On Saturday, Nebraska will confront the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in a Big Noon Kickoff matchup. What playbook do the Huskers have to follow to secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016? Let’s break it down.
Stop Kurtis Rourke
The senior quarterback has propelled Indiana to new heights under head coach Curt Cignetti. Through just six games, Rourke has passed for nearly 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s in the elite quarterback conversation. The only mark on his record? He had three interceptions in a home win against Maryland. Luckily, the Blackshirts can make him recreate this performance. But they’ll have to make him uncomfortable in the pocket. Against Rutgers, Terrance Knighton’s group of veteran defensive linemen executed this strategy to perfection. Senior defensive lineman Ty Robinson had one sack, and nose tackle Nash Hutmacher had another. But the real hero was redshirt sophomore James Williams. The Missouri native sealed the game for Nebraska when he sacked Athan Kaliakmanis in the fourth quarter. Should we expect the Huskers’ defensive line to have the same effect on Rourke? Or will his ability to read defenses come in handy? The Ontario native has been perfect at diagnosing coverages so far this season.
Limit Big Plays
Indiana’s receivers turn dangerous when they get the ball in their hands. However, the most deadly weapon in the Hoosiers offense is James Madison transfer Elijah Sarratt. The junior from Virginia has only two touchdowns on the season, but he has the rare ability to drag tacklers for additional yards. Will John Butler’s secondary be able to stop this threat? In the Cornhuskers matchup against #24 Illinois, Nebraska was unable to stop Pat Bryant. This was the only test that NU’s secondary has faced so far. And they didn’t pass. In the first quarter, the senior wideout beat junior cornerback Marques Buford Jr for a huge gain across the field. This led Tommi Hill to give up a 27-yard touchdown pass later in the first quarter. Unfortunately, this led to more damage in the game. In overtime, Bryant blew past Mississippi native Malcolm Hartzog for his second touchdown of the game. It was also the Fighting Illini’s way to a 31-24 victory. Did the Big Red’s secondary learn their lesson from guarding Bryant? Or will the inability to keep up with Sarratt and the rest of the Hoosier’s weapons keep their bowl drought intact?
Read more about the last time NU played against a talented wide receiver in: What Led To Nebraska’s Loss To Illinois?
Run The Football
Nebraska has to find a way to establish an identity on the ground against Indiana. Sophomore running back Dante Dowdell has made himself part of this equation with his physical running style. He’s also been extremely effective in the endzone for the Cornhuskers. In just six games, he leads Nebraska’s running backs with five touchdowns. This pairs nicely with Emmett Johnson’s all-around versatility. On 35 carries, he’s been able to rush for 207 yards and one touchdown. This balance should confuse Indiana’s defensive lineman. But is it enough to dominate them? The Hoosiers are ranked 14th in points allowed per game, and seventh in the country in total yards allowed.
DANTE DOWDELL 😤@HuskerFootball strikes first vs Rutgers 🔴 pic.twitter.com/EF5CwYVNSA
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 5, 2024
Serviceable Special Teams
Without Tristan Alvano’s kicking expertise, Nebraska’s special teams have been plagued by inconsistency. Redshirt freshman kicker John Hohl has made one out of his last five field goals. Senior punter Brian Buschini has also struggled in his duties. The Rutgers defense blocked two of his punts and he was in pain after every punt. However, there were also some bright spots. The Montana native downed two punts in the Scarlet Knights territory. He also executed a fake punt by passing the ball downfield to wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd. All Nebraska needs is for Hohl to be serviceable against Indiana.
