The Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2) draw their first Friday night matchup of the season when they host the No. 25-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1) at 7 p.m. CST on Friday, Oct. 17, at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Can Nebraska score on offense?
Sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola has made some strides in his second year as the starting signal caller, leading the Cornhuskers’ ninth-ranked passing attack that averages 310.2 passing yards per game. He is efficient with the ball, completing 73.4 percent of his passes, up from 67.1 percent a season ago. Only six games into the season and Raiola has already surpassed his passing touchdown total from last season with 16 scores through the air. And he is averaging 11.5 yards per completion. It’s his decision-making that can confound Cornhuskers fans. The offensive line has also struggled to protect him since the start of conference play. After only allowing three sacks through the non-conference slate, Nebraska has allowed 13 sacks in three Big Ten games.
Raiola has a variety of weapons at his disposal in the passing game, chief among them being a trio of wide receivers: Nyziah Hunter, Jacory Barney Jr., and Dane Key. Hunter is the home run threat, averaging 18.9 yards per reception and tied for the team lead with four receiving touchdowns. Expect the Cornhuskers to also utilize tight ends Luke Lindenmeyer and Henrich Haarberg in the passing game. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen likes to spread the field and generate explosive plays by attacking opposing defenses down the field.
Holgorsen runs a pass-first offense, but don’t underestimate running back Emmett Johnson. He has 105 carries for 650 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season. Johnson put the team on his back last week against Maryland, rushing for a season-high 176 yards on 21 carries, averaging 8.4 yards per carry.
Minnesota failed to pressure the quarterback or stop the run against Purdue, and I worry how Danny Collins’ unit will fare less than a week later against a much more talented and effective offense.
Please tell me the Gophers will be able to score
The Huskers rank first nationally in pass defense, allowing 118 passing yards per game. But of their first five opponents, all but one currently rank 93rd or worse nationally in passing yards. Saturday’s 34-31 win over Maryland was their first real test against a passing game with a pulse, and Terrapins quarterback Malik Washington threw for 249 passing yards and a touchdown. Maryland averages 255.2 passing yards per game, so it was a below-average performance by the slimmest of margins for the Terrapins.
Nebraska has been less successful in stopping the run, ranking 81st in run defense, allowing 151.3 rushing yards per game. The 290 rushing yards they allowed to Michigan certainly raised that average. The Cornhuskers had to replace every starter from their defensive front a season ago, which has led to increased athleticism and versatility but decreased the gap integrity and run-stopping power that was their calling card last year.
The Gophers struggled to sustain drives against one of the worst defenses in the Big Ten a week ago, which does not inspire much confidence against the Blackshirts. Even with the struggles Nebraska has had against the run, I doubt Minnesota’s shuffled-then-reshuffled offensive line will present much of a challenge.
But who will score more points on Saturday?
As much as it pains me to admit, the Cornhuskers seem to have taken a step forward in Year 3 under head coach Matt Rhule. Rather than finding ways to lose games late, they have played some of their best football in the fourth quarter this season. In four games against Power 4 competition, Nebraska has outscored their opponents 44-16 in the final quarter. That seems like a bad omen for a team like Minnesota that has started slow all season long and has trailed at halftime in each of their four games against Power 4 opponents.
I think this is a bad matchup for Minnesota. Nebraska 31, Minnesota 17.
