1 week Ago
Ball don't lie. Indiana is that good. Nebraska played that bad.
I'm still standing by my pre-season predictions. Nebraska will make a bowl game this year. And I think the Huskers can still get to 7-5.
But NU's 56-7 loss to the Hoosiers — a thorough butt-whipping — was a serious reality check. For starters, the college football world will start to take Indiana seriously. And should.
I don't know if the Hoosiers have the most talent in the Big Ten, but they have the best "team." They could win the Big Ten championship. And be a legitimate playoff team.
The Hoosiers, loaded with 22 transfers and quality, veteran football players, played like an extension of their tightly-wired coach, Curt Cignetti. They executed with purpose, like they had something to prove. With a chip.
Nebraska? The Huskers were out of chips before this one started. College football is a game of talent. But it is often won by passion, confidence and execution.
Indiana checked every box and won every category. Matt Rhule was out-coached all the way to his post-game press conference, where he said he didn't see this performance coming. He was talking about his team.
He had a lot of company. There was every reason to believe Nebraska would be up for this challenge. But as soon as Indiana scored on its opening drive and then NU's Jacory Barney mishandled the kickoff at the 1-yard-line, things didn't look good.
It looked like Nebraska didn't come prepared. It looked like the Huskers weren't ready for the moment. There were times in the first half when it appeared NU might still make a game of it.
But then came a fumble to IU while in scoring position. And the parade of mistakes was on. Five Nebraska turnovers to Indiana's one.
Sloppy tackling. A run game that produced 70 yards on 29 carries. A game plan that apparently called for 44 passes.
About that: the Hoosiers brought help up the middle and clogged running lanes. And maybe that's the smart play because NU's receivers were nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Indiana's receivers took over the game in the second quarter, making big catch after big catch.
Back shoulder after back shoulder on the sidelines. Over the shoulder in the end zone. And also making good blocks on the perimeter.
Before he was injured, Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke — the Ohio University transfer — evaded the rush and made quick throws in dissecting the Blackshirts. IU was 5-for-9 in third down conversions, 7-for-7 in red zone scoring and rushed for 215 yards. The Hoosiers had NU off balance with a good game plan.
Dylan Raiola looked human. Like a freshman. But he didn't have a running game to help and leaned on tight end Thomas Fidone and Barney.
That's not enough. I thought NU could hang in there with Indiana in a shootout, but not like that. Nebraska's off ense has suddenly scored nine touchdowns in the last four games.
The best game plan for NU in this one seemed to be getting physical, running the ball, keeping Rourke on the sideline. And NU has been better at the physical game this year. But Indiana, in game seven of the Cignetti Era, was the more physical bunch.
That's confidence. That's purpose. That's coaching.
Rhule apologized. He took the blame. He'll get plenty of agreement in Husker Nation.
The team looked unprepared, uninspired and unable to rise to the occasion with an opportunity to take a big step. When he says he didn't see it coming, what other surprises lie ahead? The worst thing about this shellacking is that it came after a bye week. Nebraska is 5-2.
Now here comes Ohio State and after that UCLA, USC, Wisconsin and Iowa. It's not about the opponent at this point. It's about what kind of Nebraska team is going to show up each week.
The Huskers are better than what they off ered on Saturday. We saw a team with a lot of purpose against Colorado. We saw a team with backbone and grit against Rutgers.
We've seen a team with confidence, one that executes. That takes the ball away. There's heavier lifting ahead.
But not that heavy if Nebraska can bring the kind of focus and energy it did for Deion Sanders and Co. The Huskers need to be that version, their best version, each and every Saturday. Just to have a chance.
If they learn anything from Indiana, it's to watch the tape and say "Be like Indiana in every area." Relentless passion and execution. That goes for coaching, too.
This team isn't built yet. But the "it's year two" isn't an excuse for the way Nebraska played on Saturday. Cignetti and Indiana are ruining it for program-builders everywhere.
This doesn't have to define or derail Nebraska's season. But Rhule's toughest coaching lies ahead. Is the honeymoon over? Not sure.
But this week the coach is sleeping on the couch. Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
