♪ >>> THE CLOCK RAN OUT ON THE GAME, THE SEASON AND BOWL ELIGIBILITY AND IOWA KICKED A LAST-SECOND FIELD GOAL TO BEAT NEBRASKA 13-10 ON FRIDAY.

MATT RHULE'S FIRST SEASON COMING TO A CLOSE AND HUSKER FANS COPING WITH THEIR SEVENTH STRAIGHT BOWLLESS YEAR, HOW WILL THIS COACHING STAFF APPROACH THE OFFSEASON?

TONIGHT WE BREAK DOWN THE LOSS TO IOWA AND DISCUSS ITS EFFECTS ON THE PROGRAM WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST BRIAN CHRISTOFFERSON.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL ALSO UPDATE US ON RECRUITING.

ALL OF THAT AND MORE NEXT ON "BIG RED WRAPUP."

♪ >> HI, EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE AND WELCOME TO "BIG RED WRAPUP" ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

THE SEASON'S OVER BUT WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

MAINLY LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE'RE JOINED BY JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN.

OF COURSE, AS A FORMER HUSKER THAT WENT TO BOWL GAMES, AND MISSED A BOWL GAME AND -- WHAT'S THAT FEELING LIKE AFTER A GAME KNOWING THAT THAT'S IT?

THE SEASON IS OVER?

>> NOT GOING TO A BOWL GAME OR AFTER A BOWL GAME?

>> NOT GOING TO A BOWL GAME.

'04.

>> '04, EXPERIENCED IT ONCE.

AND THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE I THINK IN 30, 40 SOME YEARS.

>> 36 YEARS.

>> 46 YEARS.

I KNEW IT WAS CLOSE.

>> IT WASN'T GOOD.

IT WAS -- >> ONLY ONE GAME.

>> YEAH IT WAS -- IT HITS YOU A LITTLE BIT.

AND IT WASN'T FUN EITHER BECAUSE CALLAHAN HAD US -- I THINK WE GOT A COUPLE OF DAYS OFF.

MAYBE A WEEK OFF AND WE GOT -- WE WERE BACK IN LIFTING AND CONDITIONING.

WE WERE RUNNING AND LIFTING AND PAYING THE PRICE AND GETTING US READY.

SO, IT'S NOT A FUN SITUATION.

AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS THE SEVENTH YEAR IN A ROW THAT THIS TEAM HAS MISSED A BOWL GAME.

AND IT WAS RIGHT THERE.

IT WAS RIGHT THERE FOR THE TAKING.

YOU GO UNDEFEATED IN OCTOBER.

YOU'RE 5-3.

YOU HAVE FOUR VERY, VERY WINABLE GAMES.

AND YOU FAIL TO GET ONE.

AND I KNOW WE'LL DISCUSS ALL THE, YOU KNOW, THE FINE DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY THAT IS, BUT IT'S STILL VERY DISAPPOINTING AS A FORMER PLAYER AND A FAN THAT THEY JUST COULD NOT FIND ONE WIN IN NOVEMBER.

AND THEY'VE GOT SOME -- THEY'VE GOTTA FIGURE IT OUT OBVIOUSLY, RATHER QUICKLY.

>> I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE TOUGHEST QUESTION TO START OFF.

>> OH, GOSH.

>> WAS THIS SEASON A SUCCESS?

>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S SO PRONGED TO ME, BUT PROBABLY YOU WOULD SAY NO -- >> BECAUSE THEY GOT TO 5-3.

>> YOU WANTED TO SEE SOME ADVANCEMENT.

LIKE GET TO A PLACE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN.

THE SCHEDULE THEY HAD WAS MANAGEABLE.

BUT WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, THEY WERE STILL ONLY FAVORITES IN FIVE OF THEIR 12 GAMES ON THE FINAL POINT SPREADS.

>> RIGHT, FINAL.

>> SO IT WASN'T LIKE THEY WERE PICKED NECESSARILY TO WIN A LOT OF THESE GAMES, BUT SEVEN OF THEIR NINE BIG TEN GAMES THE SPREAD WAS ONE TO SEVEN POINTS.

SO, AS WE KNOW, WATCHING THOSE GAMES EVERY WEEK, THEY WERE ALL REALLY TIGHT.

BUT THREE 13-10 LOSSES ALL BY LAST-SECOND FIELD GOALS.

MINNESOTA ONE OF THOSE.

MINNESOTA, COINCIDENTALLY, GETS THE FINAL BOWL SPOT AT 5-7.

>> YEHA, APR.

>> THAT -- I MEAN, YOU COULD JUST SEE NEBRASKA, THEY'RE ON THE CLIFF HANGING.

AND MINNESOTA, THAT GAME WEEK ONE WAS THE DIFFERENCE OF THE LAST BOWL SPOT.

AND THAT'S WHERE NEBRASKA IS TRYING TO GET THIS PROGRAM TO TAKE THAT NEXT STEP FORWARD THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IN A LONG TIME.

>> JAY, AND I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING COACH RUHLE TALKS ABOUT THERE.

YOU'RE VERY CLOSE, RIGHT?

YOU GOTTA GET ONE SECOND BETTER.

YOU GOTTA GET ONE POINT BETTER.

I LOOKED AT THIS FROM LAST YEAR, AND LOOK AT THEIR RED ZONE OFFENSE.

LAST YEAR IN THE RED ZONE, THEY SCORED 5.47 POINTS EVERY ATTEMPT.

THIS YEAR THEY ONLY AVERAGED FOUR POINTS AN ATTEMPT.

SO THAT'S 1.4 DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S A TOTAL OF 17 POINTS.

THEY LOST THOSE GAMES BY 19 POINTS.

SO IF YOU SCORE JUST WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR IN THE RED ZONE, YOU PROBABLY WIN ONE, TWO, OR THREE MORE GAMES.

IT'S THIS CLOSE.

IT'S THIS CLOSE.

>> I MEAN, YOU JUST THINK ABOUT IT TOO.

YOU LOOK BACK TO THE MINNESOTA GAME OBVIOUSLY.

THE INTERCEPTION BEFORE HALF.

>> OH YEAH.

>> YOU LOOK TO -- >> THE FUMBLE.

>> YEAH.

>> THE FUMBLE.

YEAH.

THE -- >> GRANT FUMBLE.

>> ANTHONY GRANT FUMBLE, YEAH.

>> OR EVEN -- >> THE SIMS PICK.

>> OR EVEN -- WELL, IN THE FACT THAT, THE GABE ERVIN RUN, THAT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED A TOUCHDOWN, THAT WASN'T.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THAT COULD BE FACTORED.

>> THAT CLOSE.

>> IT'S THAT CLOSE.

THEN YOU LOOK AT THE MARYLAND GAME OBVIOUSLY AND NOT GETTING THE POINTS AND GETTING A TURNOVER IN THAT SITUATION AT THE END OF THE GAME.

OBVIOUSLY THE WISCONSIN SCENARIOS.

>> MICHIGAN STATE.

>> YEAH.

ALL OF THEM.

YOU CAN LOOK AT ALL OF THEM.

AND THAT'S -- A LITTLE BIT -- PART OF IT IS NOT HAVING THE CORRECT JIMMYS AND JOES RIGHT NOW.

BUT PART OF IT IS ALSO THE Xs AND Os.

LIKE, PUT YOUR GUYS IN A POSITION TO WIN THE FOOTBALL GAMES.

AND I'M TALKING, MAINLY, THE ONE THAT STICKS OUT TO ME IS THE MARYLAND GAME.

I STILL CAN'T UNDERSTAND THAT PLAY CALL AT THE END OF THAT GAME.

SO, IT'S VERY -- WHEN YOU GET TO THIS LEVEL, AND OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING -- YOU'RE NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE TALENT WISE.

AND YOU'RE PLAYING BIG TEN CALIBER TEAMS THAT ARE STILL WELL COACHED AND VERY DISCIPLINED FOOTBALL TEAMS.

YOU CAN'T BE -- ALL IT TAKES IS A LITTLE BIT AND YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE FOOTBALL GAMES.

AND WE'VE EXPERIENCED THAT MORE THAN ANY PROGRAM, I THINK, IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, SEVEN YEARS.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP.

CONNECT WITH US AND HELP GUIDE OUR CONVERSATION.

OUR CALL ROOM IS UP AND RUNNING MANNED BY OUR SPORTS INTERN HANNAH AND STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM.

HEY GUYS.

HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

THEY JOIN US THROUGHOUT THE SEASON ENJOYING VALENTINO'S PIZZA AND TAKING YOUR PHONE CALLS.

YOU CAN ALSO TEXT, EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS.

GO TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR "BIG RED WRAPUP" SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO GET AS MANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AS WE CAN TONIGHT.

AND LAST WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY, WE ASKED YOU, WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST LETDOWN AGAINST WISCONSIN.

BASED ON YOUR VOTES, SPECIAL TEAMS WAS THERE WITH 45% OF THE VOTE.

IF YOU DIDN'T VOTE LAST WEEK, THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY IS BRAND NEW FOR YOU.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SEVEN STRAIGHT SEASONS WITH NO BOWL?

NONE OF THESE ANSWERS HAVE A CURSE WORD IN THEM.

THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

SAD, MAD, CONFUSED, OR OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEXT YEAR.

RIGHT NOW IT'S SAD AND MAD 35 AND 31.

I HAVE MORE TO ADD TO THAT ONE.

WITH THAT, LET'S JUMP TO THE HIGHLIGHTS AND TALK ABOUT JUST HOW CLOSE THIS GAME WAS IN TERMS OF GETTING NEBRASKA A WIN.

BY THE WAY, THE TROPHY WAS BROKEN AFTER THE GAME.

THEY HAD TO REPAIR IT AFTER THE GAME.

>> BOTTOM, RIGHT?

>> THE BOTTOM BROKE OFF AND THEY HAD TO FIX IT.

WE START OFF WITH THE MVP OF IOWA'S SEASON TORY TAYLOR WITH A GREAT PUNT.

AND ETHAN NATION, WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING TO RETURN, RETURNS, TAKES A BIG SHOT.

IT WAS KIND OF A -- IT WASN'T THE CROWN OF THE HELMET, BUT HIT HIM ON THE HEAD, HE DROPS THE BALL.

>> HE HAD THE BALL IN THE RIGHT HAND, THOUGH.

>> HE HAD THE BALL IN THE RIGHT HAND.

GOTTA KEEP IT TOWARDS THE SIDELINE FOR SURE.

MISSED TACKLING WITH THE KEY TO THE GAME.

I THOUGHT ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST HALF.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE TACKLING WAS GOOD EARLY ON IN THE SEASON.

THEY STRUGGLED LATE, LATE IN THE YEAR.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE PURDUE GAME IS KIND OF WHEN IT GOT A LITTLE LEAKY.

BUT AGAIN, THE DEFENSE JUST FOUND OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE STOPS WHEN THEY NEEDED TO IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS GAME.

>> YOU GET THIS BLOCK HERE BY TY ROBINSON.

REMEMBER, THEY HAD-- THEY MADE THE FIELD GOAL BUT IT WAS DELAY OF GAME.

SO THEY HAD TO KICK IT A SECOND TIME.

AND IT GETS BLOCKED.

BRIAN BUSCHINI, WHO HAD A MUCH BETTER GAME THIS WEEK, BY THE WAY, HAD ONE DOWN AT THE ONE.

HAD ONE AT THE TEN.

THIS WAS A GOOD PUNT AS WELL.

BUT AGAIN, MISSED TACKLING.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS -- >> LATE HIT.

>> LATE HIT.

ONE FOOT'S IN BOUNDS, ONE FOOT IS OUT OF BOUNDS.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE.

>> 15 YARDS TO IOWA IS -- YOU CAN'T DO IT.

>> OBVIOUSLY IT'S A FIRST DOWN AND A HALF.

BUT THAT WAS GARRETT SNODGRASS THEY CALLED FOR THAT.

WE MOVE TO THE SECOND QUARTER.

SURPRISING, IT'S 0-0.

NOT SURPRISED.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE.

SOMEBODY NEXT TO ME WAS YELLING, "PUSH HIM OUT OF BOUNDS.

PUSH HIM OUT OF BOUNDS."

I'M LIKE, "YES, PUSH HIM OUT OF BOUNDS."

THIS IS A GREAT PLAY BY DEACON HILL FOR THE TOUCHDOWN, THOUGH.

HE REACHES OUT AS HE'S IN THE PILE AND GETS THE TOUCHDOWN.

7-0 IOWA.

IT WAS REALLY CLOSE, BUT HE DEFINITELY GOT HIS HAND OUT OVER THE LINE.

>> YEAH, MOST DEFINITELY.

ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS, LIKE THIS PLAY HERE, A FUMBLE CAN HAPPEN AND IT JUST -- YOU KNOW, HE DID A GOOD JOB HANGING ON TO IT.

>> AND BROCK PURDY TRIED.

IT SEEMED TO KIND OF LATERAL IT FORWARD, BUT IT WAS KNOCKED OUT OF HIS HAND BEFORE THAT.

>> CHUBBA.

>> CHUBBA, EXCUSE ME.

I CALLED HIM HIS BROTHER'S NAME.

>> WE'D TAKE BROCK RIGHT NOW.

>> NO DOUBT.

DEACON HILL WHO IS 260 POUNDS, RUSHES FOR EIGHT YARDS.

NOT HIS LONGEST RUN OF THE YEAR.

HE HAD A 12 YARDER EARLIER.

HERE'S AGAIN, MORE MISSED TACKLING.

GETTING HIM ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SEVEN YARD LINE.

BUT, HERE COMES THE DEFENSE AGAIN.

GETS A STOP.

FORCES A FIELD GOAL.

NOW IT'S 10-0.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THE PRESS BOX AND THE STANDS ARE THINKING NEBRASKA'S IN TROUBLE.

>> THEY ARE.

WELL IT JUST FELT LIKE IF IOWA GETS ONE MORE SCORE, EITHER A FIELD GOAL OR A TOUCHDOWN, THIS THING'S OVER.

BUT THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU GET JAYLEN LLOYD OVER TOP.

AND, JUST AGAIN, ANOTHER BIG PLAY OUT OF THE OFFENSE THAT JUST SEEMED TO FIND WAYS TO GET IT DONE.

>> THINK HOW GOOD HE'S GONNA BE.

HE REALLY DIDN'T PLAY MUCH WIDE RECIEVER HIS FIRST COUPLE YEARS AT CENTRAL.

>> THREE 50 PLUS YARD CATCHES.

ONLY MARVIN HARRISON JR.

IN THE BIG TEN DID THAT OTHER THAN JAYLEN LLOYD.

>> THAT'S CRAZY.

AND AGAIN, A GUY WHO DIDN'T PLAY A TON OF RECEIVER UNTIL HIS SENIOR YEAR AT WEST SIDE.

KALEB JOHNSON WITH SOME GOOD RUNS HERE.

4-2, WE'RE KIND OF GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH RUNNING JOHNSON AND WILLIAMS.

AND THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS.

EVERY GAME, DOWN THE STRETCH FOR IOWA, THEY HAVE ONE BIG RUN.

THIS ONE FOR 53.

>> YEAH THE SPLIT ZONE.

NEBRAKSA STRUGGLED WITH THE SPLIT ZONE CONCEPT THERE, JUST KIND OF ATTACKING THOSE A GAPS.

AGAIN HERE, I THINK NASH THIS TIME GETS HIS HAND ON IT.

I MENA, IN A GAME, CLOSE GAMES, IOWA'S SPECIAL TEAMS ALWAYS SHOWS UP.

BUT -- JUST SAID, I MEAN, NEBRASKA'S SPECIAL TEAMS, OTHER THAN THE FUMBLED PUNT, HONESTLY OUTPERFORMED IOWA'S SPECIAL TEAMS ON FRIDAY.

>> LAST TIME TWO BLOCKED FIELD GOALS IN A GAME, JAY WAS PLAYING IN IT.

2005 AGAINST PITTSBURGH.

ANTHONY GRANT, FOUR CARRIES, FOUR YARDS.

THAT WAS IT ON THE DAY.

THAT'S JUST -- FROM WHERE HE WAS EARLIER IN THE SEASON, THAT'S CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT.

HERE'S A GREAT CATCH.

EMMETT JOHNSON GETS A FIRST DOWN.

AND THEN AFTER THAT GOING TO JOSH FLEEKS WHO MAKES A GOOD CATCH HERE.

GETS A NICE RUN.

YOU SAW NEBRASKA AND CHUBBA PURDY STARTING TO KIND OF GET INTO A ROUTINE AND A RHYTHM.

YOU COULD CERTAINLY SEE IT HAPPEN THERE.

>> YEAH, HE THREW SOME REALLY GOOD THIRD DOWN BALLS IN THIS GAME.

>> YEAH THAT WAS THIRD AND EIGHT, AND THIRD AND 11, BACK TO BACK.

AND THEN TRISTAN ALVANO HITS THAT FIELD GOAL FROM 44 YARDS TO TIE IT AT 10.

NEBRASKA'S RIGHT BACK IN IT.

AND THEN, CHUBBA PURDY, WHO MADE TWO REALLY GOOD THROWS TO ALEX BULLOCK.

BOTH OF THEM WERE SIMILAR TO THIS.

THEY BOTH WERE ON OUTS.

GOT THE BALL DOWN THERE, MADE GOOD THROWS.

HE KIND OF GOT GOING.

HAD A PRETTY GOOD DAY OVERALL.

AND ON THE RUN, SURPRISES ME SOMETIMES HOW GOOD A THROWER HE IS ON THE RUN.

>> HIS EXECUTION AND RHYTHM ON THE OFFENSE, I MEAN, IT LOOKED THE BEST IN THE PASSING GAME THAT WE HAD SEEN ALL YEAR.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

TRISTAN ALVANO PULLS THAT ONE.

THAT WOULD HAVE MADE IT 13-10.

BUT BACK COMES NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE AGAIN.

DEACON HILL MAKES A REALLY ILL-ADVISED THROW.

TOMMI HILL GETS THE INTERCEPTION -- >> NEAR SIDELINE TOMMI.

>> YEAH.

>> NEAR SIDELINE TOMMI.

>> HE'S GOING TO RUN THAT BALL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 38-YARD LINE.

THAT'S WHERE NEBRASKA WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH ABOUT 30 SOME SECONDS LEFT.

HE'D HAVE BEEN DOWN TO 38.

BUT INSTEAD, YOU SEE THE HOLDING ON TAMON LYNUM RIGHT THERE.

IT WAS KIND OF A HOLDING.

GOES BACK TO THE 45 OF IOWA.

AND NICE THREE-YARD RUN BY CHUBBA.

GETTING OUT OF THE GRASP, GETTING OUT OF BOUNDS.

STOPPING THE CLOCK AT 23 SECONDS.

AND THEN THIS THROW.

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN LATER.

>> YEAH, AND JUST BEFORE THAT TOO, THEY HAD TO TAKE A TIME-OUT -- >> YES.

>> AND BURN IT.

THEY WERE JUST DISCOMBOBULATED WITH THE PLAY CALL, AND HOW THEY WERE SET UP.

AND JUST, I'LL BREAK IT DOWN.

IT'S JUST A SIMPLE LITTLE ZONE BLITZ.

AND JUST DIDN'T SEE HIM.

HE SAW THE BLITZER COME UP THE MIDDLE AND THEN DID NOT SEE -- THE EDGE GUY DROPPED HIM.

>> NEBRASKA GIVING UP 22 TOTAL YARDS RUSHING IN THE SECOND HALF BEFORE THAT 22 YARD RUN RIGHT THERE.

THAT SETS UP THE FIELD GOAL.

THEY BRING IN A GUY WHO'S NEVER KICKED BEFORE.

MEEDER MAKES THE FIELD GOAL.

BARELY GETS IT OVER THE CROSSBAR.

MATTER OF FACT, SOME FANS IN THAT ENDZONE WERE CHEERING BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT HE MISSED IT.

>> I THOUGH THE MISSED IT.

I WAS AT HOME WATCHING ON TV AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SHORT.

>> THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE TO ME.

13-10 FINAL.

ANOTHER 13-10 FINAL.

IOWA DID A GREAT JOB RUSHING THE BALL.

ONE OF THE BEST RUSHING PERFORMANCES BESIDES MICHIGAN AGAINST NEBRASKA.

NEBRASKA PASSED FOR 189 YARDS AND THEN THERE'S THE LINE AGAIN.

THREE TURNOVERS FOR NEBRASKA.

ONLY ONE FOR IOWA.

YOU SEE THE SIX POINTS OFF THE TURNOVERS OBVIOUSLY MADE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME.

OUR PLAYERS OF THE GAME THIS WEEK ARE TWO BIG GUYS IN THE MIDDLE WHO BOTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON ALL BIG TEN TEAMS.

TY ROBINSON, AND NASH HUTMACHER.

DOMINANT PERFORMANCES BY BOTH OF THEM AND THEY EACH GOT THEIR FIRST BLOCKED FIELD GOALS OF THEIR CAREER.

IN FACT, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, FRIDAY'S MATCH-UP AGAINST IOWA WAS THE FIRST TIME NEBRASKA HAD TWO BLOCKED FIELD GOALS IN A GAME SINCE 2005 WHEN NEBRASKA BEAT PITTSBURGH 7-6.

YOU REMEMBER THAT GAME PRETTY WELL?

>> YEAH.

REALLY WELL.

WE PLAYED PITT AT PITT IN '04, WON.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEN DAVE WANNSTEDT'S TEAM COMES DOWN AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE PLAYED REALLY DEFENSIVELY.

I THINK TYLER PALKO WAS A QUARTERBACK OF -- >> YEP.

>> JOE FLACCO WAS ON ONE OF THOSE TEAMS TOO.

>> YEAH, FLACCO WAS ON THE TEAM PREVIOUS -- >> BEFORE HE TRANSFERRED TO DELAWARE.

>> BEFORE HE TRANSFERRED TO DELAWARE.

HE'S NOT ON THE '05 TEAM.

HE HAD ALREADY TRANSFERRED.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THAT WAS A VERY BIG TEN WEST FOOTBALL GAME THAT DAY.

>> ZAC TAYLOR SCORED ON A FOURTH AND GOAL.

LIKE IT WAS -- AND HE RAN IT.

IT WAS, LIKE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS HE HAD.

>> I DON'T REMEMBER THAT PLAY.

>> I MEAN, IT LOOKED LIKE SLOW MOTION.

HE WAS LIKE -- >> OH, YEAH.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT GUYS WHO KIND OF RUN IN SLOW MOTION BUT THEY WERE REALLY GOOD THIS YEAR.

TY ROBINSON AND NASH HUTMACHER HAD GREAT YEARS.

THOSE WERE THE KIND OF PERFORMANCES THAT SHOULD BE A SECOND TEAM ALL BIG TEN.

AT LEAST A THIRD TEAM ALL BIG TEN, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> SURPRISINGLY.

YOU HAVE A DEFENSE THAT WAS TOP 15.

>> YEP.

>> NATIONALLY I THIN THEY FINISHED 13th OR 14th OVERALL.

BUT DEFINITELY TOP 15.

>> YEP.

>> YOU WOULD THINK WITH AS MUCH SUCCESS THEY HAD AND HOW THIS DEFENSE -- IT JUST KIND OF SHOWS YOU HOW MUCH THE WIN/LOSS COLUMN HAS AN EFFECT.

BUT ALSO SHOWS YOU, I THINK, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD TALENT TOO IN THE BIG TEN.

>> THERE IS.

>> I MEAN, MICHIGAN HAS SOME STRAIGHT DUDES UP FRONT.

OHIO STATE IS REALLY GOOD, PENN STATE HAS SOME GUYS.

BUT I WAS VERY, VERY SURPRISED.

BUT THOSE TWO GUYS -- GETTING -- HAVING NASH COMING BACK AND OBVIOUSLY HAVING TY COMING BACK YOU WOULD THINK IT'S GOING TO SET UP VERY WELL TO HAVE THIS CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR THIS DEFENSE IN THE 2024 SEASON.

>> I WAS A VOTER THIS YEAR FOR THE ALL BIG TEN TEAMS.

AND WHAT YOU DO, YOU PICK 12 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, RANK THEM 1 THROUGH 12.

12 DEFENSIVE BACKS, 9 LINEBACKERS.

SO YOU HAD TO KIND OF DETERMINE WHERE THOSE GUYS FELL.

I CAN SAY, I HAD ROBINSON ON THERE.

I MEAN, BUT IT'S TOUGH.

WHEN YOU START TO GO THROUGH THE METRICS OF 14 TEAMS AND PENN STATE, MICHIGAN, OHIO STATE HAD A LOT OF STAR POWER.

I MEAN, THEY HAD 7 OF THE 11 EACH ON THE FIRST TEAM ALONE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THEN YOU HAD NEWTON, AND YOU HAD NUBIN, AND SOME GUYS THAT WERE JUST NO-BRAINERS AND DeJEAN FROM IOWA.

SO IT'S, DEFENSE IS IN THIS LEAGUE IS REALLY HARD TO MAKE ALL BIG TEN AS YOU GUYS KNOW.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT CLOCK MANAGEMENT AND DECISIONS MADE.

YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, BILLY KEMP'S OUT.

SO YOU HAVE A BACKUP WIDE RECEIVER, MISCOMMUNICATION, YOU HAVE TO CALL A TIME-OUT.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT TIME.

WE'VE SEEN THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH, WHETHER YOU CALL A TIME-OUT, WHETHER YOU GO FAST, WHETHER YOU GO SLOW.

IT REALLY REMINDED ME A LOT OF MIKE RILEY'S FIRST YEAR.

>> I THINK IF YOU WANT TO FOCUS JUST ON THE IOWA GAME, OBVIOUSLY THAT BURNED TIMEOUT THERE ON THAT LAST DRIVE.

BUT GOING BACK TO -- I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS IN THE FOURTH -- IT WAS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

BUT THE DECISION TO KICK A FIELD GOAL, A 60-YARD FIELD GOAL AND THEN -- >> IT WAS GOING TO BE A FAKE.

>> APPARENTLY IT WAS GOING TO BE A FAKE.

WHICH -- >> AND IT WAS FROM WHAT I TOLD.

>> WHAT KIND OF FAKE?

WERE THEY GOING TO POOCH PUNT IT?

IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

OR WERE THEY ACTUALLY GONNA TRY TO GET A FIRST DOWN?

>> DON'T YOU THINK IOWA WOULD HAVE KEPT THEIR DEFENSE ON THE FIELD?

>> YOU'RE NOT EVEN RUSHING.

>> THEY WOULD HAVE GONE FIELD GOAL SAFE.

>> IN THAT OPINION, YOU'RE NOT EVEN RUSHING.

IF YOU MAKE A 60-YARDER INTO THE WIND, GOOD FOR YOU.

GOOD FOR YOU, WE'LL GIVE IT TO YOU.

BUT WE'RE NOT ALLOWING YOU RUN A FAKE.

IF YOU WANT TO POOCH IT, GREAT.

BUT JUST THAT TYPE OF SITUATION AND DECISION MAKING AND THAT AND YOU BURN A TIME-OUT.

IF NOT -- HERE'S MY THING IN THAT SITUATION.

WHY BURN A TIME-OUT?

JUST TAKE THE DELAY.

AND PUNT IT.

JUST THE DISCOMBOBULATION.

IT JUST SEEMS -- I KNOW IT'S MORE EVIDENT AND IT HURTS MORE AND IT GETS DISCUSSED MORE IN CLOSE GAMES, BUT HERE WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH THIS TEAM, WHERE THEY'RE AT WITH INJURIES, AND TALENT, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, YOU CANNOT MESS UP IN GAME SITUATIONS, IN GAME MANAGEMENT.

AND THIS HAPPENED -- IT WAS VERY APPARENT THAT THEY JUST WEREN'T ON THE SAME PAGE AS A STAFF IN GAME MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, IN THESE LAST FOUR GAMES.

>> YEAH, IT WAS SHOWING A DECADE OF DISAPPOINTMENT.

A LOT OF IOWA WINS IN THERE, ONLY A COUPLE OF NEBRASKA WINS.

BUT THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU GO BACK TO 2014, BO PELINI IS LAST GAME'S COACH.

THEY RALLY.

KENNY BELL MAKES THAT TOUCHDOWN CATCH IN THE ENDZONE IN OVERTIME.

YOU WIN THAT GAME.

AND AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THE WAY YOU'RE PLAYING IOWA.

AND THEN YOU LOOK, IN THAT STRETCH.

SO MANY CLOSE WINS, SO MANY CLOSE LOSSES.

2016, THAT 40-10, THAT WAS TOUGH THERE AT IOWA.

>> WHEN IT FIRST STARTED, IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A RIVALRY.

BECAUSE NEBRASKA HAD CONTROL OF THE SERIES.

THEY WON THREE OUT OF FOUR.

AND, YOU KNOW, NEBRASKA -- JOHN PAPUCHIS -- FOR SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

AND HE SAID WE DIDN'T CONSIDER THEM A RIVAL.

WE WERE A BETTER PROGRAM THAN THEY WERE.

WE DIDN'T LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

AND IT JUST FLIPPED.

IT GOES BACK TO WHEN SHAWN EICHORST DISCREDITED THAT WIN AFTER HE FIRED BO PELINI.

I COULDN'T PUT ANY STOCK IN NEBRASKA BEATING IOWA BECAUSE OF WHERE IOWA WAS AS A PROGRAM.

WELL THAT MOTIVATED FERENTZ, CHANGED FERENTZ, WHO HE WAS AS A COACH, AND THEY'VE BEEN A DIFFERENT PROGRAM SINCE REALLY THOSE COMMENTS BY SHAWN EICHORST YEARS AGO.

>> WHEN YOU START LOOKING AHEAD AT WHAT NEBRASKA NEEDS TO DO, AND I KNOW THE BIG TEN'S GONNA CHANGE.

YOU'RE BRINGING IN THE WEST COAST TEAMS.

BUT SHOULD THE TARGET BE LET'S PLAY LIKE IOWA MAYBE WITH A LITTLE BETTER OFFENSE?

BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT IN SPECIAL TEAMS EVERY YEAR AND THEY'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD IN DEFENSE -- >> I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE.

I THINK TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL, I THINK THE OFFENSE HAS TO BE A LITTLE MORE DYNAMIC.

BUT YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE, RIGHT?

YOU GOTTA LEARN TO WIN FOOTBALL GAMES.

AND I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT AN OFFENSE WHAT YOU WANNA DO, BUT TO A PART OF IT IS ALSO IS WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE WINS AND LOSS COLUMN.

THIS TEAM AND ALL THE CLOSE LOSSES WE HAVE, THEY HAVE NOT FIGURED IT OUT.

AND YOU HAVE TO SOMEHOW GIVE THESE PLAYERS CONFIDENCE TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO OPERATE AND THINK MENTALLY IN CLOSE-GAME, END OF GAME SITUATIONS.

BECAUSE ALL THEY KNOW RIGHT NOW IS HOW TO LOSE THEM.

THEY'VE RARELY WON ANY OF THESE CLOSE GAMES.

SO, IT WOULD BE NICE TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO PUNT THIS.

HEY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A DELAY OF GAME INSTEAD OF TAKE A TIME-OUT AND PUNT IT.

HEY, WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE RUN THE FOOTBALL IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND TAKE FIELD GOALS.

AND SORT OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S JUST AN INTERESTING -- TO ME, IN THIS FIRST YEAR, IT ALMOST FELT LIKE THE STAFF WAS PLAYING WITH HOUSE MONEY.

THEY KNOW LIKE, HEY WE WANT TO WIN BUT IF WE DON'T IT'S OKAY.

IT'S YEAR ONE.

AND THAT -- AND I COULD BE, THAT'S JUST ME, THAT'S ME VOICING FRUSTRATION, BUT I DON'T THINK -- AND I COULD BE FAR OFF.

IT JUST SEEMS FOR STAFF AND FOR WITH MATT RUHLE BEING AROUND FOOTBALL AS LONG AS HE HAS, IT JUST MAKES YOU SCRATCH YOUR HEAD A LITTLE BIT, AND JUST THINK WHY.

BUT THEN YOU ALSO LOOK AT HIS FIRST YEAR STATS IN ONE LOSS GAMES, HE WASN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THOSE TIMES EITHER.

>> LETS PICK ONE OF THESE THREE BECAUSE THESE HAVE BEEN IN THE DNA OF NEBRASKA.

IT'S THE TURNOVERS.

IT'S A SPECIAL TEAMS ISSUE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO RETURNS.

AND THEN IT'S TURNOVERS.

IT'S A DECADE LONG TURNOVER PROBLEM.

WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO TURN AROUND?

>> MAN.

I THINK SPECIAL TEAMS IS ON ITS WAY ALREADY.

SO I THINK THAT WILL BE FINE, LONG TERM.

THE TURNOVER SITUATION, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN JUST MAKE THAT BETTER.

I MEAN, HOW MUCH BETTER CAN YOU IMPROVE THAT?

'CAUSE IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT TREND FOR NEBRASKA FOOTBALL.

CAN YOU APPROVE THE QUARTERBACK DECISION MAKING AND SOME OTHER THINGS?

BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF TURNOVERS THAT WE SAW FROM THE QUARTERBACKS.

WHAT WAS IT, 24?

>> 24.

31 TOTAL, 24 BY THE QUARTERBACK POSITION.

I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW -- IT'S POSSIBLE TO FIGURE THIS OUT, IN THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL, WHERE THAT RANKS.

'CAUSE THAT'S GOT TO BE ONE OF THE WORTH QUARTERBACK STATS I'VE EVER HEARD.

>> I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE RANKS WITH ALL OF THE MILITARY ACADEMIES.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE LOTS OF YEARS WHERE NAVY AND ARMY WOULD HAVE A BUNCH OF FUMBLES.

BECAUSE THEY RUN.

EXACTLY.

YOU DON'T NORMALLY SEE IT OUTSIDE OF THE MILITARY ACADEMIES.

BUT IF YOU NOTICE, THE WEIRD THING ABOUT IT IS THERE WERE LOTS OF FUMBLES EARLY.

BUT AT THE END, INTERCEPTIONS OVERTOOK IT.

THERE WERE 16 INTERCEPTIONS AND 15 FUMBLES.

THAT KIND OF SURPRISED ME AS I LOOKED AT IT.

THAT MANY INTERCEPTIONS HAPPENING OVER THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON.

>> BECAUSE IT GOT HARDER TO RUN THE BALL.

I MEAN AGAINST IOWA, NEBRASKA HAD A HARD TIME, SO THEY'RE THROWING IT.

THEY'RE PUSHING IT DOWN THE FIELD MORE TO MOVE THE BALL.

AND I THINK AS THE DEFENSE HAS STIFFENED IN THE COLDER WEATHER IN THE BIG TEN, THE RUNS WERE A LOT HARDER AND THE QUARTERBACK RUN GAME ONLY GOT THEM SO FAR BEFORE HAARBERG GOT HURT.

>> RIGHT, AND THEN, PART OF IT WAS THE DEFENSE, THERE WAS ZERO RESPECT TO THE PASS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO LET A TEAM, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ONE THING, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GOING TO STOP THE RUN.

AND I THINK YOU SAW AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF HAARBERG IN THE RUN GAME THE DEFENSE HAS KIND OF STARTED TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> YEAH, THEY GOT IT.

>> HE STARTED THINKING A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH.

>> CORRECT.

THEN IT'S LIKE WE'LL LET THEM BEAT US IN THE PASS.

AND EVEN, I THINK, NEBRASKA HAD WIDE RECEIVERS OPEN A MAJORITY TIME OF THE YEAR.

THESE QUARTERBACKS STILL STRUGGLE TO FIND THEM.

>> YEAH.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THAT, HOW MANY GUYS WERE OPEN.

LET'S GET INTO THE PORTAL THOUGH.

AND I KNOW THIS IS A TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

IS QUARTERBACK THE MOST IMPORTANT?

IS IT OFFENSIVE LINE?

IS IT FINDING A VETERAN WIDE RECEIVER TO GO WITH THESE YOUNG KIDS?

YOU GOT TO GO FIND A RUNNING BACK.

I MEAN, WHERE DO YOU START?

>> WELL THE PORTAL OPENS OFFICIALLY FOR TRADITIONAL PLAYERS MONDAY, DECEMBER 4th.

THIS WEEK, COACHES AROUND THE COUNTRY MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY ARE MEETING WITH THEIR TEAM.

COACHES CAN GO ON THE ROAD STARTING FRIDAY FOR RECRUITING.

SO IT'S A VERY BUSY WEEK IN THE OFFICES FOR ALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS.

BUT I DO THINK QUARTERBACK HAS TO BE A DISCUSSION POINT.

IT'S GOT TO BE THE RIGHT GUY THOUGH.

THEY PICKED THE WRONG GUY LAST YEAR AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

AND IF YOU INVEST AND GO AFTER A BIG QUARTERBACK AND IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEN YOU'RE IN A SITUATION LIKE WE SAW NEBRASKA WAS IN WHERE THEY HAD TO KIND OF MOVE A LOT OF THINGS AROUND.

THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A GREAT QUARTERBACK COMPETITION.

SO CAN YOU GET A QUARTERBACK IN AND SAY, ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT TO COMPETE THOUGH.

BEAT OUT CHUBBA PURDY, BEAT OUT HEINRICH HAARBERG, TO BE THE GUY.

I MEAN, IT'S A -- WILL THAT BE EASY TO SELL TO A GUY OUT THERE IN THE PORTAL?

>> DID THEY SELL ENOUGH TO YOU WHAT CHUBBA DID -- BY THE WAY, I BELIEVE ALL THREE OF HIS STARTS ENDED HIS TERM WITH AN INTERCEPTION.

>> CORRECT, THEY DID.

>> SO, DID CHUBBA PURDY SHOW YOU ENOUGH, OR DID HEINRICH HAARBERG SHOW YOU ENOUGH WHERE IT IS A QUARTERBACK COMPETITION IF YOU BRING SOMEBODY IN OFF THE PORTAL.

>> I THINK THEY ARE BOTH VIABLE BACKUPS.

>> BACKUPS, OKAY.

>> I THINK CHUBBA SHOWED SOME GOOD THINGS GAME MANAGEMENT WISE.

BUT, I JUST -- AT THIS LEVEL NOW WHERE WE'RE GETTING IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL, IT'S BECOMING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO NFL-TYPE STYLE FOOTBALL, QUARTERBACK MATTERS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ABSOLUTE DUDE THAT HANDLES THE BALL EVERY SINGLE PLAY.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT HE NEEDS TO BE AN ELITE ARM TALENT, OR RUNNER, OR ANY THING LIKE THAT.

HE'S GOT TO HAVE AN ELITE MIND.

>> CARSON BECK, GEORGIA.

>> YEAH.

HE'S NOT AN ELITE ATHLETE.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ELITE MIND AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

YOU HAVE TO BE CALM.

YOU CAN'T, LIKE -- TURNING THE FOOTBALL OVER IS NOT A CONCERN.

WHEN YOU GET TO A CERTAIN SITUATION, THESE QUARTERBACKS, AND THINGS GET MOVING SO FAST, THEY FORGET WHAT TO DO WITH THE FOOTBALL AND HOW TO MANAGE A GAME.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GUY WITH AN ELITE MIND.

AND I THINK THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'VE MISSED.

AND IT'S NOT HAARBERG, YOUNG QUARTERBACK.

NOT HIS FAULT.

I THINK OVER TIME, HE CAN DEVELOP THAT.

CHUBBA PURDY HASN'T PLAYED A TON.

>> EXPERIENCE, YEAH.

>> I THINK HE CAN DEVELOP THAT.

JEFF SIMS, I THINK HE'S A LOST CAUSE.

I THINK HE'S DAMAGED MENTALLY.

WITH ALL OF THE TURNOVERS HE'S HAD HERE AND AT GEORGIA TECH.

SO I THINK, IN MY OPINION, QB IS NUMBER ONE.

AND I THINK WE DON'T GIVE ENOUGH CREDIT TO HOW WELL THE O-LINE PERFORMED ON THE BACK HALF -- >> WIDE RECEIVER IS NUMBER ONE.

THEY HAVE TO GET KIND OF AN ALPHA WIDE RECEIVER.

>> AND THEY'RE OUT THERE.

THOSE ARE THE ONES YOU CAN KIND OF FIND.

>> AND MAYBE THE JUCO GUY COMING IN.

>> HE'S NOT GOING TO VISIT RIGHT NOW.

HE MAY NOT GET OUT IN JANUARY.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF -- IS NOW REALLY IN PLAY, IT COULD CHANGE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF HE CAN'T GET HERE IN JANUARY IT'S REALLY HARD TO TAKE ANY TRANSFER JUCO GUY, IN MY OPINION.

>> YOU HAVE TO FIND A WIDE RECEIVER, FOR SURE.

NOW WE TOSS IT TO IAN VOSBURG TO TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR PART IN MAKING NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS PROGRAMMING POSSIBLE.

TOSSED >>> HEY, EVERYONE.

I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP" TEAM.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA IS NEBRASKA'S HOME FOR SPORTS.

AND THIS PROGRAM IS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY.

ANOTHER SEASON FOR THE HUSKERS HAS COME TO A CLOSE AND IT'S BEEN AN EVENTFUL AND NEWSWORTHY SEASON.

IT'S NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO WATCH "BIG RED WRAP-UP" TO STAY INFORMED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAM.

DURING OUR FALL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR WHAT YOU GAINED FROM "BIG RED WRAP-UP" THIS YEAR.

THOSE WHO SUPPORT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA WITH FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAKE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

THANK YOU FOR BECOMING A MEMBER OR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

YOU DO THAT BY CALLING 800-989-8236.

OR GOING ON LINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

AND WHEN YOU DONATE, YOU CAN CHOSE FROM ONE OF THESE GREAT THANK YOU GIFTS.

WHEN YOU GIVE $25 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, THAT'S $300 WITH A ONE TIME GIFT, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

COACH OSBORNE LED THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TEAM AS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS, WINNING THREE NATIONAL TITLES.

OSBORNE'S LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND THE GAME OF FOOTBALL.

BUT FOOTBALL IS WHERE HE BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN NEBRASKA.

AGAIN, THAT'S A COMMEMORATIVE FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

OR WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION OF $5 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE CLEAR TOTE BAG.

THIS CLEAR TOTE BAG MEETS STADIUM REQUIREMENTS, HAS 24 INCH HANDLES, AND HAS A ZIPPER TOP.

OF COURSE IT HAS THAT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA LOGO ON IT, AS WELL.

THAT'S AVAILABLE WITH A $5 A MONTH DONATION WHEN YOU CALL 800-989-8236.

OR ONLINE NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER THROUGH EXCITING SPORTS COVERAGE, QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT, AND BY DELIVERING LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS THAT KEEPS US INFORMED ABOUT THE LATEST EVENTS THAT ARE SHAPING OUR LIVES.

YOUR SUPPORT OF QUALITY PROGRAMMING ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA ALSO GIVES YOU ACCESS TO AN INCREDIBLE MEMBER'S ONLY LIBRARY.

THAT'S PBS PASSPORT.

PROGRAMS INCLUDE "NATURE", "NOVA", "FINDING YOUR ROOTS", AND YOU'LL FIND LOCALLY PRODUCED PROGRAMMING TOO.

MAKE YOUR DONATION OF $5 A MONTH OR MORE, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND GET THE MEMBER BENEFIT OF PBS PASSPORT.

MAKE YOUR DONATION AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE OR CALL 800-989-8236.

WHILE YOU'RE MAKING THAT DONATION, YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION OF $25 A MONTH, AND WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

OF COURSE, COACH OSBORNE WAS THE COACH THAT LED NEBRASKA TO THREE NATIONAL TITLES.

IT'S A COMMEMORATIVE FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

WHEN YOU MAKE A DONATION OF $5 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, THAT'S $60 WITH A ONE TIME GIFT.

WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE CLEAR TOTE BAG.

IT MEETS THE STADIUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CLEAR BAG POLICY.

AND HAS THAT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA LOGO ON IT.

GIVE US A CALL TO MAKE YOUR DONATION AT 800-989-8236.

OR ONLINE NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

WHERE EVER IN NEBRASKA YOU CALL HOME, MAKE THE REASONS YOU WATCH, THE REASONS YOU GIVE.

YOU CAN BE PART OF THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS PARTNERS CLUB.

YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING OUR COVERAGE OF HUSKER SPORTS AND HIGH SCHOOL ACTION.

LIKE THE RECENT VOLLEYBALL AND FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

CALL 800-989-8236 OR GO ONLINE NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

ALL PROGRAMMING ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA HAPPENS BECAUSE OF ONGOING VIEWER SUPPORT.

THANKS FOR THOSE CALLING IN RIGHT NOW AND RENEWING MEMBERSHIPS, BECOMING SUSTAINING STARS OR INCREASING ANNUAL GIFTS.

YOUR SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT IN HELPING US DO WHAT WE DO.

WE UNDERSTAND NOT EVERYONE CAN DONATE A LARGE AMOUNT BUT ANYTHING YOU GIVE IS IMPORTANT AND SHOWS YOU VALUE THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

MAKE YOUR DONATION RIGHT NOW NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS PLAY WHERE IOWA IS PINNED BACK DEEP IN THEIR OWN TERRITORY.

JAMARI BUTLER UP TOP HERE, HE'S IN THE SIXTH SIX-TECHNIQUE, HIT UP ON THE TIGHT END.

HE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB, HE'S OUT OF PLACE.

BUT FIGHTS HIS WAY BACK INTO THE C-GAP.

WHICH, THAT'S HIS JOB.

BUT AS WE SEE HERE, I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GETS THIS OFF IN THIS SITUATION.

I MEAN, THINGS COULD HAVE GONE ANY SORT OF WAY HERE.

BUT THEY CATCH IT.

BUT AS I SEE HERE, HE -- INITIALLY HE WAS OUTSIDE OF HIS GAP.

YOU HAD TWO GUYS IN THE D-GAP, INITIALLY, I JUMPED FORWARD JUST A QUICK SECOND.

BUT HE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB DOING WHAT I CALL PLAYING WITH VIOLENT, PHYSICAL HANDS.

THAT LEFT HAND, THE GAP HAND IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THIS SITUATION.

HE'S ABLE TO GET HIMSELF BACK INSIDE AND INTO THE C-GAP TO ACTUALLY MAKE A PLAY.

NOW, IF HE DOESN'T HE HAS SOME HELP INSIDE, BUT I JUST SAW THAT, AND IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY GOOD SIXTH TECHNIQUE HAND WORK FROM A DEFENSIVE END THAT PLAYED A LOT.

SO WE HAD TO HIT THAT.

SO NOW IF YOU HAVE A SQUEAMISH STOMACH YOU CAN TURN AWAY.

THIS IS THE PICK TOWARDS THE END OF THE GAME HERE.

IOWA'S JUST GOING TO DO A SIMPLE ZONE BLITZ HERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BRING THE LINEBACKER, AND DROP THIS GUY INTO THE HOLE.

KIND OF REPLACE THE LINEBACKER, IT'S REALLY NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

YOU'RE STILL ONLY BRINGING FOUR IN THIS SITUATION BUT THIS GIVES PURDY THE ILLUSION THAT THEY ARE BRINGING PRESSURE.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE GUYS COMING SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IN THAT SITUATION.

GET RID OF THE BALL QUICK.

SO AS WE HIT THIS PLAY HERE, YOU SEE HIM.

EMMETT JOHNSON DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF PICKING HIM UP IN PROTECTION.

HE HAS A GOOD POCKET.

IF HE COULD HAVE -- YOU CAN'T SEE ON THE BACK END HERE, JAYLEN LLOYD IS COMING OPEN ON A LITTLE POST ROUTE.

BUT, HE JUST ZONES IN HERE.

YOU CAN SEE, I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF HE THOUGHT HE COULD GET IT OVER THE END.

BUT HE'S LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THROWS IT RIGHT TO HIM.

THE GUY MAKES A REALLY GOOD PLAY HERE, MAKES A GOOD CATCH, AND ENDS THE GAME.

>> WHAT THAT REMINDS ME OF IS SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AN INTERSECTION, AND THEY'LL BE A LIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AND YOU ALMOST RUN A RED LIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT -- HE WAS JUST LOOKING AHEAD.

>> YEAH.

>> AND HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE GUY HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE OPEN.

>> MANY, MANY TIMES.

>> AND BY THE WAY, IF HE DOESN'T HIT THE DEFENDER, HE HITS THE UMPIRE.

THE UMPIRE IS STANDING RIGHT THERE TOO.

SO ONE OF THOSE TWO PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE BALL, FOR SURE.

BUT IT'S TOUGH, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, HE MENTIONED JAYLEN LLOYD OUT THERE.

>> HE WAS COMING OPEN.

>> WE NOW WELCOME IN OUR GUEST FOR THE NIGHT.

HUSKER 24/7 SENIOR WRITER BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE, BC.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YEAH, ONE OF THESE DAYS IT WILL BE AFTER A WIN.

>> HAVE YOU EVER COME ON AFTER A WIN?

>> REMEMBER THE YEAR BO PELINI WON AT PENN STATE AND IT WAS THE PATERNO YEAR?

>> SURE, 2011?

>> FIASCO.

>> 2011, YEAH.

>> THAT WAS THE LAST TIME.

>> THAT WAS THE LAST AFTER A WIN.

>> WE'RE SHOWING OUR AGE HERE.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

NOW I'M SAD.

WHEN NEBRASKA GOT THE INTERCEPTION, TOMMI HILL GETS THE INTECEPTION, YOUR THOUGHTS, AT THAT MOMENT WHEN HE'S GOT THE PICK AND HE'S RUNNING IT BACK, WHAT'D YOU THINK?

>> IMMEDIATE BUZZKILL BECAUSE OF THE LYNUM HOLD.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT'S SORT OF THE WAY IT IS WITH HUSKERS FOOTBALL.

IT'S LIKE, "OH THERE'S THAT MOMENT.

THERE IT IS.

MAYBE THEY HAVE IT?"

AND THEN YOU SEE THE FLAG AND THEN REALIZED, "OKAY, THEY GONNA HAVE TO COVER ABOUT 25, 30 YARDS HERE."

IT'D BEEN KIND OF TOUGH SLEDDING.

ALVANO HAD OBVIOUSLY MISSED THE KICK EARLIER.

I KIND OF GO BACK TO THE SEQUENCE BEFOREHAND THOUGH WHERE, YOU KNOW, NEBRASKA GETS DOWN TO THE 25 YARD LINE WITH ABOUT SIX, SEVEN MINUTES LEFT, WHATEVER IT WAS, AND YOU GET THE FALSE START.

>> YUP.

>> YOU KNOW, RIGHT AWAY THERE, AND IT SORT OF FORCED A WEIRD DOWN AND DISTANCE.

YOU END UP HAVING A FRESHMAN KICKER TAKING A TRICKY YOU KNOW 44, 45 YARDER THERE.

SO, I JUST THINK IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR THIS FANBASE BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD THREE GAMES IN A ROW WHERE THE PLATE'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU WITH DRIVES IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES AND YOU JUST CAN'T CAPITALIZE.

>> RIGHT, WE'LL HEAR FROM MATT RUHLE ON WEDNESDAY FOR THE FINAL TIME THIS YEAR.

WHAT ARE YOU CURIOUS TO FIND OUT?

I MEAN, WHAT FINAL QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FROM MATT RUHLE AS WE KIND OF PUT A CLOSE ON THIS SEASON?

>> WELL, I THINK HE'S GOING TO STAY PAT, WITH HIS STAFF.

AND THAT'S THE THING, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LIKES TO TALK ABOUT.

IT'S LIKE, "WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR STAFF?"

THIS IS A GROUP THAT'S BEEN TOGETHER A LONG TIME.

CERTAINLY, THERE'S QUESTIONS ABOUT, "DO YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY THERE?"

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING.

AND HE SORT OF DID THAT AFTER THE GAME.

AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE PORTAL, AND WHAT CAN YOU GET OUT THERE?

AND HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO ATTACK THAT?

AND THE QUARTERBACK CONVERSATION.

BUT I THINK HE'S GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT, "I BELIEVE IN THESE GUYS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE YOUNG PLAYERS ON THIS ROSTER.

WE JUST GOTTA BUILD THEM UP."

AS HE SORT OF SAID ON HIS SHOW THE OTHER NIGHT, HE THINKS THEY GOTTA GET FOUR OR FIVE POINTS BETTER.

HE'S NOT GONNA BE A GUY WHO'S GONNA JUST DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE COURSE.

AND SO, I EXPECT TO REALLY SAY, "WE'RE GOING TO STAY PAT HERE.

WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP WORKING AND PUT OUR HEAD DOWN AND GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND WE THINK THAT'S GONNA TAKE US WHERE WE NEED TO GO."

>> BC, LOOKING AT THE DEFENSE, OBVIOUSLY HOW THEY FINISHED, NATIONALLY TOP 15 TOP TYPE DEFENSE, MUCH IMPROVED WITH TONY WHITE.

BUT INTERESTING ENOUGH, THEY JUST -- THEY WERE REALLY GOOD IN OCTOBER.

>> YEAH.

>> NORTHWESTERN GAME, ILLINOIS.

PURDUE -- IT GOT A LITTLE LEAKY AGAINST PURDUE.

BUT THEN NOVEMBER, JUST SOMETHING -- THEY WERE STILL GOOD AT TIMES.

THE FIELD GOAL BLOCKS, THE FOURTH DOWN STOPS AGAINST WISCONSIN, BUT WHEN NEEDED TO MAKE A PLAY TO HELP THIS TEAM GET OVER THE HUMP, THEY JUST COULDN'T QUITE DO IT.

IS THAT JUST ASKING THEM TO DO TOO MUCH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND JUST BEING ON THE FIELD TOO MUCH OR JUST KIND OF THE SAME CLOSE GAMES SCORING SITUATIONS THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH?

>> I HEARD YOU SAY EARLIER YOU FELT THE TACKLING MAYBE FELL OFF JUST A BIT, AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

I WAS SO IMPRESSED IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER WITH HOW THIS TEAM TACKLED.

AND I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THERE WERE MANY LEAKY YARDS OR EXTRA YARDS.

AND I FELT LIKE SOME OF THAT POPPED UP LATE IN THE SEASON.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT 'CAUSE GUYS WERE DINGED UP AND MAYBE HAD SOME GUYS IN DIFFERENT SPOTS THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

BUT LIKE THE LAST RUN OF THE GAME FOR IOWA IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WHERE WHEN THAT PLAY STARTS YOU'RE THINKING THEY'RE GONNA SHUT THIS DOWN FOR ABOUT TWO YARDS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS GIFFORD OR A COUPLE OF GUYS HAD A SHOT AT HIM.

ENDS UP BEING A 22-YARD PLAY.

THEY HADN'T REALLY HAPPENED ALL HALF.

THEY PLAYED A BRILLIANT SECOND HALF.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S FRUSTRATING I THINK FOR THE FAN BASE IS IT FEELS LIKE EVEN WHEN STUFF'S GOING REALLY WELL ON ONE SIDE OF THE BALL, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT ONE PLAY AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME THAT SEEMS TO POP UP AND SOMEHOW YOU'VE GOT TO GET OVER THAT HUMP.

AND IT'S A TEST THAT'S THIS PROGRAM'S BEEN FACING FOR A WHILE AND IT'S GONNA HAVE TO PROVE THEY CAN PASS HERE IN '24.

>> NOW THE 22-YARD RUN, THEY HAD 22 YARDS GIVEN UP ENTIRE SECOND HALF.

WE'RE TALKING JUST A COUPLE MORE POINTS.

THEY WERE 128th IN THE COUNTRY IN RED ZONE ATTEMPTS PER GAME AND POINTS PER RED ZONE ATTEMPT.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S THE SPOT.

YOU HAVE TO BE BETTER AT FINISHING DRIVES.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH MATT RHULE BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED RIGHT HERE ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO FINISH WHEN YOU GET IN THE RED ZONE.

>> YEAH.

I BELIEVE THEIR TOUCHDOWN PERCENTAGE IN THE RED ZONE WAS 48.

AND THAT RANKED LIKE 115th, 120th.

AND IF YOU'VE LOOK AT ALL THE OFFENSIVE STATS, THEY'RE BASICALLY IN THAT AREA.

115th, 120th.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'VE GOT THE DEFENSE WHERE THEIR RED ZONE DEFENSE TOUCHDOWN PERCENTAGE WAS TOP TEN.

SO I MEAN, YOU SEE THE CONTRAST FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BALL TO THE OTHER.

BUT I MEAN, YOU'RE RIGHT, MIKE'L.

IN THIS LEAGUE, ALL OF THESE GAMES ARE COMING DOWN TO THREE, FOUR POINTS.

THIS IS LIKE THE NFL NOW.

>> YEAH.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE MOMENTS, YOU HAVE TO CAPITALIZE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE FLASHIEST OFFENSE IN THE WORLD, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AN OPPORTUNISTIC ONE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY REALLY FAILED THIS YEAR.

AND OBVIOUSLY TRISTAN ALVANO'S A YOUNG KICKER.

>> YEAH.

>> IF HE CAN GET IT GOING AS HE GOES FURTHER INTO HIS CAREER, HITS AT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE, THAT MIGHT FLIP A GAME OR TWO AS WELL.

>> BRYAN, TONY WHITE WAS UP FOR SOME JOBS.

WE NOW KNOW SYRACUSE IS LOOKING TO HIRE FRAN BROWN WHO ACTUALLY WORKED FOR MATT RHULE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE SEAN LEWIS LOOKING LIKE HE'S THE NEXT GUY AT SAN DIEGO STATE WHO WAS AT COLORADO BEFORE THAT.

WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS ON TONY WHITE MAYBE BEING A CANDIDATE FOR SOME OF THESE JOBS OUT THERE?

>> I THINK HE'S A GREAT HEAD COACHING CANDIDATE AS MATT RHULE SAID.

'CAUSE, I MEAN, SEAN, WHEN HE TALKS TO JUST SEE IT.

LIKE HE'S GOT ALL THOSE TRAITS AS A HEAD COACH.

HE'S JUST SO IN CONTROL OF THE ROOM AND LIKE WHAT HE WANTS TO SAY IN HIS MESSAGING.

AND REALLY FROM WHEN HE GOT HERE, HE HAD THOSE GUYS BELIEVING IN WHAT HE WAS DOING.

AND I THINK WE SOMETIMES NEED TO TRACK BACK TO LIKE AUGUST AND IF WE HAD SAID, "HEY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE LIKE A TOP TEN RUSHING DEFENSE --" >> RIGHT.

>> "-- THEY'RE GONNA BE A TOP TEN RED ZONE PERCENTAGE DEFENSE."

TOP TEN, ACTUALLY IF YOU GO BY YARDS PER PASS ATTEMPT THEY'RE TOP TEN IN THAT.

THEY WERE NUMBER NINE OR TEN.

SO, I MEAN, LIKE, FOUR OR FIVE OF THE MAIN STATS YOU WOULD LOOK AT, THEY'RE AMOUNG THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I KNOW THEY DIDN'T FACE THE BEST OFFENSES IN THE WORLD.

THAT CAN ALWAYS GET THROWN INTO THE CONVERSATION.

BUT FOR A FIRST YEAR AND A NEW SCHEME, I KNOW THEY WEREN'T QUITE AS GOOD THE LAST MONTH, BUT YOU HAVE TO SAY I THINK IT'S AN A, A MINUS PERFORMANCE BY THAT DEFENSE THIS YEAR.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK BACK THOUGH AT THE SEASON YOU'RE SITTING UP HERE IN A FEW YEARS AFTER YOU COME ON AFTER A WIN.

YOU LOOK BACK AT THE SEASON AND YOU THINK MICHIGAN WAS THE ONLY TEAM THOUGH THAT REALLY LEGITIMATELY YOU COULD SAY THEY SHOULD HAVE LOST TO.

THAT'S -- IS IT NOT ONE OF THE EASIEST SCHEDULES THAT NEBRASKA'S SEEN IN 25 YEARS?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE PRETTY BUMMED OUT RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, THIS IS A SAVVY FANBASE.

THEY SEE WHAT'S AHEAD.

THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING INTO THE LEAGUE.

IT'S GONNA GET MORE CHALLENGING AND THEY REALLY HAD IT SET UP IN NOVEMBER.

WHEN WE GOT -- YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF OCTOBER THIS TEAM IS 5-3, YOU'RE LIKE "THERE'S NO WAY THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET ONE OF THESE WINS."

YOU KNOW?

AND YOU'RE ON THE DOORSTEP IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE GAMES.

SO I UNDERTAND WHERE MATT RHULE AND HIS STAFF ARE LIKE, "HEY, THIS IS YEAR ONE.

PATIENCE."

>> SURE.

>> BUT ALSO, YOU'RE COMING INTO A PLACE THAT'S -- >> IT'S NOT YEAR ONE FOR US.

>> NO, IT'S YEAR SEVEN FOR US.

AND SO, WHATEVER SINS OF THE PAST OR WHATEVER'S BEEN SAID TO TRY TO EXPLAIN FAILURES OF THE PAST, IF YOU SORT OF REPEAT THE SAME THING NOW IN A POSTGAME, WHICH OCCASIONALLY HAPPENS, PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, I'VE HEARD THAT FROM FOUR YEARS."

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH NOW.

SO IT'S GOING INTO YEAR TWO, BUT IN A WAY IT'S NOT FOR WITH HOW THIS FANBASE VIEWS EVERYTHING.

>> MOST DEFINITELY.

I THINK WHEN YOU'RE WITH THE CLOSE GAMES, AND YOU'RE NOT AT FULL STRENGTH OFFENSIVELY, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY GOOD AT IN-GAME MANAGEMENT AND THAT'S PLAY CALLING AND CLOCK MANAGEMENT.

FOR MATT RHULE AND THIS STAFF, AND THIS ISN'T THEIR FIRST RODEO.

IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S LIKE A FIRST YEAR HEAD COACH.

HE'S DONE IT AT NFL AND SUCCESSFULLY OTHER COLLEGE PLACES.

SURPRISED WITH SOME OF THESE IN GAME SITUATIONS THAT THEY MISMANAGED IN YEAR ONE?

>> I WAS, YEAH.

I MEAN, BEATING A DEAD HORSE, BUT WISCONSIN, WE'RE JUST SITTING UP ON THE RAMP, THAT WE COULDN'T GET INTO THAT ONE.

THE WAY THEY DO THINGS.

I'M SITTING THERE LIKE, "WHY ARE THEY NOT GOING TO MAXIMIZE THEIR PLAY THIS YEAR?"

>> CALL A TIMEOUT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE DEALS WHERE YOU CAN'T BELIEVE THEY LEFT TWO PLAYS.

YOU KNOW YOU COULD HAVE RUN THE BALL ON FIRST AND SECOND DOWN WITH THE TIME AS IT WAS AND THEY MESSED IT UP.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE LAST GAME, SAID EARLIER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE TIMEOUT, I DON'T THINK, WHEN YOUR FAKE OR WHATEVER IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, DIDN'T HAPPEN.

YOU COULD HAVE JUST TAKEN THE DELAY OF GAME.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY THE LAST TIMEOUT AND THE END JUST BEFORE THE CHUBBA PURDY PICK.

SO YOU KIND OF ADD THOSE THINGS UP AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO LIKE EVALUATE THAT AS A COACHING STAFF AND REALLY LOOK AT SOME OF THESE SITUATIONS SAY, "IF THIS COMES UP AGAIN, MAYBE WE GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE WITH THAT?"

AND I KNOW IT'S EASY TO ALWAY TO SECOND GUESS STUFF AFTER THE FACT, BUT SOME OF THAT STUFF, I THINK THERE'S PEOPLE FIRST GUESSING TOO.

>> BRIAN, IT'S ONLY TUESDAY BUT IT'S BEEN VERY QUIET ON THE TRASFER PORTAL SIDE OF THE NEBRASKA ROSTER.

ARE YOU EXPECTING THINGS TO PICK UP?

I MEAN, I THINK AS WE'VE LEARNED ALL BETS ARE OFF WHEN IT COMES TO THE PORTAL.

>> YEAH, WE'RE IN THAT DAY AND AGE WHEN YOU ALMOST, LIKE IF YOU TALK ABOUT A SPECIFIC PLAYER, YOU ALMOST DON'T WANT TO.

BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S IN THE GUY'S HEAD.

YOU COULD SAY SOMETHING, THE GUY'S OUT THE DOOR THE NEXT DAY.

SO THERE COULD BE MORE THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THAN I THINK.

AND THE NUMBERS DO HAVE TO DWINDLE A LITTLE BIT.

I MEAN, THEY GOT A LOT ON THE ROSTER SCHOLARSHIP-WISE.

OF COURSE, THERE'S WAY YOU CAN WORK AROUND THAT IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE WITH THE N.I.L AND ALL THAT STUFF.

I DON'T EXPECT A LOT OF ATTRITION THOUGH.

I THINK -- HE SAID LAST WEEK IF YOU CUT THIS PROGRAM OPEN DOWN THE MIDDLE HE SAID IT'S HEALTHY.

I KIND OF AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE IN WHAT HE'S SAYING THERE.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF BELIEF IN WHERE IT'S GOING.

AND IF YOU WANT SOMETHING TO BACK IT UP, IT'S TY ROBINSON.

IT'S TY ROBINSON STAKING A SIX YEAR TO THIS THING.

NASH COMING BACK.

JIMARI BUTLER SEEMS LIKE A GUY WHO WANTS TO COME BACK FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM HIM.

STUFF LIKE THAT IS ENCOURAGING.

WE'LL SEE WHAT GIFFORD AND BULLOCK AND SOME OF THESE GUYS WHO WALKED ON SENIOR DAY.

BEN SCOTT AND BRYCE BENHART DIDN'T WALK.

>> YUP.

>> SO THAT WOULD TELL YOU IF A BUNCH OF THOSE GUYS, WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING FROM THEM IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO AND THEY'RE COMING BACK IS THERE IS A BELIEF LIKE HEY BEHIND THE SCENES, THIS IS BETTER THAN IT USED TO BE.

>> AND EVEN RAHMIR JOHNSON AND MARCUS WASHINGTON ARE EVEN -- >> YEAH.

>> -- TRYING TO COME BACK FOR A SIXTH YEAR AS WELL.

>> I DO THINK GUYS IN THE PROGRAM WOULD SAY IF YOU GOT THE TRUE SYRUP OUT, IT'S BETTER THAN IT WAS.

LIKE -- HOW THIS IS HANDLED IN THE DIRECTION OF IT.

SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO BE POSITIVE DESPITE THIS TOUGH NOVEMBER I THINK THAT THAT'S IT IS THERE IS THAT FEELING FROM PLAYER THAT THIS HEAD COACH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN CONTROL THAN IT WAS.

>> BC, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YUP, THANKS GUYS.

>> ALWAYS ENJOY IT.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

NEXT TIME YOU COME ON WE'LL BE AFTER A WIN.

I PROMISE YOU.

WE TOSS IT BACK TO IAN VOSBURG ONE MORE TIME TO HEAR ABOUT HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA PROGRAMMING.

>> THANK YOU, MIKE'L.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON THIS EPISODE OF "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

SO GIVE US A CALL AND KEEP THE SPORTS GOING YEAR AROUND ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

WE'RE IN OUR FALL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE WHICH MEANS IT'S TIME TO REMIND YOU THAT MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WHAT MAKE ALL OF THE PROGRAMS YOU LOVE HERE POSSIBLE.

WE KNOW YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT HUSKER FOOTBALL, BUT THERE'S MUCH MORE.

SPORTS DOCUMENTARIES AND JOURNALISM, HIGH SCHOOL AND UPCLOSE PROFILES OF SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS.

CALL NOW TO KEEP IT ALL GOING.

THE NUMBER IS 800-989-8236 OR ONLINE NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

WHEN YOU DONATE, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A GIFT OF $25 A MONTH.

WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

COACH OSBORNE LED THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TEAM AS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS WINNING 3 NATIONAL TITLES.

OSBORNE'S LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND FOOTBALL, BUT THAT'S WHERE HE BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN NEBRASKA.

AGAIN, THAT'S A COMMEMORATIVE FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

WITH THE DONATION OF $5 A MONTH AS A SUSTAING STRONG MEMBER, WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A CLEAR TOTE BAG.

IT'S PERFECT FOR ALL THOSE CLEAR BAG POLICY EVENTS.

HAS A ZIPPER TOP, 24-INCH HANDLES AND THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA LOGO ON IT.

MAKE YOUR DONATION AT 800-989-8236 OR ONLINE NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

♪ WHAT PART OF TONIGHT'S SHOW IS YOUR FAVORITE?

THE IN-DEPTH LOOK AT SOME OF THE CRITICAL PLAYS VERSUS IOWA?

MAYBE THE EARLY OUTLOOK ABOUT NEXT SEASON?

THOSE COME TO YOU BECAUSE MEMBERS HAVE CALLED IN AND MADE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.

CALL 800-989-8236 OR MAKE YOUR DONATION AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

WHEN YOU DONATE, WE'D LOVE TO THANK YOU WITH ONE OF THESE THANK YOU GIFTS.

AT $25 A MONTH WE'LL THANK YOU WITH A COMMERMORATIVE FOOTBALL SIGNED BY COACH TOM OSBORNE.

OF COURSE, COACH OSBORNE LED THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TEAM TO THREE NATIONAL TITLES AND BECAME AN INSTITUTION IN THE STATE.

WHEN YOU MAKE A DONATION OF $5 A MONTH AS A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER, THAT'S $60 WITH ONE TIME GIFT.

WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE CLEAR TOTE BAG THAT HAS A NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA LOGO ON IT.

MAKE THAT DONATION AT 800-989-8236 OR GO ONLINE NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONTATE.

BECOMING A SUSTAINING STAR MEMBER WHEN YOU CALL IN.

BEING A SUSTAINING STAR MEANS THAT YOU MAKE AN ONGOING MONTHLY GIFT OF $5, $10, $15, $20 A MONTH OR WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU CHOOSE.

WHEN YOU GIVE MONTHLY, YOU'RE SUPPORTING ALL OF THE SPORTS ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND MORE.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO SET UP SO THAT YOUR DONATION COMES DIRECTLY OUT OF YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT OR YOUR CREDIT CARD EVERY SINGLE MONTH.

BECOME A SUSTANING STAR BY VISITING US ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE OR GIVE US A CALL AT 800-989-9236.

WHEN YOU'RE ON OUR WEBSITE OR WHEN YOU'RE MAKING YOUR CALL TO DONATE, YOU CAN CHOOSE A THANK YOU GIFT.

AT $25 A MONTH WE WILL THANK YOU WITH A COMMEMORATIVE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY COACH TOM OSBORNE.

COACH OSBORNE OF COURSE IS THE LEADER OF THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TEAM THROUGH ONE OF GREATEST PERIODS OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL HISTORY.

WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR DONATION OF $5 A MONTH WE'LL THANK YOU WITH THE CLEAR TOTE BAG, HAS A ZIPPER TOP, 24-INCH HANDLES AND MEETS STADIUM SIZE GUIDLINES.

WHETHER YOU MAKE A DONATION OF $500, $50, OR $15, IT ALL ADDS UP.

MAKE THAT DONATION RIGHT NOW AT 800-989-8236 OR GO ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP PROVIDES IMPORTANT FUNDING TO KEEP "BIG RED WRAP-UP" GOING.

EVERY SINGLE DONATION MATTERS.

SO WHATEVER YOU CAN GIVE, MAKE YOUR DONATION RIGHT NOW TO SUPPORT THIS SERVICE FOR ALL OF NEBRASKA.

THE NUMBER AGAIN 800-989-8236, OR ONLINE NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

♪ >> THANKS, AGAIN, IAN.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

NOW JOINING US SPORTS INTERN HANNAH TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT'D YOU FIND THIS PAST WEEKEND?

>> WE GOT A FEW FOR YOU THIS WEEK.

>> OKAY.

>> THE FIRST ONE WE GOT UP IS NOUREDIN SURPRISES HIS STEPDAD BY WEARING HIS LAST NAME FOR HUSKER SENIOR DAY.

SO WE GOT A SWEET MOMENT WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

>> SURPRISED HIS DAD.

AND MOST OF THE FANS SAYING, "WHO IS 63?"

>> YEAH.

>> 'CAUSE PEOPLE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHO IT WAS.

IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.

>> AND THEN, OUR NEXT ONE WE GOT UP HERE IS -- DO YOU SEE THESE TWO?

>> I DID.

>> THESE FANS GOT WHAT THEY WANTED.

PUNTS, MATCHING SHIRTS.

>> PUNTS.

PUNTS EVERY TIME.

>> AND THEN OUR LAST ONE WE HAVE IS, "NEBRASKA WITH THAT ELUSIVE BOWL WITHIN REACH."

AND THAT WAS EARLY ON IN THE GAME.

UM, YOU KNOW, FOURTH TRY IS THE CHARM, WE HOPED.

>> MATT SCHICK IS ALWAYS SO NEGATIVE.

ALWAYS MATT SCHICK WITH THE NAGATIVE.

I JUST -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THAT GUY.

AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL OF COURSE CATCH UP WITH HANNAH AFTER EACH SHOW AGAIN NEXT YEAR, HOPEFULLY.

WE'RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE WE HAVE A NEW WINNER IN OUR GAME DAY PHOTO CONTEST.

AND THIS ONE IS A REALLY GOOD ONE.

PAT SHARED THIS PHOTO WITH HER AND HER TWO GRANDKIDS FROM TEXAS.

THEY'RE BUNDLED UP AT THE GAME, AS YOU'D EXPECT.

THERE WAS A PICTURE OF A LETTER THAT GRANDDAUGHTER BELL WROTE TO THE NCAA FOLLOWING THE LOSS.

IT SAYS, "THIS IS MY FIRST NEBRASKA GAME.

I WANTED NEBRASKA TO WIN, BUT THEY DIDN'T.

SO THEY DIDN'T GET TO GO TO BOWL GAMES.

SO CAN YOU HELP ME?

IF THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH SIX GAME TEAMS, TELL THEM TO BRING THE NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS.

I'M 8 YEARS OLD.

I CAME FROM TEXAS TO SEE THIS GAME."

WHAT AN AWESOME LETTER.

WE LOVE TO SEE IT.

THANKS FOR SHARING IT, PAT.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

JOINING US NOW SEAN CALLAHAN WHO HAS BETTER HANDWRITING THAN BELL DOES.

>> I DON'T.

>> NO YOU DO NOT.

>> I DON'T.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT RECRUITING.

IT STARTS OFF WITH BIG NEWS.

>> YEAH, NEBRASKA TONIGHT, AS WE WERE ABOUT TO BEGIN THE SHOW, GRANT BRIX, MADE IT OFFICIAL.

HE'S NOW A CORNHUSKER.

THE NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN IOWA BY ON3.

ALL FOUR RECRUITING SERVICES' CONSENSUS NUMBER ONE PLAYER.

ONE OF THE TOP LINEMEN IN THE COUNTRY.

HE'LL COME TO NEBRASKA AS A TACKLE.

YOU KNOW THERE'S SOME PLACES THAT THINK HE'S AS A GUARD.

HE CAN PLAY A LOT OF POSITIONS.

BUT THIS WAS A LONG, DRAWN OUT BATTLE.

>> THIS IS THE 18-WHEELER KID?

>> YES.

THEY PARKED A SEMITRUCK OUT IN FRONT OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK.

BUT GRANT BRIX, LOGAN-MAGNOLIA, WHICH IS RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF -- >> OH, YEAH.

>> -- OF, UH, OMAHA.

HIS MOM ACTUALLY WORKS IN OMAHA.

SO YOU KNOW THIS -- THIS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

>> SURE.

IT WAS A GRIND FOR NEBRASKA TO FINISH THIS OUT.

TO BEAT OUT OKLAHOMA, KANSAS STATE.

AT ONE POINT, ALABAMA, EARLY WAS IN THERE IN JUNE.

NICK SABAN OFFERED HIM WHEN HE WENT DOWN THERE FOR A VISIT.

AND THAT -- AND YOU MIKE'L, IT'S NOT EASY TO GET AN ALABAMA OFFER.

>> IT IS NOT -- IT IS NOT EASY AT ALL.

AND THAT'S A GREAT PICKUP BY NEBRASKA.

AND YOU SEE HIM, HE CAN REALLY DEVELOP INTO THE KIND OF TACKLE THEY WANNA GET.

LET'S GO TO THE PHONE NOW.

IAN FLYNT JOINING US TO TALK MORE AOBUT HIS COMMITMENT.

IAN, HOW ARE YOU DOING.

>> DOING GREAT.

>> HOW DID YOU'RE -- HOW DID EVERYTHING WORK OUT?

HOW DID YOU END UP COMMITTING TO NEBRASKA?

>> MY -- MOST OF MY FAMILY WENT THERE, AS WELL AS MY OLDER SISTER IS CURRENTLY THERE.

SO, IT'S KIND OF IN MY BLOOD, BUT ALSO, I REALLY ENJOYED MATT RHULE'S STAFF AND THEY WERE FUN TO BE AROUND.

SO, I WANTED TO BE AROUND LONGER.

>> IAN, I GOTTA ASK YOU.

WERE YOU AWARE OF GRANT BRIX'S THING AHEAD OF TIME, OR DID YOU FIND OUT TONIGHT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE?

>> I GOT MY CONNECTIONS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CLASS?

I MEAN, IT'S A BIG CLASS.

YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST GUYS ON BOARD.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT THE GROUP OF FRESHMEN THAT YOU'LL COME INTO NEBRASKA WITH?

>> WE'VE GOT A TON OF BALL PLAYERS.

I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM THAT HAS CHOSEN TO COME JOIN US.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE NEBRASKA NATIVES, WHICH I KNOW IS GOOD FOR THE -- GOOD FOR THE TEAM ITSELF, AND I'M EXCITED TO PLAY WITH ALL OF THEM.

ESPECIALLY CARTER AND GRANT.

I'M HAPPY GRANT HOPPED ON.

>> IAN, SUCH GREAT FOOTBALL PLAY DOWN THERE IN KATY, TEXAS.

HOW DID YOU GUYS'S SEASON GO?

HOW'D YOU DO?

WE ENDED UP 5-6.

WE MADE THE PLAYOFFS, LOST ROUND ONE.

AND I HAD ABOUT, LIKE, SIX RECEPTIONS FOR 140 YARDS.

>> IAN, YOU WERE AN IMMEDIATE PRIORITY FOR THE STAFF.

I MEAN, YOU WERE UP HERE RIGHT WHEN MATT RHULE WAS HITED.

AND YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST GUYS TO COMMIT.

HOW DID THE BALL GET ROLLING SO QUICKLY?

AND YOUR COMMITMENT WAS SEAMLESS.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN ALMOST A WIRE-TO-WIRE GUY FOR NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH, THEY WERE -- THEY SHOWED A LOT OF ATTENTION TO ME AND THEY'VE BEEN REALLY GREAT TO ME OVER THE -- OVER MY RECRUITMENT.

AND THEY MADE THE DECISION REALLY QUICK.

OR REALLY EASY.

>> IAN, ARE YOU PLANNING ON BEING EARLY ENTRY OR COMING IN THIS SUMMER?

>> YES, SIR, I WILL BE THERE JANUARY 6th.

>> AWESOME.

IAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS A LOT.

>> YES, SIR.

THANK YOU.

>> NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR IN-STATE GUY NOW, JACKSON CARPENTER.

>> YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO 2025 HERE.

THIS IS JACKSON CARPENTER, THE SON OF FORMER HUSKER TIGHT END TIM CARPENTER OUT OF LINCOLN SOUTHWEST.

JUST PICKED UP HIS FIRST POWER FIVE OFFER FROM KANSAS.

AND LANCE LEIPOLD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

HE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD OFFERS FROM NORTH DAKOTA STATE AND SOUTH DAKOTA STATE.

SO THE TWO BEST FCS OFFERS YOU CAN HAVE.

GETS THAT FIRST POWER FIVE.

HE'S BEEN INVITED TO GO DOWN TO IOWA FOR BOWL PRACTICE IN DECEMBER.

OBVIOUSLY, HE'S BEEN TO A LOT OF NEBRASAK EVENTS AND GAMES.

HE'S BEEN DOWN TO KANSAS STATE, IOWA STATE.

NO DOUBT A GUY THAT'S GONNA GARNER SOME ATTENTION.

HIS FIRST YEAR OF RUNNING TRACK THIS YEARH.

HE RAN 10.8 ELECTRONIC AS A SOPHOMORE.

HE'S A LEGIT 6'2."

PROBABLY COULD PLAY RECEIVER OR SAFETY.

>> WHERE DO YOU THINK HE PLAYS?

>> THAT'S A -- I MEAN, I THINK -- >> WHO'S RECRUITING HIM?

WHO'S HIS MAIN GUY?

>> I WOULD SAY -- PEOPLE LIKE HIM AS AN ATHLETE WITH HIS SPEED AND SIZE, BUT I STILL LEAN -- I MEAN RECEIVER, HE'S GOT GREAT BALL SKILL.

I MEAN, SOME OF HIS BEST HIGHLIGHTS ARE WHEN HE GETS UP AT THE TOP OF THE BALL AND GETS IT DOWN.

AND -- YOU KNOW, HE'S A VERY ATHLETIC BASKETBALL PLAYER.

HE'S GONNA PLAY WITH BRADEN FRAGER, WHO'S A HUSKER COMMIT THIS YEAR.

AND JOBA CHAMBERLAIN'S SON CARTER'S ON THAT TEAM.

SO, IT'S PRETTY STAR STUDDED GROUP OF ATHLETES ON THAT LINCOLN SOUTHWEST BASKETBALL TEAM.

AND HE'LL BE RIGHT OUT THERE WITH THOSE GUYS.

>> PLUS, HE HAS GREAT HAIR.

YOU TAKE THAT.

>> I'LL TAKE A LITTLE.

>> SEAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

LET'S CHECK IN NOW WITH OUR SIDELINE SURVEY.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SEVEN STRAIGHT SEASONS WITH NO BOWL GAME?

31% OF THE PEOPLE SAY SAD.

33% SAY MAD.

28% OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEXT YEAR AND 8% SAY CONFUSED.

WHAT ARE THEY CONFUSED ABOUT?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CONFUSED ABOUT.

IT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

I AM SAD.

YOU ARE MAD.

YOU CAN BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NEXT YEAR.

NOBODY ON THE SET IS CONFUSED, THOUGH.

LET'S LOOK AHEAD.

SO, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE PORTAL AND THE WAY THAT IS HANDLED.

DO YOU FEEL NEBRASKA IS A APETIZING PLACE?

LIKE, ARE -- IS THIS A SCHOOL WHERE PEOPLE WILL LOOK AND SAY, "I WANNA GO THERE"?

>> IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE I WOULD THINK YES.

BUT, JUST BEING OBVIOUSLY VERY CLOSE TO IT AND BEING A FAN OF, YOU KNOW, SINCE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, 4 YEARS OLD.

>> YEAH.

>> I WOULD THINK SO.

BUT REMOVED FROM AFAR, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING, JUST WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT NEBRASKA FOOTBALL, AND THEY'RE LIKE, "MAN, YOU GUYS ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, RIGHT?

YOU JUST STRUGGLE WINNING CLOSE GAMES, AND TALENT'S NOT QUITE THERE AND YOU TURN THE FOOTBALL OVER."

SO, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THE SELL HAS TO BE PRETTY STRONG BY THIS STAFF RIGHT NOW.

YOU GOTTA SELL POTENTIAL GUYS COMING BACK.

YOU GOTTA SELL WHO ELSE YOU'RE RECRUITING.

THE N.I.L HAS TO BE A VERY, VERY BIG TALKING POINT FOR THESE GUYS.

BUT, I THINK FROM AFAR, THEY GOTTA GET SOLD ON IT RIGHT NOW JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO WIN.

I WOULD THINK, AS A PLAYER IF SOMEONE -- IF WE'RE TALKING DOLLARS HERE ONCE SCHOOL IS MAYBE, YOU KNOW, US AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CALL IT PENN STATE.

PENN STATE MAYBE $200,000 LESS IN N.I.L.

WOULD YOU -- YOU KNOW, WOULD YOU WANNA GO WIN GAMES OR MAKE $200,000 MORE?

I DON'T KNOW.

SO THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF -- >> WHO CAN GET ME IN THE LEAGUE?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> THAT'S WHO I THINK ABOUT.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD POINT.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN THIS TOO IS DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT AS WELL WITH THE STAFF WITH YOUNG PLAYERS IS DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN A HUGE POINT THAT I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT I THINK THAT'S AN ASPECT THAT I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GOING FORWARD TO 2024.

>> SEAN, WHO'S THE BIGGEST N.I.L GET SO FAR?

>> AS FAR AS THE GUYS THAT THEY'VE RECRUITED -- >> THAT THEY'VE HAD OVER THESE TWO YEARS OF REALLY WHERE N.I.L'S BEEN A BIG DEAL.

>> I MEAN, TREY PALMER.

>> AND HE CAME BECAUSE OF -- >> MICKEY.

BUT, N.I.L, THEY STILL OUGHT TO PAY HIM.

I MEAN, YOU CAN ARGUE OCHAUN, AND CASEY THOMPSON WERE BIG N.I.L GUYS THAT THEY BROUGHT IN.

THIS YEAR'S CROP THOUGH WASN'T REALLY AS FRUITFUL.

>> IN TERMS OF SUCCESS.

>> AS WHAT THEY GOT.

I MEAN, BILLY KEMP HAD AN ALL RIGHT YEAR.

M.J. SHERMAN WAS FINE AT TIMES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T GET, LIKE, THE TYPE OF PRODUCTION MAYBE I THINK WE THOUGHT.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY JEFF SIMS, PROBABLY THE HIGHEST PAID N.I.L DEAL THAT'S EVER BEEN GIVEN IS MY GUESS WITH NEBRAKSA.

AND THAT JUST OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR WHATEVER ODD REASON.

>> CAN THEY GET BIG NAME GUYS TO COMMIT TO NEBRASKA?

>> AND SO HERE'S THE THING.

LIKE, THE MARKET IS THE MARKET.

LIKE, NEBRASKA WILL MAKE A COMPETITIVE MARKET VALUE.

THEIR COLLECTIVE TO THE GUY.

WELL WHEN THAT SAME PLAYER HAS THREE OR FOUR MARKET OFFER VALUES THAT ARE WITHIN REASON, THEN SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY.

IT'S ABOUT THE BEST FIT.

WHO'S GONNA PREPARE YOU.

LIKE, WILL HOWARD RIGHT NOW AT KANSAS STATE.

NEBRAKSA, WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S -- THEY'RE EVEN INVOLVED WITH HIM.

BUT, ON3 REPORTED TODAY KENTUCKY, LOUISVILLE, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE TEAMS WITH REALLY GOOD -- WASHINGTON.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE DeBOER, AND YOU HAVE BROHM, TWO QUARTERBACK WHISPERERS SAYING, "HEY, I WANT YOU TO BE MY NEXT GUY," I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE COMPETING AGAINST.

AND THERE'S GONNA BE A TON OF QUARTERBACKS THOUGH IN THE PORTAL.

YOU ONLY GET ONE OPPORTUNITY TO PICK THE RIGHT ONE THOUGH.

AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.

>> KIND OF A TURBULENT YEAR FOR THE TIGHT END POSITION BECAUSE YOU CHANGE COACHES.

HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WENT OVERALL?

>> WOULD LIKE TO SEE PRODUCTION OF FIDONE, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S JUST WHO'S THROWING TO HIM.

>> SURE.

>> THAT WAS PART OF THE BATTLE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHERE THEY GOTTA IMPROVE, OBVIOUSLY AS THE QUARTERBACK POSITION IMPROVES, YOU RUN THE FOOTBALL IMPROVES, AND YOU CAN USE PLAY ACTION TO YOUR ADVANGATE, THOSE GUYS WILL -- THE TIGHT END POSITION WILL GET BETTER.

BUT THOSE -- BOERKIRCHER AND FIDONE, THEY STRUGGLED RUN BLOCKING.

I THINK THEY GOTTA IMPROVE HEAVILY IN THAT AREA BECAUSE WE CAN'T RUN BLOCK, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, YOU GET OUT THERE LIKE, WELL IT'S OBVIOUS PASSING SITUATION.

SO THEY GOTTA GET THAT -- THAT'S ONE AREA WHERE FIDONE CAN DEFINITELY IMPROVED.

>> SPRING GAME ANNOUNCED APRIL 27th.

GOOD DATE FOR YOU?

>> I MEAN, IT'S A LATER SPRING GAME.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, THE SEMESTER AT NEBRAKSA DOESN'T START UNTIL JANUART 22nd.

I MEAN, IT'S THE MONDAY AFTER MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY.

BACK WHEN JAY AND I WERE AT NEBRAKSA, WE WERE GOING TO SCHOOL BEFORE THAT.

>> AFTER LABOR DAY, RIGHT.

>> SO IT'S A LATER START AND THAT'S ABOUT AS LATE AS YOU CAN HAVE THE SPRING GAME.

BUT THE CALENDAR OF NEBRAKSA IS KIND OF PUSHED FORWARD A COUPLE WEEKS.

AND FOR WEATHER, HOPEFULLY THAT MEANS IT'S A GOOD THING.

>> NO DOUBT.

YOUR BURNING QUESTION.

>> BURNING QUESTION.

WHO'S THE QUARTERBACK?

WHO IS THE GUY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THEIR CHIP ON THIS YEAR?

'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GONNA BE A DEFINING THING FOR YEAR TWO OF MATT RHULE.

>> I CAN'T USE THE TURNOVERS ANYMORE.

THE SEASON'S -- >> HE'S LIKE, I GOTTA COME UP WITH SOME NEW MATERIAL.

>> YEAH, SEASON'S OVER.

YOU KNOW, THE QUARTERBACKS IS IMPORTANT.

I THINK RIGHT NOW IS OFF SEASON DEVELOPMENT.

GETTING THESE GUYS GOING TO WORK.

I THINK IT'S GONNA INTERESTING TO SEE IF THEY'RE GONNA TAKE SOME TIME OFF TOWARD THE END OF THE SEMESTER.

OR ARE THEY GONNA GET THEM BACK TO WORK.

WORKING OUT.

GETTING, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT A COUPLE WEEKS YET BEFORE THEY SHUT IT DOWN.

SO, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT RHULE AND STAFF GETS THEM DOING.

>> BURNING QUESTION OBVIOUSLY IS THE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PORTAL?

CAN NEBRASKA GET OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, WIDE RECEIVER, QUARTERBACK, WHATEVER THEY NEED OUT OF THE PORTAL.

WE HAVE ONE MORE EPISODE OF "BIG RED WRAPUP" THIS SEASON AND THAT'S NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US AS WE RECAP THE ENTIRE SEASON.

MEMORIAL STADIUM WITH OUR SPECIAL GUESTS MITCH SHERMAN AND STEVEN M. SIPPLE.

MY THANKS TO BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON, IAN VOSBERG, OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

FOR JAY MOORE, SEAN CALLAHAN, HANNAH THE INTERN, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, RIGHT HERE ON "BIG RED WRAPUP."

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