully manage pressure.
Here’s a midseason report to sort out the first half of this season and to look ahead at what to expect.
Five keys to get to eight wins or more
1. Maintain the turnover pace. Remarkably, after its 31 turnovers in 2023 contributed to a minus-17 margin that ranked 132nd out of 133 teams, Nebraska is plus-6 this season, ranking 12th. It has committed just four turnovers and forced 10. The Huskers have not lost the turnover battle against any opponent.
“It’s a good example of putting your mind to something and getting it done,” Rhule said.
2. Don’t put everything on Raiola. He’s the top true freshman quarterback in the FBS, but don’t let his numbers — 113-of-169 passing for 1,358 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions — allow you to believe that Raiola is ready to do it all. He has provided what the Huskers want by keeping them out of bad situations. And he’s a playmaker.
But in moments late against Illinois and Rutgers when Nebraska coaches asked him to win a game or ice victory, the offense faltered.
3. Keep it up against the run. Five FBS opponents to face Nebraska have rushed this season for 27 touchdowns. None came against the Huskers. It’s the only team nationally that hasn’t allowed a score on the ground. The goal-line stand against Rutgers was a thing of beauty by the Blackshirts.
The @HuskerFootball defense came up so clutch here ☠️
Relive the Blackshirts’ goal line stand 👇#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/dFIKUITNhd
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 6, 2024
But the rushing defense, sixth nationally in allowing 2.7 yards per attempt, will be tested soon. The Huskers face four of the top seven rushing teams in the Big Ten during their final six games. Indiana, Ohio State and Iowa together have rushed for 51 touchdowns in 16 games.
4. Generate internal motivation. “I’m a button pusher,” Rhule said this week. If that means the coach had to bring in world champion boxer Terence Crawford to help the Huskers beat Colorado or initiate a full-contact drill during warmups, as he did before the past two games, he was ready to do it.
When Rhule doesn’t feel the need to push buttons, his team will have arrived at another level as a program. It’s coming. Nebraska has a special senior class this year, packed with strong leadership. In recent seasons, the Huskers would not have overcome tough situations they faced in the fourth quarter against either of their past two foes.
5. Stabilize special teams. It’s true that two field goals blocked by Purdue and two punts blocked by Rutgers clouded the outside view of Nebraska’s special teams play. How could they not? The overall play has improved. Still, it took a superhuman effort by punter Brian Buschini to beat Rutgers.
Kicker Tristan Alvano might return soon. Buschini received an extra week to get healthy after Rutgers took him down twice. The Huskers still must fix their snapping and protection issues and generate the threat of explosive returns.
Superlatives
Midseason offensive MVP: Dylan Raiola. The former five-star prospect has given the Huskers all that they envisioned and more. He’s the only freshman playing key minutes at QB in the Big Ten.
Midseason defensive MVP: Ty Robinson. His decision to return for a sixth season provided the Huskers with a force in the middle of the defensive line. Robinson is the anchor of the Blackshirts. His perseverance will pay off next year in the NFL Draft.
Breakout offensive player: Jacory Barney. What can’t he do? The true freshman wide receiver has rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 149 yards. He’s just getting started.
Breakout defensive player: Ceyair Wright. He has gotten better in every opportunity during the past three weeks, playing like one of the top cover cornerbacks in the Big Ten. When Tommi Hill returns from injury, Wright gives the Huskers options aplenty in the secondary.
Best surprise: Gunnar Gottula. Gottula began the season as the Huskers’ No. 3 left tackle. After injuries suffered by Teddy Prochazka and Turner Corcoran, the redshirt freshman has stepped in admirably.
Best surprise (Part II): James Williams. His story is begging to be told in depth. Williams possesses a magnetic personality to go with his strong pass-rushing ability. The former scout-team standout recorded back-to-back multi-sack games before the bye week.
Second-half predictions
1. The tight ends will get more involved. The Raiola-to-Thomas Fidone connection is too good for it not to produce touchdowns. Fidone got into the end zone four times last year in a less potent passing offense. Raiola spreads the touches nicely among his weapons, but look for Fidone, who has caught 14 balls, to increase his production.
2. Tristan Alvano and Tommi Hill will factor late in the season. Nebraska is playing the situation conservatively with both. The kicker and top corner might make it back on the field from injuries in October. But their impact will be felt most next month — Hill at USC and Alvano against Wisconsin or Iowa.
3. The Huskers will win eight games in the regular season. There it is, a 3-3 final stretch that requires a pair of wins in late November to reach a win total that ought to please most of Husker Nation after seven consecutive losing seasons. The next five weeks will be rocky, but Nebraska has the resilience to weather a storm.
(Photo of Dylan Raiola: Marc Lebryk / Imagn Images)
