Let’s start with the big news – the announcement was made earlier that Matt Rhule has signed a 2-year extension with the Huskers. You can CLICK HERE to read Nate’s write-up on the details. And the CN staff
will follow up this afternoon with a roundtable on our thoughts, please check back.
Not to pat myself on the back, but I believe I called this from the start after Rhule addressed James Franklin’s firing at the press conference on Monday following the Maryland game. You can CLICK HERE to see my column from that day, But I basically said that I thought he’s stay:
- I took him at his word he loves the city and the job.
- Those feelings could be validated with how his family put roots down here – wife’s business, parents in Omaha, son at UNL, not wanting to bounce the daughters around.
- I didn’t think he & Penn State were the right fit for each other’s situations.
- He would absolutely maneuver for an extension.
- The quicker, the better on the last and 2 1/2 weeks was pretty quick.
So extension done, bring on the Trojans.
BLACKOUT ATTIRE
Socials, bar talk and the like seem to indicate there’s some disgruntled types out there who are a bit miffed at being expected to wear some sort of black, with maybe white, attire for Saturday night’s Black Out game with the Huskers as they don the all black uni’s completing the 2025 color trifecta after sporting all-reds (Houston Christian) and the dreaded – and failing miserably yet again – all-whites (Minnesota).
But when I asked on Tuesday night’s pod where it was coming from, a listener or two suggested it was from…let’s just call it the, “Down in front!!” club. To them, I would say just wear whatever the hell you want. And make sure you make yourselves heard.
If Memorial Stadium could up the percentage of fans bringing the noise, I honestly could care less if everyone wore tie-dye Husker gear with Bob Marley hats. I’m with Matt Rhule and John Butler when they talk about turning Memorial into a Death Valley-type experience and the Blackshirts wanting the fans “to be as loud and as crazy and as disruptive as they can be”.
To those dressing for a black-out – kudos. To those going their own way fashion-wise – welcome. And both? Go nuts.
Where Is the Huskers’ Final Destination?
So – if we can keep the “We’re still n the CFP hunt!” crowd out of this – what is the final bowl site for the Huskers this season? As much fun as knocking Yankee Stadium off my bucket list was, mid-40’s with three days of non-stop drizzle is NOT what I’m looking for.
And by that, I mean, what do the current projections show for our current bowl? Let’s scan.
USA Today – Well, we can scoot on past that. They have us in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve in a match-up of Big 10 and Big 12 teams. They somehow came up with Huskers vs. Washington. 🤦🏼♂️ Moving on.
ESPN – The Voice of the SEC speaketh thus: Mark Schlabach also has us in the Vegas Bowl, but against California. Kyle Bonagura has a Huskers-Texas match-up on Dec. 30 in the Music City Bowl in Nashville. I could see the latter match garnering a little interest.
Athlon Sports – The call here is a New Years Eve date in the Reliaquest Bowl vs. Tennessee. The bay in Tampa, FL would be lovely that time of year. Barring hurricanes and shit.
Sports Illustrated – The folks at SI are meeting the ESPN and Athlon picks in the middle – Reliaquest Bowl but vs. Texas. And at this point bowl makers would probably love to see preseason #1 Texas keep falling so these two can resume hostilities.
CBS Sports – Chalk up a third vote for the Reliaquest Bowl and a second for Nebraska vs. Tennessee.
That seems like enough for now – but keep in mind, they’re based on teams finishing in the same general place they reside currently. A big streak or fall bops you to different levels. Or sometimes just losing the last game to the wrong team – like Iowa – can change your climate severely.
But for now? Probably some decent weather somewhere.
Go Big Red.
