Know Your Opponent: Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
Head Coach: Mickey Joseph (interim)
Overall: 0-1
Bowl Appearances at Nebraska: Zero
2021 Record: 3-9 (1-8)
Mascot: Herbie Husker
Colors: Scarlet and Cream
Outfitter: Adidas
National Titles: Six
Conference Titles: 46
Heisman Winners: Johnny Rodgers (1972), Mike Rozier (1983), Eric Crouch (2001)
Last Week: Bye week – last result was 49-14 loss to Oklahoma
Statistical Leaders
Passing: Casey Thompson – 76-117 (65%) for 995 yards with five touchdowns
Rushing: Anthony Grant – 82 carries for 464 yards (5.66 ypc) with five touchdowns
Receiving: Trey Palmer – 28 catches for 323 yards
Tacklers: Luke Reimer – 39 tackles (9.75 per game)
Stat of the Week: Mickey Joseph played quarterback at Nebraska and has had several stops in his coaching career, most recently as the wide receivers coach for the LSU Tigers. Joseph returned to his alma mater and was promoted to interim head coach after Scott Frost was fired. Joseph is the first African-American head coach in the history of Nebraska Cornhuskers varsity athletics.
Cornhuskers Talking Points
1. Where Are the Huskers Mentally?
Scott Frost entered the 2022 season on the hot seat. The Nebraska players knew it, the fans knew it, Scott Frost knew it. They absolutely had to get off to a good start and there was a growing belief nationally that the Huskers could be capable of challenging for the Big Ten West. That belief proved to be folly as Nebraska lost another close game, this time to Northwestern in Dublin to kick off the season. They came home and beat up on North Dakota but the straw that broke the camel’s back came a week later as the Huskers fell at home to Georgia Southern. Frost was fired, Joseph was given the interim coach title and they were walloped by Oklahoma. The bye week likely came at a great time for Nebraska but where will this squad be mentally as the Hoosiers come to Lincoln?
2. Defensive Issues
The IU offense has been uneven thus far in 2022 but they should be excited to go against this Nebraska defense. Take a look at what teams have done against Nebraska so far: Northwestern gained 6.2 yards per play, gained 528 yards and scored 31 points. North Dakota managed 306 yards including 175 yards on the ground. Georgia Southern amassed an astonishing 642 yards with 409 yards through the air and 7.5 yards per play. The Eagles had to punt one time the entire game! Oklahoma had 580 yards and Brent Venables had the brakes on his offense for the entirety of the second half. The Cornhuskers lack speed on defense and it shows on both run and pass plays. If the Indiana offensive line can provide any semblance of competent protection, the Hoosiers should find some success on offense.
3. Talent On Offense
While the defense has been poor for Nebraska, the Huskers have found some real bright spots on offense. Casey Thompson has been pretty good at quarterback after transferring from Texas. Thompson has completed 65 percent of his passes and thrown for nearly 250 yards per game with five touchdowns. Anthony Grant looks like a star at running back, averaging 5.66 yards per carry on 20.5 attempts per game. Freshman Ajay Allen is also running it well at 5.76 yards per attempt. The Huskers have a pretty good offensive line and a good scheme and they’ve managed more than 30 points per game through four contests. IU’s secondary has struggled against top-notch wideouts so far (see Tyler Scott just last Saturday) and Trey Palmer will challenge them this coming Saturday in Lincoln. Both teams will likely feel like they can find success on offense, which side makes more mistakes in the red zone may decide the outcome.