♪ >>> DESPITE IT'S UGLY APPEARANCE, NEBRASKA CAME OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF A CLOSE GAME, BEATING RUTGERS ON THE ROAD 14-13.

CAN THE MOMENTUM OF A TWO GAME WIN STREAK HELP THE UNDERDOG HUSKERS AT PURDUE?

WE'LL DISCUSS THAT AND MORE WITH FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL HELP US EXAMINE THE LATEST IN BIG RED RECRUITING.

ALL THAT AND MORE, NEXT UP ON "BIG RED WRAP UP."

♪ >> HI, EVERYONE.

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

TWO IN A ROW, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

THAT'S A WINNING STREAK, BOYS.

JAY MOORE JOINING US AND, OF COURSE, SEAN CALLAHAN AS WELL.

WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT HOW IT WAS KIND OF DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, AFTER A WIN.

AFTER TWO IN A ROW IT'S REALLY DIFFERENT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT SINCE 2018.

WHAT WAS YOUR FEEL AFTER THE RUTGERS WIN?

>> YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY VERY RELIEVED.

13-0 AT THE HALF AND STRUGGLING, BUT THERE WAS LITTLE THINGS THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU COULD HANG YOUR HAT ON.

I'M LIKE, THIS COULD BE A LOT WORSE.

YOU BLOCKED THE PUNT, THE DEFENSE DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB OF HOLDING THEM TO THREE.

I'M LIKE, OKAY, THAT IS AN ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER RIGHT THERE.

THEY GO UP 14-NOTHING, AT THAT POINT, I'M LIKE, OKAY.

WITH THE RUTGERS DEFENSE AND HOW WELL, HOW GOOD THEY'VE BEEN PERFORMING THIS YEAR, I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A TALL TASK FOR THE OFFENSE TO COME BACK FROM.

BUT THAT, THAT PLAY RIGHT THERE IS LIKE, NEBRASKA'S STILL GOT A CHANCE BECAUSE THAT'S A HUGE MOMENTUM CHANGER.

YOU GO BACK TO ALL THE ANALYTICS, I MEAN, YOU BLOCK A PUNT IN ANY GAME AND YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING GOES DOWN DRAMATICALLY.

SO HAVING THEM HOLD THEM TO THREE WAS HUGE.

AND THEY JUST KEPT FIGHTING, KEPT BATTLING.

YOU GET SOME TURNOVERS IN THE SECOND HALF AND THEN FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE MAKES DUMB MISTAKES TO LOSE FOOTBALL GAMES.

WE'VE BEEN ON THAT SIDE SO MANY TIMES WITH MISMANAGEMENT OF TIMEOUTS, LATE GAME PENALTIES, AND USUALLY YOU'D SAY THAT'S NEBRASKA.

NO, RUTGERS MADE THAT.

AND HEY, I'LL TAKE IT.

IT WASN'T PRETTY.

IT WAS UGLY.

THIS TEAM, I'LL TAKE ANY WINS RIGHT NOW WITH THIS TEAM.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PRETTY.

I'M GLAD YOU MADE THAT REFERENCE BECAUSE "MAJOR LEAGUE" IS MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME.

>> YEAH, I BELIEVE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN "MAJOR LEAGUE 2" THAT HE SAID THAT.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> NO, IT'S THE FIRST ONE.

IT'S THE FIRST ONE.

>> JAY MENTIONED, IT'S HARD TO WIN A GAME WHEN YOU HAVE A BLOCKED PUNT.

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN THE GAME WHEN THE BLOCKED PUNT GOES FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

BLAISE GUNNERSON'S PLAY IS MAYBE ONE OF THE PLAYS OF THE GAME.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE WERE TO HIGHLIGHT PLAYS OF THE GAME, THE TREY PALMER TOUCHDOWN, AND THAT PLAY MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE TWO BIGGEST PLAYS.

SOME INTERCEPTIONS, BUT THAT HUSTLE THAT BLAISE GUNNERSON SHOWED THERE, BECAUSE THERE WERE A CONVOY OF RUTGERS GUYS AROUND BRIAN BUSCHINI, ALMOST LIKE SAYING, WHO'S GONNA GET IT?

I'M GONNA GET IT.

>> HE THOUGHT HE WAS SCORING.

>> I MEAN, THIS GUY, IF HE GETS A BETTER BOUNCE THERE, HE'S WALKING IN EASILY.

AND THE SLIGHT BOBBLE THERE ALLOWED BLAISE GUNNERSON.

>> GREAT HUSTLE.

>> AND THEN, THE FACT THAT THE DEFENSE WAS ABLE TO HOLD STRONG.

LIKE, THIS GUY, RIGHT HERE SHOULD HAVE GOT IT.

>> YEAH, 32.

>> AND THEN HE'S GONE -- >> YEAH.

>> -- AT THAT POINT.

THE WAY THAT BALL BOUNCED PERFECTLY THERE IN THAT SITUATION, SO GREG SCHIANO -- I FORGET WHAT THE STAT WAS, BUT THE NUMBER BLOCK KICKS HE'S HAD -- >> YEAH.

>> -- IN HIS CAREER.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> BUT ANYTIME YOU HAVE A HEAD COACH THAT IS IN CHARGE OF SPECIAL TEAMS, WHETHER HIS TITLE IS OR NOT, IT ALWAYS SEEMS THAT WAY.

I MEAN, YOU GOT TO HAVE A HEAD COACH THAT'S VERY INVOLVED, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE IN THE PASSER -- AS ALWAYS, WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING TONIGHT.

OUR FRIENDS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS ARE HERE MANNING THE PHONES, AWAITING YOUR CALLS.

AS THEY WAIT, THEY ARE EATING SOME VALENTINO'S PIZZA.

SPORTS INTERN, SAM.

WAVE SAM.

ARE YOU THERE, SAM?

THERE HE IS.

THERE'S SAM RIGHT THERE.

YOU CAN ALSO REACH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO SHARE YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

WE'RE WATCHING FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, SO MAKE SURE TO REACH OUT TO US TONIGHT ENJOYING THE DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE A NEW SIDELINE SURVEY FOR YOU THIS WEEK.

WE WANT TO -- YOU TO RATE THE JOB THAT MICKEY JOSEPH HAS DONE IN THE FIRST THREE GAMES AS HEAD COACH.

EXCELLENT, GOOD, NEUTRAL OR BAD.

I'M -- 0% BAD.

IF SOMEBODY PUT BAD, I WOULD BE UPSET.

LHLH HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE RIGHT NOW TO VOTE, THEN HEAD BACK EACH WEEK FOR A BRAND NEW SURVEY.

HERE ARE YOUR TOP PLAYS, SEAN.

YOUR FIRST PLAY -- YOUR FIRST TOP PLAY IS THE INTERCEPTION THAT ENDS THE GAME.

MALCOLM HARTZOG, BOUNCING BACK FROM A TOUGH FIRST HALF TO MAKE THIS INTERCEPTION AND TO SEAL THE GAME, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS THE FUMBLE ON THE VICTORY FORMATION, WHICH COULD'VE MADE IT WORSE.

NUMBER TWO, ANTHONY GRANT -- OH, EXCUSE ME.

ABOUT TREY PLAMER, TOUCHDOWN THERE.

A 27-YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS.

AFTER THE TURNOVER, SUDDEN CHANGE, TOUCHDOWN RIGHT THERE.

AND THEN, THE NUMBER ONE PLAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT, ANTHONY GRANT LAYING THE BOOM ON THE SIDELINES.

AN 11-YARD RUN.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DEFENSIVE BACK WAS DOING HERE.

HE WAS STANDING STRAIGHT UP.

HE TOOK THE SHOULDER AND ELBOW TO THE FACE AND HE WENT DOWN AND DIDN'T GET BACK UP.

>> THAT SET THE TONE FOR THE ENTIRE SECOND HALF RIGHT THERE.

>> BIG TIME.

BIG TIME PHYSICAL, NO DOUBT.

>> ALL THOSE PLAYS WERE EXCITING.

WE'RE GOING TO BREAK DOWN A FEW MORE BY JOINING JAY MOORE, WHO IS NOW INSIDE THE HUDL.

JAY?

>> ALL RIGHT, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE MAIN GAME HIGHLIGHTS, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A COUPLE PLAYS HERE THAT I WANTED TO BREAK DOWN.

EARLY ON, I LOVE THIS PLAY FROM OUR OFFENSE.

IF I CAN GET THIS -- THE REMOTE IS -- LLL THERE WE GO.

NOW WE GOT IT TO WORK.

VIEW IT DOWN HERE.

I LOVE THE PLAY ACTION.

IT'S GOING TO START RIGHT HERE WITH -- WITH VOKOLEK.

AND I LOVE THE PULLING ACTION AND THE GREAT PLAY ACTION HERE.

IT'S JUST A GOOD LOOK.

YOU GET A HARD PLAY ACTION FAKE, BOOM.

EVERYONE IS FREEZING.

YOU HAVE VOKOLEK THAT SQUEEZES BEHIND -- AND, LIKE, IT'S REALLY -- I GOT TO GIVE CASEY THOMPSON, BECAUSE THE HAND-OFF AND THEN GET THE LACES TO MAKE A GOOD THROW.

REALLY GOOD BALL HANDLING BY HIM.

AND EVERYBODY ON NEBRASKA GETS ON THE BOARD.

VOKOLEK GETS A TOUCHDOWN AT HIS OLD SCHOOL, RUTGERS.

NEBRASKA ON THE BOARD.

NEXT PLAY.

I LIKE THE ACTION HERE.

NEBRASKA BRINGS IN A BLITZ.

GETTING TO -- GETTING TO THE QUARTERBACK LATE IN THE GAME HERE.

THEY HAD TO MAKE A STOP.

SO WITH -- I'M HIGHLIGHTING DOWN HERE ON THE BOTTOM.

NEBRASKA SHOWS SIX ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE.

ESSENTIALLY, THEY HAVE THEIR SIX, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE -- HENRICH IS UP.

KIND OF, BAIL OUT LATE WHEN HE'S GOING TO GO MAN-TO-MAN ON THE BACK.

BUT, AS WE RUN THIS HERE, TANNOR, KIND OF, WRAPS AROUND.

AND I HIGHLIGHTED HENRICH WITH A MAN-TO-MAN.

YOU HAVE TANNOR HERE.

COLTON FEIST IS GOING TO COME WIDE OPEN THROUGH THIS.

DOES A NICE JOB, KIND OF, STAYING ON THIS TACKLE'S HIP.

FORCES HIM TO STAY OUT.

THE TACKLE PROBABLY SHOULD'VE CAME DOWN TO TAKE A MOST DANGEROUS MAN -- AS WE CALL.

AND THEN, THIS IS A REALLY HARD QUEST.

THIS IS REALLY GOOD.

I'VE BEEN THERE MANY, MANY TIMES.

WHEN YOU COME -- WHEN YOU'RE UNBLOCKED AND MAKING A SACK AND A QUARTERBACK, IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN WHAT IT SEEMS.

HE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF JUST GETTING ENOUGH CLOTH TO GET THIS GUY DOWN AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GET -- GARRETT NELSON IS GOING TO COME ON TOP OF THIS AND GET -- AND FINISH THIS THING OUT.

I THINK -- LLL THERE WE GO.

AS THE PLAY FINISHES.

RALLIES THE PLAY.

NEBRASKA GETS -- GETS ANOTHER STOP AND COLTON FEIST GETS HIS, I THINK, FIRST SACK OF THE YEAR.

♪ >> BACK ON THAT.

YOU GOT TO BE -- YOU GOT TO BE SET TO GET A -- I THINK THEY SHARE THAT SACK.

>> NO, THAT'S ALL COLTON.

>> I THINK THEY SHARED THAT SACK.

>> HE SHOULD -- HE NEEDS TO BE GOING GARRETT ON THAT ONE.

THAT WAS ALL HIM.

>> SIX -- SIX TOTAL HURRIES THAT I COUNTED.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE OFFICIAL NUMBER WAS.

WAS IT ABOUT RUTGERS' OFFENSIVE LINE?

OR DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA DID THINGS DIFFERENTLY TO GET MORE PRESSURE?

>> I THINK THEY -- THEY, KIND OF, SHOWED A LITTLE MORE -- THEY BROUGHT IN GUYS UP INTO LINES OF SCRIMMAGE.

THE LINEBA -- THE LINEBACKERS.

AND THAT, KIND OF, FORCES THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN'S COUNT.

HOW THEY, KIND OF -- >> YEAH.

>> AND SO, THAT FORCES YOUR EYES A LITTLE -- YOU KNOW, IN DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

AND IF YOU CAN JUST GET A CREASE, A HALF A STEP HERE AND THERE, THAT'S -- THAT'S ALL YOU NEED AS A PASSER.

THEY JUST HAD SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT THE BEST OFFENSIVE LINE.

THAT'S THE BEST OFFENSE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FACE BY ANY MEANS.

BUT IT'S BUILDING CONFIDENCE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS DEFENSE NEEDS TO DO RIGHT NOW IS YOU'LL TAKE ANY CONFIDENCE, ANY POSITIVE PLAY THEY CAN GET RIGHT NOW AND KEEP BUILDING ON THAT, BECAUSE NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO THE MEAT OF THE SEASON.

>> SEAN, WILL STRUGGLES IN THE FIRST HALF, OFFENSIVELY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE WAS?

>> I JUST THE PROTECTION UP FRONT.

I MEAN IF YOU CAN'T BLOCK WITH THE RUN OR PASS IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET INTO A FLOW AND I THINK MARK WHIPPLE HAD A HARD TIME JUST FINDING THE RIGHT FLOW FOR THIS OFFENSE.

I MEAN ANTHONY GRANT, THOSE 47 YARDS HE HAD WERE HARD FOUGHT.

45 OF THOSE 47 CAME AFTER CONTACT.

CASEY THOMPSON ON THE GAME WAS PRESSURED ON 26 OF 38 FROP BACKS AND THEY ONLY BLITZED 11 OF THOSE 38 DROP BACKS.

SO THAT REALLY PUTS INTO PERSPECTIVE HOW HARD AS YOU SAID, THE IDENTIFYING NUMBER COUNTS AND BODIES.

NEBRASKA WAS FLAT OUT WHIFFING ON GUYS UP FRONT.

CASEY THOMPSON, THE FACT THAT HE WAS ONLY SACKED ONE TIME, WAS AN AMAZING IN THIS GAME, KNOWING HOW MUCH HE WAS PRESSURED.

>>LEWIS IS REALLY GOOD, FROM RUTGERS, NUMBER 71, THAT GUY IS GOING TO BE PLAYING ON SUNDAYS.

HE'S A REALLY GOOD PLAYER FOR RUTGERS.

>> WHATEVER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT GREG DOES, IF IT'S A RECRUITING THING OR A DEVELOPMENT THING.

BUT HE ALWAYS FIND GUYS EVEN THE FIRST TIME HE WAS THERE.

NEW ENGLAND WOULD DRAFT A LOT OF RUTGERS GUYS, BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WERE READY TO GO WHEN THEY GOT TO THE NFL.

HE'S EITHER A REALLY GOOD DEVELOPER OR HE JUST FINDS THOSE GEMS THAT ARE PRETTY GOOD PLAYERS.

>> AND THEY HAVE THAT EDGE, EVEN ON THE KNEELDOWN, THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME.

I DON'T KNOW IF NEBRASKA WASN'T AWARE OF SCHIANO'S HISTORY BUT I THINK EVERYONE WAS KIND OF SURPRISED.

>>WELL EVEN IN THE PROS, IN TAMPA.

>> IN THE PROS HE DID IT TO ELI MANNING.

>> THE FIGHT BROKE OUT AFTER THAT.

LLL >>AFTER THAT, YEAH.

>> I WAS STANDING NEXT TO STIPP AND I WAS LIKE WATCH THIS KNEELDOWN IT'S GOING TO GET INTERESTING.

DONOVAN RAN OUT THERE AND HAD SOME WORDS.

AND SOME OF THE NEBRASK COACHES WERE PRETTY UPSET BECAUSE THAT THING -- CASEY THOMPSON WAS TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THE BALL.

>> YEAH, HE BARELY BROUGHT IT BACK.

BUT YOU KNOW YOU GOT TO PLAY TO THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME, YOU GOT TO EXPECT THAT.

JUST CAUSE IT'S VICTORY FORMATION, DOESN'T MEANT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY.

>> WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT THAT AS DEFENSIVE LINEMEN.

YOU'RE TRYING TO SWIPE THE BALL -- DO ANYTHING DISRUPTIVE, BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THAT BALL THERE, THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME, THERE WAS 40 SECONDS ON THE PLAY CLOCK, OR ON THE TIME CLOCK.

SO, THEY GET THE BALL BACK, FIELD GOAL.

GAME WINNER.

RUTGER WINS.

SO I MEAN, YOU CAN'T -- NOW IF IT WAS COMPLETELY ON THE OTHERSIDE OF THE FIELD ON THEIR 30 --WHOLE DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE STORY.

>>WELL, IF YOU'RE UP BY TWO TOUCHDOWNS, OR SOMETHING -- >> THAT TOO, BUT THAT WAS, THEY SAW THE CHANCE TO TECHINCALLY WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME.

>> BACK TO BACK GAMES WAS WERE NEBRASKA SHUTS THEM OUT IN THE SECOND HALF, BUT THAT'S WITHOUT NEWSOM.

REIMER WAS OUT, IT'S A REALLY GOOD PERFORMANCE WITH TWO OF THEIR BEST PLAYERS NOT PLAYING.

>> YEAH AND THEIR FORCE OF TURNOVERS, THAT WAS WHAT REALLY JUMPED OUT.

THE INTERCEPTIONS THAT WE SAW IN THIS GAME.

BUT THE NO POINTS, THEY BOWED UP AGAINST THE RUN TOO, WE HAVE NOT SEEN VERY MANY BREAK DOWNS WITH THE LONG 40-50 YARD RUN.

AND THAT WAS THE THEME IN THE FIRST THREE GAMES OF THE SEASONS.

HOW MANY BREAKDOWNS WE SAW WITH ALIGNMENT ISSUES.

THEY'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB, BILL BUSH HAS.

OF CLEANING THOSE THINGS UP, WERE AT LEAST GUYS ARE IN THE RIGHT SPOT.

I THINK THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR TIMES WERE GUYS WERE IN THE RIGHT SPOT, AND THERE WAS A SCREEN, THERE WAS A RUN TO THE LEFT.

>> TANNER'S MISSED TACKLE.

>>YEAH, GUYS ARE IN THE RIGHT SPOT, BUT IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THE TACKLE.

BUT IT'S NOT LIKE IT WAS IN THE FIRST FOUR GAMES.

>> OH NO, NO, NO.

WHAT WE HAD SEEN IN THE FIRST FOUR GAMES WAS, THAT WAS SOME OF SOME OF THE WORST DEFENSE I'VE SEEN PERIOD.

THEY ARE YOU CAN TELL -- IT'S JUST SIMPLIFIED FOR THEM.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY CHIANO WAS TRYING TO GET TO THEM, IF IT WAS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED OR WHAT IT WAS.

>> TRYING TO BE PERFECT.

>> THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE SITUATIONS.

THEY HAD MULTIPLE CALLS THAT ONE TIME, I AM NOT SURE.

BUT THEY JUST LOOK LIKE THEY TRUST WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

THEY HAVE TRUST WITHIN THE DEFENSE.

BEFORE THEY LOOK A LITTLE HESITANT, THEY TRUST EACH OTHER.

FIRST AND FORMOST AND THEY TRUST WHAT THEY'VE GOT TO DO AND IT SHOWS.

>> AND THEY MADE A MOVE.

NOT EVERY COACH IS GOING TO PULL A GUY, ESPECIALLY IF HE'S A TRANSFER OR A PORTAL GUY LIKE TOMMY HILL AND MOVE HIM AND GO WITH THE FRESHMAN.

MAKING THAT MOVE EVEN THOUGH HARTZOG HAD SOME STRUGGLES IN THE FIRST HALF, TOMMY HILL WAS GETTING BEAT A LOT AT CONERBACK.

>> YEAH WE HAVEN'T SEEN A MOVE LIKE THAT AT NEBRASKA IN A WHILE.

>>2010 OKIE STATE.

>> TOMMY HILL -- TRAVIS FISHER, HE MADE A COMMENT IN AUGUST IN WHERE HE SAID HE HAS ENOUGH TALENT WHERE HIS NAME COULD BE ON THIS BUILDING SOMEDAY.

>>WOW.

>> THAT WAS ON THE RECORD.

NOW HE'S PLAYING RECEIVER WEARING ISIAH GARCIA'S JERSEY.

IT'S A QUITE A TURN ON TOMMY HILL, HOW FAST THEY MOVED HIM TO POSITIONS.

HOW ABOUT BRANDON JOSEPH.

BAM THEY CALL HIM, COMING IN.

>> HE'S 24 YEARS OLD, WEARING #24.

LLL >> I MEAN HE'S A SEVEN YEAR DUDE.

IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THOSE ARE THE TWO CORNERS CLOSING OUT A VICTORY AGAINST RUTGERS IN THE SIXTH GAME OF THE YEAR, IT'S SIMPLY AN AMAZING STORY.

HOW MUCH THAT SECONDARY HAS TURNED OVER AND THEY'RE PLAYING AT A HIGH LEVEL.

>> AND LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT -- COMING IN PLAYING THAT WHOLE SECOND HALF FOR THE MOST PART, WAS BURIED A LITTLE BIT IN THE DEPTH CHART, MOVED HIS WAY UP.

AND NOW PLAYING MEANINGFUL TIME.

>> YEAH IT'S -- I'LL GIVE CREDIT TO BARRET, LINEBACKER COACH.

JUST DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW HE'S PLAYED A DECENT AMOUNT ON SPECIAL TEAMS LAST COUPLE YEARS.

BUT IT'S ONE THING TO PLAY SPECIAL TEAMS AND ALSO GET THROWN IN THE MIX AND IT'S 11-11, IT'S LIVE BULLET ACTION AGAINST ANOTHER OFFENSE.

YOU SAW HIM IN THE PLAYER BREAKDOWN, HE'S BLITZING OFF THE EDGE.

DID A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING UP THAT TACKLE AND KEEPING GUYS FREE.

SO YOU KNOW, PROPS TO HIM FOR KEEPING HIS HEAD IN TO IT.

PAYING ATTENTION IN MEETINGS AND PAYING ATTENTION AT PRACTICE AS WELL.

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF REPS. >>YEP.

>>ONES WILL GET, YOU CALL IT 75% OF THE SNAPS DURING THE WEEK, TWOS GET THE OTHER 25.

SP GOOD JOB ON HIM FOR PREPARING THE RIGHT WAY TO COME OUT THERE AND MAKE A MARK ON THAT GAME.

>>WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE ROTATION OF THE DEFENSIVE -- OUTSIDE GUYS, THE RUSHERS, THEY PLAYED FIVE TOTAL IN THE GAME.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING, 'CAUSE IT WASN'T LIKE -- >> 'CUASE YOU WANT TO PLAY EVERY DOWN.

I'M GUESSING AS A PLAYER.

>> YOU DO, YOU DO.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TOTAL SNAPS THE DEFENSE PLAYED ON FIRDAY NIGHT.

YOU KNOW IT'S RARE.

USUALLY YOU HAVE FOUR.

YOU KNOW EACH GUY TWO AND TWO.

AND YOU HAVE YOUR MAJORITY OF GUYS, NELSON AND MATHIS WOULD GET THE MAJORITY OF THEM, BUT THEY WERE RUNNING THEM OUT.

AND IT WASN'T LIKE RUTGERS SITTING BACK THERE THROWING IT 60-70 TIMES.

SO I LIKE THE IDEA OF KEEPING THEM FRESH.

BUT ALSO I THINK THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND GUYS TO -- CAUSE IT REALLY HASN'T -- CALEB TANNER AND MATHIS HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD AGAINST THE RUN, BUT OTHER THAN GARRET NELSON, MY OPINON, HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO MADE HIS MARK ON THE EDGE.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN MATHIS REALLY GET AFTER A GUY.

HE'S HAD SOME GOOD RUSHES HERE AND THERE.

BUT NELSO IS THE ONLY CONSISTENT GUY IN MY OPINION THAT'S GONE AFTER THE QUARTERBACK THROUGH THESE FIRST SIX GAMES.

SO MAYBE THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO SAY HEY WE SEE YOU GUYS DO IT IN PRACTICE, SO YOU GUYS EARNED YOU TIME.

NOW LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN DO IT IN A GAME.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND A GUY WHO CAN STEP UP IN MEANINGFUL TIME TO MAKE A PLAY.

>>MATHIS ENDED THE GAME STRONG, HE HAD A PRESSURE, A SACK, AND THEN HE HAD THAT BATTED BALL.

THAT WAS CALLED A PI, AND THEN REVERSED BECAUSE HE BATTED IT.

NICE FOURTH QUARTER.

>> I HAD A REALLY GOOD VIEW OF THAT PLAY, AND I ALMOST COULDN'T BELIEVE THE OFFICIALS DIDN'T SEE THAT.

>>HOW DID THEY NOT SEE THE BALL WOBBLING?

>> I WAS LIKE OH MY GOSH, IT'S OBVIOUS.

THEY THREW THE FLAG, THAT WAS A PRETTY FLAG HAPPY CREW.

IT WAS THE SAME CREW THAT DID THE BUFFALO GAME LAST YEAR.

>> OH WOW.

>>THEY HAD A LOT OF BALL MISS-SPOTS IN THAT GAME, THEY HAD A LOT OF MISS-SPOTS IN THIS GAME.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY FOUR OPI'S, I MEAN IT WAS A HEAVILY OFFICIATED GAME, AND THEY MISSED ONE OF THE EASIER CALLS I THOUGHT.

>>YOU CAN HEAR -- YOU CAN HEAR A BALL GET TIPPED -- >> ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PLACE IS PACKED.

>> AT RUTGERS, RIGHT.

THEY'RE ON OFFENSE NOT A TON OF CROWD NOISE.

SO YEAH THAT WAS ONE OF MANY SCREWY CALLS IN THAT GAME.

>>SEAN, COACH JOSEPH SAID THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MOMENTUM.

WE ALL KNOW MOMENTUM SOMETIMES IS JUST PLAYERS FEELING CONFIDENT BECAUSE THEY'RE WINNING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WINNING THESE TWO, AND WHAT'S GOING TO MATTER GOING INTO PURDUE?

>> WELL THEY HAVE CONFIDENCE.

I THINK IF THEY WOULD HAVE LOST ANY OF THESE GAMES AGAINST INDIANA OR RUTGERS, YOU'RE FEELING IS DIFFERENT.

I KNOW THE SPREAD IS 13, WHATEVER IT IS, 12-13 POINTS RIGHT NOW.

SO NEBRASKA IS A DECISIVE UNDERDOG THIS WEEK.

BUT I THINK YOU CAN SENSE THAT GUYS HAVE A BELIEF THAT HEY WE CAN GO IN THERE.

EVERYONE'S PLAYED PURDUE TOUGH.

IT'S NOT LIKE PURDUE IS BLOWING OUT PEOPLE.

PURDUE HAS BEEN AN UNDERDOG TWO WEEKS IN A ROW.

AND WON AGAINST MARYLAND AND MINNESOTA.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE TOUGHEST ATMOSPHERE THEY'RE GOING TO FACE THIS YEAR, OTHER THAN MICHIGAN.

SO I THINK GOING ON THE ROAD THIS WEEK, THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE WHOLE DIFFERENT MENTALITY, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THEY'RE GOING THE FACE THIS WEEK IS WEST LAFAYETTE.

>>JIM, I AM PRETTY SURE YOU'VE PLAYE IN THE LAST TIME NEBRASKA WON A GAME AS A DOUBLE DIGIT UNDERDOG.

>> COLORADO 2005?

>> COLORADO, YEAH.

>> I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT.

>> WHAT ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE, THAT MIKE REILLY YEAR?

>> NO IT WAS ONLY THREE POINTS.

IT WAS ONLY THREE POINTS.

IT WASN'T A LOT.

EVEN THOUGH NEBRASK WAS 3-6.

>> THEY LOST TO PURDUE THE WEEK BEFORE AND MICHIGAN ENDED MAKING THE FINAL FOUR THAT YEAR.

>> YEAH.

MICHAGAN STATE, THEY WERE REALLY GOOD, BUT THE LINE -- >> THAT WAS A DOUBLE DIGIT.

NO I THINK IT WAS ONLY THREE AND HALF, IT WAS A SMALL NUMBER, BUT THE GAME 17 POINTS.

COLORADO WENT IN THERE, THEY DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF OFFENSIVE TALENT AND THAT WAS THE GAME AT THE END WHERE, THAT'S WHY WE DID WHAT WE DID.

>> RESTORE THE ORDER SHIRTS.

>> RESTORE THE ORDER SHIRTS, YEAH.

LLL THINK ABOUT THAT.

2005.

>>MICHAGAN, THE ALAMO BOWL, THEY WERE DOUBLE DIGITS IN THAT WEREN'T THEY?

>> SAME YEAR.

>> THE LAST TIME THEY WERE DOUBLE DIGITS, THAT THEY WON A GAME.

>> I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT MY -- BECAUSE THAT MICHIGAN ALAMO BOWL, THEY WERE PRETTY BIG DOGS IN THAT GAME.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS THAT MUCH.

>> IT'S FUNNY AS A PLAYER WE NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO THE LINES.

>> I KNOW YOU DIDN'T.

>> SURE.

LLL >> FOR THAT GAME, I MEAN 17 WAS A TON.

I REMEMBER, I WORKED IN RADIO AT THE TIME, THEY HAD JOEL.

THEY HAD A LITTLE SHIFTY RUNNINGBACK AND THEY HAD A TIGHTEND AND THAT WAS IT.

>> OLD KLOPENSTEIN.

>> YEAH EXACTLY.

>> JUST PLAYED LIGHTS OUT.

>>COREY ROSS WAS DEADLY ON THE FIELD.

>> HE WAS REALLY GOOD.

>> YOU KNOW IT'S OBVIOUSLY TOUGH TO DO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PURDUE LATER.

I HAVE SOME NUMBERS.

THEY'RE NOT DOMINANT.

THEY'RE NOT GREAT.

THEY'RE A PRETTY AVERAGE TEAM FOR THE MOST PART.

AND AS YOU SAID EARLIER WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PREDICTIONS, THEY CAN'T RUN THE BALL.

THEY'RE PRETTY BANGED UP.

THEY'RE ON THEIR THIRD RUNNINGBACK.

CHARLIE JONES IS THEIR STAR RECEIVER, HE BASICALLY ONLY PLAYS IN GAMES AND DOESN'T PRACTICE ALL WEEK.

HE'S A SIXTH YEAR SENIOR AS WELL.

I THINK HE CAME TO PURDUE WITH INJURIES FROM IOWA.

>> HE DID.

>>HAYDEN O'CONNELL HAS BEEN INJURED.

I MEAN SO, THIS IS A TEAM OF OLDER GUYS.

ALL FIFTH, SIXTH YEAR PLAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK.

THEY KNOW HOW TO PLAY FOOTBALL.

BUT I THINK THEIR BODIES ARE BEAT UP.

SO NEBRASKA HAS A CHANCE.

I THINK THEY'D GOT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS.

THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO RUN THE BALL THIS WEEK.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST KEY, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, AS PURDUE HAS ONE OF THE BETTER RUSHING DEFENSES IN THE CONFERENCE.

>> TAKE THE NUMBERS OUT OF THEIR WIN OVER SOUTHERN ILLINOIS WHOEVER THEY BEAT, THEY'RE NOT AS GOOD -- INDIANA STATE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

TAKE THE NUMBERS AWAY THEY'RE NOT AS GOOD.

TIME TO DIVE INTO THE HIGHTLIGHTS FROM FRIDAY NIGHT'S MATCH UP IN PISCATAWAY.

MICKEY JOSEPH ON THE SIDELINE HAVING A GOOD TIME, ENJOYING, NOT EARLY THOUGH 'CAUSE NOAH VEDRAL GOES AFTER HARTZOG HERE.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALLER CORNER.

OBVIOUSLY HE MADE UP FOR IT LATER.

IT WAS GREAT RUN BY VEDRAL.

>> THEY MISSED A HOLDING CALL ON REIMER THERE.

>> THEY DID MISS THE HOLDING CALL IT'S VERY TRUE.

LLL AND THEN OVER RAN THE PLAY RIGHT THERE.

VEDRAL GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF REVENGE AGAINST HIS OLD TEAM.

WHICH WILL SEE IN THE OPPOSITE WAY COMING UP.

AND HERE'S THE BLOCKED PUNT.

OVERLOADED ONE SIDE.

>> AGAIN, IT'S JUST A NUMBERS THING AND IT'S FUNNY, YOU SEE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE RUGBY -- YOU KNOW, SOUTH PUNT.

TEAMS LOVE THE RUGBY, YOU KNOW CAUSE THEY CAN -- LINEMAN CAN TAKE OFF AS SOON AS THE BALL SNAPPED, UNLIKE THE NFL WERE YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE BALL'S KICKED.

>> YEP.

YOU LOOK THERE WE MENTIONED THAT GUNNERSON TACKLE SAVES FOUR POINTS, THEY MAKE THE FIELD GOAL, IT MAKES IT 10-0, BUT IT EASLIY COULD HAVE BEEN 14-0.

IF BLAISE GUNNERSON WOULD HAVE MADE THE GREAT PLAY HE MADE.

THEN NOAH VEDRAL AGAIN, WE MENTIONED IT EARLIER WHAT HE WAS DOING, GOING AFTER DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

BUT HERE IS GETTING OUTSIDE.

THAT'S ONE OF THOSE TACKLES WE TALKED ABOUT.

>> YEP, GUYS IN THE RIGHT SPOT, YOU GUYS JUST MAKE THE PLAY.

AND I GET IT.

YOU'RE GOING TO MISS SOME TACKLES, THOSE GUYS ARE ON SCHOLARSHIPS TOO.

BUT BACK THERE YOU'RE A COUPLE YARDS BEHIND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE YOU GOT TO GET THEM DOWN.

>> 40 YARD FIELD GOAL IS GOOD THERE.

NOW IT IS 13-0.

NEBRASKA TRAILING, I KNOW A LOT OF FANS WERE NERVOUS AT THIS POINT.

HERE'S CASEY THOMPSON'S BEST LITTLE RUN THEY HAD IN THE FIRST HALF, SEAN.

>> YEAH IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO PUT POINTS ON THIS DRIVE BEFORE HALFTIME AND I BELIEVE THE OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED ON THIS POSESSION.

BECAUSE NEBRASKA WAS WELL ON THEIR WAY TO GETTING POINTS ON THIS DRIVE.

>> YEAH, GREAT PLAY BY ANTHONY GRANT RIGHT THERE.

THIS IS A PRESSURE, THERE WAS NO BLOCKING BY THE RIGHT TACKLE, WIDE OPEN, HE MAKES A BAD THROW.

AND OLIVER MARTIN, I'VE SAID THIS SEVERAL TIMES, HE'S GOT TO TRY TO BREAK THE PASS UP.

I KNOW THAT IT'S TOUGH, BUT HE'S GOT TO TRY TO BREAK THE PASS.

>> YEAH HIS BODY GOT ALL TWISTED AND TURNED, BUT SIMILAR SITUATION I BELIEVE IN THE NORTHWESTERN GAME.

OLIVER MARTIN COULD HAVE BROKEN UP -- >> WISCONSIN, NORTHWESTERN, WE'VE GOT A FEW OF THEM.

>> HERE'S ANTHONY GRANT AGAIN OUT OF THE BACKFIELD.

GREAT DAY FOR HIM.

6 CATCHES OUT OF THE BACKFIELD FOR 46 YARDS.

RUNS OVER THE DEFENSIVE BACK RIGHT THERE.

AND IT LEADS TO A THROW TO GET INSIDE OF THE 10 YARD LINE WHICH IS A TOUGH CATCH BY TREY PALMER AND THEN YOU BROKE DOWN THE POP PASS.

>> I DON'T GET IT.

>> LOVE IT, YEAH.

YOU GET THE POLE.

GOOD PLAY ACTION AND GOOD BALL HANDLING BY CASEY THOMPSON THERE TO GET VOKOLEK.

>> KYLER REED CAUGHT ABOUT THREE OF THESE DURING HIS CAREER.

THAT QUICK POP PASS.

WHEN YOU HAVE A GUY THAT BIG, THAT'S ONE THING.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL PLAY THIS WEEK BUT NOT HAVING HIM OUT THERE WOULD BE TOUGH.

AND THEN ONE OF THE THREE INTERCEPTIONS.

IF YOU'RE BAM, RIGHT THERE MAKING THE PLAY, SEAN.

>> YEAH, BRANDON JOSEPH, THE UCF/FLORIDA STATE TRANSFER, I MEAN JUST SHOWING UP AT CAMPUS AUGUST 8th.

>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

LET'S GET THE BALL TO CHANCELLOR BREWINGTON MORE IN MY OPINION.

THAT'S A GREAT PLAY THERE.

LATER, ANOTHER PASS WAS THROWN A LITTLE BEHIND HIM, BUT HE'S A PLAYMAKER WHENEVER HE TOUCHES THE BALL AND WHEN HE BLOCKS.

THIS WAS A TOUGH ONE RIGHT HERE.

EVERYONE KNOWS 4TH & 1, YOU GOT TO SNEAK IT, YOU GOT TO RUN IT.

BUT THEY DECIDE TO THROW THE BALL AND MICKEY JOSEPH STANDS BEHIND MARK WHIPPLE FOR THAT.

ANOTHER INTERCEPTION.

I THOUGHT MYLES FARMER HAD A REALLY GOOD GAME.

>> YEAH, REALLY GOOD JOB HERE.

HARTZOG BRING -- WE CALL THIS THE CAT BLITZ OR A BOUNDARY BLITZ AND HE STEPS IN TO REPLACE HIS, YOU KNOW, HARTZONG AND -- YOU KNOW JUST WASN'T EXPECTING TO COME DOWN THERE, BUT A REALLY GOOD PLAY.

>> SUDDEN CHANGE OFFENSE.

GO AFTER HIM WITH SHOT PLAY.

THEY DO THAT.

TREY PALMER WITH THE BIG CATCH THERE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN.

24 OF 36 FOR CASEY THOMPSON.

232 YARDS, 2 TOUCHDOWNS, 2 INTERCEPTIONS, BUT ONLY THE ONE SACK AS SEAN SAID EARLIER.

THEN HERE'S PLAY OF THE GAME, ONE OF THE PLAYS OF GAME.

MALCOLM HARTZOG MAKES THE PLAY THERE TO END THE GAME, FOR THE MOST PART.

FINAL STATS COMING UP NOW.

YOU LOOK OVERALL AT THE WAY NEBRASKA, REALLY, IN MY MIND, THE SECOND HALF WAS SO DOMINANT.

EVEN THOUGH YOU SEE ALL THE NUMBERS FOR RUTGERS, IT NEVER REALLY FELT LIKE IN THE SECOND HALF THEY'D GET ANYTHING GOING, TO ME, SO.

BUT ANYWAY, PLAYERS OF THE WEEK FOR THE PAST GAME.

ON OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL, NO SURPRISE, TRAVIS VOKOLEK, WHO OF COURSE IS BANGED UP NOW.

GOT HIS FIRST CATCH FOR A TOUCHDOWN AGAINST HIS OLD TEAM -- AGAINST RUTGERS.

PRETTY COOL.

AND THEN WE MENTIONED EARLIER, MALCOLM HARTZOG REPEATS AGAIN AS A DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AFTER BATTLING THROUGH A TOUCH FIRST HALF TO THE GAME SEALING INTERCEPTION.

NEXT UP ON THE SHOW, WE'LL BE JOINED BY FORMER HUSKER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN JEREMIAH SIRLES.

WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE GAME.

AS WE GO TO BREAK, IMAGES FROM THE WINNING ROAD TRIP, COURTESY OF HAIL VARSITY.

STAY WITH US.

WE'RE BACK SOON.

♪ >> THE WAY THEY YOU KNOW, HATS OFF TO THE COACHES ALSO.

YOU KNOW YOU CAN PREACH STAYING ON COURSE.

YOU KNOW?

BUT WORKING HARD, YOU KNOW AND MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.

YOU GOT TO PRACTICE THAT WAY.

YOU GOT TO PRACTICE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

TELL THEM TODAY WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE FINISHING ON EVERY PLAY AND EVERY DRIVE.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB JUST MAKING ADJUSTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE GAME, AT HALFTIME ESPECIALLY.

AND THEN JUST WHEN WE COME OFF OF THE FIELD, WE'RE JUST TAKING IT SERIES BY SERIES AND MOVING ON RIGHT AFTER LAST SERIES.

SO I THINK THAT'S BEEN HUGE.

>> THE LOCKER ROOM AT HALFTIME, THEY WERE KIND OF COACHING US.

THEY WERE SAYING THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE OKAY.

THAT THEY WERE GONNA COME BACK AND WIN THE GAME.

SO WHAT WE WERE DOING, WE WERE DOING CORRECTIONS AND GETTING THE GAMEPLAN ON THE BOARDS, THEY WERE LIKE, "NO, COACH, EVEYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA COME BACK AND WIN THE GAME."

SO THEY HAD SHORT MEMORY.

THEY KNOW, "HEY, WE PLAYED IT, WE GONNA GET TO THE FULL QUARTER, THEN WE'RE GONNA FINISH."

BUT THEY DID IT ON THEIR OWN.

>> WE WANT TO BUILD A CULTURE OF WINNING AROUND HERE, BUT WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE PROCESS AND WINNING ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO WE'RE JUST FOCUSED ON TAKING ONE DAY AT A TIME AND ONE WEEK AT A TIME.

AND I THINK SINCE MICKEY JOSEPH HAS TAKING OVER, HE'S DONE A GOOD JOB OF JUST ALLOWING US TO FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND AND NOT GET TOO AHEAD OF OURSELVES.

SO BEFORE WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANY END OF THE SEASON AWARDS AND ACCOLADES AND GOALS WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME, BUT IT'S GOOD FOR US AS A TEAM AND AS A PROGRAM TO GET TWO WINS UNDER OUR BELT AND WE'RE LOOKING TO CONTINUE THAT WIN STREAK.

>> WE TALK TO HIM ABOUT HOW NOBODY IS GOING TO WIN THE WEST OCTOBER 15.

SO IT'S THE NEXT GAME UP.

JOB IS TO GO 1-0 THIS WEEK, BUT NOBODY IS GOING TO WIN THE WEST ON OCTOBER 15.

SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING DOWN THE LINE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT STRAIGHT AT PURDUE.

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

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

JAY MOORE, SEAN CALLAHAN, OF COURSE.

AND NOW WE'RE JOINED BY FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES.

JEREMIAH, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

HOW YOU DOING, MAN?

>> I'M DOING FANTASTIC.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> WELL WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING BACK ON WITH US.

TWO WINS IN A ROW, WHAT WAS THE FEELING YOU HAD AFTER WATCHING THAT RUTGERS GAME?

>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS MIXED EMOTIONS 'CAUSE THE FIRST HALF WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE, "MAN, THIS CAN'T BE ACTUALLY HAPPENING."

YOU KNOW?

AND I WILL SAY THIS, I THINK I GAVE RUTGERS LESS CREDIT THAN THEY DESERVED FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WAS A PRETTY GOOD ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY HAD UP THERE.

BUT WATCHING THE HUSKERS BATTLE, WATCHING THE DEFENSE BE ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK AND THEN WATCHING THE OFFENSE HAVE TO MAKE PLAYS WHEN THEY NEEDED TO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING BECAUSE THIS TEAM FOR SO MANY YEARS HAS FOUND WAYS TO SQUANDER GAMES AT THE END OF THE GAME OR WAYS TO NOT PULL IT OUT EVEN IF IT'S A CLOSE GAME.

AND TO SEE THEM DO THAT TWO WEEKS IN A ROW NOW AND COME AWAY WITH VICTORIES WAS JUST REALLY ENCOURAGING FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

>> JEREMIAH, THIS IS SEAN CALLAHAN, I KNOW YOU WATCHED THE OFFENSIVE LINE PLAY CLOSE.

THE HUSKERS HAVE HAD SOME SETBACK WITH THE PROCHAZKA INJURY, NOUREDIN NOUILI SUSPENSION.

BUT WHAT CAN THEY DO TO RIGHT NOW TO FIX THIS UNIT.

IS THERE ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT JUMP OUT TO YOU RIGHT NOW THAT THEY CAN GET THIS THING AT LEAST IN A BETTER DIRECTION THIS WEEK?

>> YOU KNOW I THINK THE HUNTER ANTHONY FIX AT RIGHT TACKLE HAS BEEN HELPFUL.

YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T PLAY PERFECT BY ANY MEANS, BUT THAT HE'S PLAYING BETTER THAN BRYCE BENHART AT THE MOMENT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO FIND WHO'S GONNA BE AT GUARD?

IS IT HENRY LUTOVSKY?

IS IT BROC BANDO?

IS IT ETHAN PIPER?

YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW, THE TWO STEADY GUYS ARE TURNER CORCORAN AND TRENT HIXSON.

AND TURNER GETTING ASKED TO MOVE OUTSIDE TO LEFT TACKLE AFTER PLAYING ONLY LEFT GUARD AND REMEMBERING THAT HE HAD NO OFFSEASON 'CAUSE HE HAD THE SHOULDER SURGERY AND THEN HE GOT DINGED AT CAMP.

YOU KNOW, HE'S HAD TO MOVE AROUND A LOT.

SO THAT'S BEEN REALLY TOUGH FOR HIM.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS OFFENSIVE LINE, WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT -- AND I TALKED ABOUT IN OUR PODCAST WITH JESSICA CUDDY THIS WEEK.

I JUST NEED TO SEE THEM BE MORE NASTY.

YOU KNOW, OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, WE'RE JUST NOT NICE PEOPLE ON THE FIELD AND I NEED TO SEE MORE OF THAT OUT OF THEM.

I NEED TO SEE MORE GUYS WANTING TO THROW GUYS AROUND, FINISHING GUYS OVER THE PILE, NOT LETTING THEM TOUCH YOUR QUARTERBACK.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A MINDSET THAT COMES WITH OFFENSIVE LINE PLAY AND I NEED TO SEE THAT MORE OUT OF THESE FRONT FIVE.

>> OKAY SO -- [ TALKING OVER EACH OTHER ] >> -- BUT DIDN'T WORK OUT TO WELL FOR THEM.

JERIMIAH, HOW DOES PLAY CALLS EARLY SET THE TON FOR OFFENSIVE LINEMEN'S MINDSET?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR SO MUCH CONFIDENCE TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL EARLY BECAUSE JAY, AS YOU KNOW, LIKE IF YOU DON'T RUN THE BALL EARLY, YOUR OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR PANICS.

YOU KNOW, IF HE COMES OUT ON FIRST DOWN AND YOU HAVE A NEGATIVE PLAY AND THEN IT'S 2nd AND 11 AND THEN THE NEXT DRIVE YOU HAVE A PLUS ONE PLAY AND NOW IT'S 2nd AND 9, YOU KNOW, HE STARTS TO THINK EARLY IN THE GAME, MAN, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO RUN THE BALL," WHICH IS NOT THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, THE RUN GAME TAKES TIME TO DEVELOP BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE GATE STRONG.

AND AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN, YOU ALWAYS WANT TO GIVE THAT CONFIDENCE TO YOUR OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND YOUR RUN GAME COORDINATOR LIKE, "WE CAN DO THIS."

AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE HOMERUN HITS BUT PLUS THREES, PLUS FOURS, BECAUSE IF YOU CAN START THE GAME WITH PLUS THREE, PLUS FOUR EFFICIENT RUNS DOES TURN INTO THE PLUS 8s, THE PLUS 9s AND WHEN YOU HAVE A BACK LIKE GRANT BACK THERE WHO JUST LOVES CONTACT AND YOU CAN SEE THEM GROW STRONGER DURING THE GAME, IT GIVES YOU A TON OF CONFIDENCE IN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE, "MAN, ALL IT'S GOING TO TAKE IS ONE LITTLE HOLE AND THIS GUY CAN GO THE DISTANCE."

YOU KNOW, I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SOME REALLY SPECIAL BACKS WHEN I PLAYED HERE FROM ROY HELU TO REX BURKHEAD TO AMEER ABDULLAH, AND YOU KNOW SINCE DEVINE OZIGBO I THINK ANTHONY GRANT'S PROBABLY OUR MOST COMPLETELY BACK THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE HIM THAT CAN DO BOTH OUT OF THE SHOTGUN, UNDER CENTER, IN BETWEEN THE TACKLES, OUTSIDE THE TACKLES.

SO YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP A GUY LIKE THAT IN THE GAME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

AND AS AN OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, YOU JUST WANT TO BLOCK AS HARD AS YOU CAN FOR A GUY LIKE THAT.

>> JEREMIAH SIRLES JOINING US HERE, FORMER HUSKER.

I'M NOT SAYING IT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU, BUT IF YOU GIVE UP 26 PRESSURES WHAT YOU SAY TO THE QUARTERBACK AFTER THE GAME?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU SAY TO HIM?

I MEAN, YOU FIND A HOLE AND YOU CRAWL IN IT AND YOU DON'T GET OUT OF IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

YOU KNOW IT'S JUST, IT'S A PRIDE THING.

AND YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYS CONFIDENCE.

AND YOU KNOW I THINK THAT'S ONE THING THAT IS LACKING WITH SOME OF THESE GUYS RIGHT NOW IS JUST THE CONFIDENCE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LINE UP AND YOU BREAK THE HUDDLE AND YOU WALK UP TO THAT LINE, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT GUY ACROSS FROM YOU AND SAY, "I'M GOING TO WHIP YOUR TAIL," EVERY SINGLE PLAY.

YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HAVE TO.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT MINDSET THE SECOND DOUBT CREEPS IN OR THE SECOND YOU START TRYING TO PLAY HIM INSTEAD OF HIM PLAYING YOU THAT'S WHEN THINGS CAN REALLY OFF THE RAILS.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK SOME OF THE GUYS JUST ARE GOING OUT THERE AND THEY'RE PLAYING A LITTLE SLOW AND TRYING TO READ AND REACT INSTEAD OF JUST DOING THEIR THING.

TRUST IN YOUR SET, TRUST IN YOUR FOOTWORK, MAKING THAT GUY REACT TO YOU AND MAKING HIM FIND WAYS TO BEAT INSTEAD OF YOU WORKING, "HEY HE LIKES TO SPIN OR HE'S A SPEED RUSH SO I CHANGE MY SET OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE."

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU JUST APOLOGIZE TO YOUR QUARTERBACK AND YOU JUST SAY, "I GOT TO GET BETTER."

AND THIS IS A PERFORMANCE-BASED BUSINESS.

I MEAN, WHATEVER POSITION YOU PLAY, IF THEY'RE SOMEONE PLAYING BETTER BEHIND YOU THERE GETTING REPS AND THEY'RE GONNA GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> JEREMIAH, JUST SIX GAMES LEFT, BUT ONLY ONE RANKED OPPONENT ON THAT FINAL SIX FOR NEBRASKA.

WHAT IS YOUR OUTLOOK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE FINAL SIX CONFERENCE GAMES AND MAYBE WHAT THIS TEAM CAN ACCOMPLISH BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TEAMS THEY'RE PLAYING RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS OUT IN FRONT OF US.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND POUND THE TABLE AND SAY WE'RE GOING TO WIN THE WEST, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A TALL ASK.

BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN GO 3-3 IN THESE NEXT SIX.

I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT.

YOU KNOW?

IT STARTS THIS WEEK AGAINST A PURDUE TEAM BUT YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, MINNESOTA HAD THE BLUNDER, WISCONSIN HAD THEIR BLUNDER, IOWA'S OFFENSE LOOKS LIKE PIAS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE BUT AS MUCH AS WHAT THE SCHEDULE SAYS, IT'S MORE ABOUT WHAT NEBRASKA DOES.

YOU KNOW, ARE THEY GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THE RUN GAME GOING?

ARE THEY GONNA BE ABLE GET TO THE QUARTERBACK?

LITTLE THINGS OF THE GAME WITHIN THE GAME OF WHAT NEBRASKA'S DONE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THEY HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO HANDLE WINNING.

THEY WORST THING THIS TEAM CAN DO IS START FEELING THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT.

THEY HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO HANDLE WINNING, UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY ARE WITH THE TEAM, AND GROWING OFF OF THAT AND BUILDING MOMENTUM THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

SO IF THEY SHOW UP TO PURDUE THINKING, "OH, WE WON TWO GAMES, WE'RE FINE," THEY'LL GET RAN OUT OF THE STADIUM AND THAT'S HARD TO DO FOR A TEAM THAT'S JUST NOT USED TO HANDLING WINNING.

>> THE MEDIA ASKED COACH JOSEPH TODAY WHAT'S DIFFERENCE ON DEFENSE.

HE POINTED OUT THE CHANGE IN DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN ON THE FIELD THAT HAS LED TO THESE COUPLE SECOND HALVES WHEN THEY GAVE UP ZERO POINTS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THEY WERE PLAYING TIGHTER COVERAGE ON THE BACK END.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT YOU'RE SEEING GUYS GET UP AND CHALLENGE GUYS QUICKER.

I KNOW THAT RUTGERS' QUARTERBACK SITUATION WAS LESS THAN IDEAL TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT I THOUGHT THAT REALLY, WITH AGAINST INDIANA ESPECIALLY, THESE CORNERS WERE UP IN THEIR FACE NOT GIVING AS MUCH SEPARATION AND YOU KNOW IT'S A RISK REWARD GAME BECAUSE YOU'RE PLAYING, "IF I BEAT OFF THE LINE I MIGHT GIVE UP SOMETHING DEEP, BUT I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH TALENT UP FRONT THAT WE CAN EFFECT THE QUARTERBACK AND EFFECT HIS TIMING.

BUT YOU KNOW, FOR FIRST FEW GAMES, YOU JUST SAW WIDE RECEIVERS WITH SO MUCH CUSHION AND JUST IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE PLAYING CATCH OUT THERE.

YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T CONTESTED CATCHES.

IT WAS A LOT OF FIVE YARD SEPARATIONS FROM THE CORNERS AND BACKPEDALING O OFF THE SNAP.

YOU KNOW, SO I REALLY LIKE WHAT THEY DBs HAVE DONE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT.

>> SOMETIMES YOU DON'T KNOW YOU CAN DO SOMETHING UNTIL YOU DO IT.

NEBRASKA FINALLY WINS A ONE SCORE GAME.

WHAT DO THINK THE DIFFERENCE OVERALL WAS IN THE WAY THEY PLAYED IN THAT FOURTH QUARTER KNOWING -- BACK TO BACK, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WAY THEY PLAYED IN FOURTH QUARTER OF THESE LAST TWO GAMES?

>> YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING IS TURNOVERS.

YOU KNOW, TURNOVERS WIN YOU FOOTBALL GAMES AND ON BOTH SIDES.

YOU KNOW, PROTECTING THE FOOTBALL AND GETTING -- AND STEALING POSSESSIONS.

ANY TIME YOU CAN STEAL A POSSESSION, ESPECIALLY IN ENEMY TERRITORY, AND THEN TAKE THE DEEP SHOT AND SCORE RIGHT AWAY, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE MOMENTUM SWINGS.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT REALLY GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GONNA BE PIVOTAL GOING FORWARD.

OUR OFFENSE IS NOT BUILT TO GO 90 EVERY SINGLE TIME.

YOU KNOW, THIS DEFENSE HAS TO STEAL THE FOOTBALL AWAY AND GIVES THIS OFFENSE A CHANCE TO HAVE A SHORT FIELD AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCORE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL BOTH WEEKS HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME TURNOVERS AGAINST INDIANA TOO, HAD THE BIG ONES AGAINST RUTGERS, BUT I HEARD YOU GUYS MENTIONED BEFORE I JUMPED ON HERE, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT'S GOT TO HAPPEN IS RUN GAME'S GOT TO GET FIGURED OUT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THIS IS NOT A TEAM THAT CAN WIN A LOT OF FOOTBALL GAMES WHILE RUSHING FOR 75 YARDS.

NOT AS YOU'RE ENTERING INTO THE TEETH OF YOUR SCHEDULE, NOT AS YOU ENTER INTO THE BADDER WEATHER IN LATE OCTOBER THROUGH NOVEMBER.

THE RUN GAME GOT TO GET FIGURED OUT REALLY QUICKLY.

>> JEREMIAH, AS WE WRAP IT UP HERE, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON MICKEY JOSEPH AND THE JOB HE'S DONE CONSIDERING THE SITUATION IN INHERITED WHERE THE SEASON WAS AFTER IT WAS AFTER GEORGIA SOUTHERN AND OKLAHOMA?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF -- YOU CAN TELL HE'S NOT COACHING WITH A LOT OF PRESSURE ON HIM BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE IT AND I THINK THE TEAM'S EMBODYING THAT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE WAS THIS UNSPOKEN PRESSURE THAT WAS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE RUMORS GOING ON OF "IS COACH FROST GONNA GET FIRED OR NOT?"

AND THEN THE NEGOTIATION OF THE BUYOUT WHERE IT'S BASICALLY LIKE, "WELL IF HE DOES BAD, HE'S GONNA GONNA THIS," ANDI THINK THAT THE TEAM KINDA FELT THAT STRESS WHEREAS LIKE, "MAN, IF I DON'T PLAY WELL, MY HEAD COACH MIGHT GET FIRED."

YOU KNOW, TO WHERE RIGHT NOW I THINK THE TEAM AND I THINK MICKEY JOSEPH AND I THINK ALL THE COACHES ARE KIND OF PLAYING WITH HOUSE MONEY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO CERTAINTY TO ANYTHING.

THERE'S MORE UNCERTAINTY THAN THERE IS ANSWERS.

SO EVERYONE'S OUT THERE JUST PLAYING MUCH FREER.

YOU KNOW, AND I THINK COACH JOSEPH'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF KIND OF LETTING HIS TEAM FEEL THAT AND SAY, "HEY, GO PLAY LOOSE.

GO PLAY FAST.

GO PLAY WITH NOTHING TO LOSE 'CAUSE WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE."

YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE SEEING THE TEAM PLAY THAT WAY AND YOU CAN WIN A LOT OF GAMES OFF OF EFFORT ALONE.

AND I THINK THAT IF THEY CAN CONTINUE OFF THAT AND JUST EMBODY WHAT THEIR HEAD COACH IS PREACHING TO THEM AND REALLY BUY IN THEN YEAH, I REALLY THINK WE CAN WIN THREE OUT OF NEXT SIX.

>> FORMER HUSKER JEREMIAH SIRLES JOINING US HERE ON "THE WRAPUP."

MAYBE IT'S CO, BUT WHO'S YOUR OFFENSIVE MVP?

>> IT'S GRANT.

I THINK GRANT RIGHT NOW IS MY OFFENSIVE MVP.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WHAT HE DID EARLIER IN THE YEAR, YOU SEE THE SPECIALTY TO HIM.

YOU KNOW IT THINK THAT -- I'LL GO CO WITH TREY PALMER.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, THOSE TWO GUYS MAKE THIS OFFENSE GO.

YOU KNOW, WITHOUT THOSE GUYS WE'D BE IN A WORLD OF HURT.

AND YOU KNOW, THOSE TWO GUYS ARE REALLY, REALLY SPECIAL PLAYERS.

AND GETTING TRANSFER PORTALS FRESH YEAR, I'D LOVE TO SEE BOTH THOSE GUYS STAY ANOTHER YEAR AND FIGURE THEMSELVES OUT.

I JUST BOTH OF THOSE GUYS CAN BE REALLY SPECIAL TALENTS AND WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE BALL IN THEIR HANDS MORE.

>> JERIMIAH, THEY HAD THE DEADLINE OF PUTTING YOUR NAME IN THE TRANSFER PORTAL.

ISAIAH CASTANEDA DECIDED TO DO IT.

WHAT DO THINK THE FEEL IS ON A TEAM WHEN YOU HAVE A GUY DECIDE HEY, I'M -- I'M NOT GONNA SAY QUITTING BUT LEAVING THE TEAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR?

>> I MEAN, IT'S A WEIRD THING.

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I GOT OUT BEFORE ALL THAT CRAZINESS BEGAN.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW?

BUT IT'S GOT TO BE A WEIRD FEELING TO SIT THERE AND LOOK YOUR TEAMMATE IN THE EYE AND BE LIKE, "REALLY?

LIKE NOW?

LIKE, YOU COULDN'T WAIT SIX MORE WEEKS?

LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ACCOMPLISH IF YOU LEAVE NOW?"

YOU KNOW?

I DON'T THINK IT IS QUITTING.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE NEVER -- NO ONE EVER KNOWS THE FULL STORY TO WHAT'S GOING ON AS TO WHY GUYS LEAVE AND NO ONE EVER REALLY WILL.

BUT YOU KNOW, FOR ME, AS A GUY THAT THINKS LIKE IF YOU COMMIT TO SOMETHING ROLL WITH IT.

IF YOU'RE THIS DEEP INTO THE SEASON, MAN, FINISH IT OUT.

GUT IT OUT.

FIND A WAY THE PORTAL STILL GONNA BE THERE IN DECEMBER.

>> WHAT HAVE SEEN FROM THE SPECIAL TEAMS?

I KNOW THAT WAS THE BIG CONVERSATION COMING INTO THE SEASON.

OBVIOUSLY, COACH BUSCH WHO TOOK IT OVER.

AND NOW THEY'RE KIND OF SHARING THE DUTIES A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE SPECIAL TEAMS HAVE DONE SO FAR THIS YEAR?

>> I MEAN, OUR PUNTER'S BEEN PHENOMENAL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT BESIDES LAST WEEK, HE HAD SOME DECENTLY NOT GREAT PUNTS.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT OVERALL, WE FLIPPED THE FIELD POSITION THIS YEAH AND OUR KICKERS MAKING EXTRA POINTS.

I CAN REMEMBER STANDING ON THE SIDELINE LAST YEAR LITERALLY LOOKING AWAY FOR AN EXTRA POINT.

JUST LIKE, CLOSE MY EYES AND JUST PRAY I DIDN'T HEAR A DOUBLE THUD OR A DOUBLE DOINK, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS AN ADVENTURE EVERY TIME THE SPECIAL TEAMS WALKED OUT THERE.

YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND I THINK SPECIAL TEAMS ACTUALLY BEEN MORE OF AN ASSET FOR US THIS YEAR.

SO WHAT COACH BUSCH DID IN THE OFFSEASON GETTING THOSE THINGS RIGHT, HOW THEY'RE SHARING THE DUTIES NOW AND EVERYONE IN.

SPECIAL TEAMS IS 90% EFFORT AND 90% MANTRA AND I THINK THAT ALL OF THOSE GUYS ARE EMBODYING JUST GOING DOWN AND FLYING AROUND, PLAYING FAST, MAKING THING HAPPEN.

AND THEN THE KICKING GAME JUST EXECUTING WHAT WHAT THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE TO DO.

>> I'M INTERESTED ON THIS.

WHO ARE THE TWO OR THREE BEST PRO PROSPECTS ON NEBRASKA'S ROSTER RIGHT NOW, JEREMIAH?

BASED ON KIND OF WHAT YOU KNOW AND STUDY FROM YOUR END.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I'M TALKING TO SCOUTS WEEKLY.

AND RIGHT NOW, TRAVIS VOKOLEK IS PROBABLY THE TOP NFL PROSPECT ON OUR TEAM.

GARRET NELSON'S ANOTHER ONE AND THEN OCHAUN MATHIS HAD A DECENT GRADE COMING INTO THE YEAR.

YOU KNOW, I THINK HIS PLAY HAS PROBABLY DROPPED HIS GRADE A LITTLE BIT ON THE WAY DOWN.

BUT YOU'RE GONNA SEE MIDSEASON GRADES WILL BE COMING OUT HERE PROBABLY IN NOVEMBER, YOU'LL SEE HERE.

BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S A FEW GUYS THAT ARE ON THERE.

BUT I THINK TRAVIS VOKOLEK PROBABLY THE TOP GRADE NAMED RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT PAINS ME AND KILLS ME INSIDE IS WE DON'T HAVE AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN THAT IS AN NFL PROSPECT AND WHEN GUYS TALK ABOUT HOW DO YOU BECOME A BETTER FOOTBALL TEAM.

WELL YOU PUT NFL OFFENSIVE LINEMAN INTO THE NFL.

YOU DEVELOP THEM.

YOU GROW THEM AND THEN YOU GET THEM DRAFTED AND THEY GO AND CONTRIBUTE.

AND IT'S NOT A GLARING THING WHERE IT'S LIKE, "WHY ARE WE BAD?

"WHY ARE WE EACH STRUGGLING?"

WELL YOU DON'T HAVE NFL TALENT AND THE TEAMS THAT HAVE NFL TALENT WIN A LOT MORE GAMES.

>> JEREMIAH, DO YOU WANT TO TELL THEM WHERE WE HAVE THOSE COOL GLASSES FROM?

>> I GOT THESE ACTUALLY IN CINCINNATI.

YOU KNOW, I STARED AT A COMPUTER SCREEN ALL DAY NOW THAT I DON'T BANGED MY HEAD AGAINST THE WALL.

SO I HAD TO GET SOME BLUE BLOCKERS 'CAUSE I WAS GETTING HEADACHES.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FASHION THING.

I GOT TO LOOK HIP FOR THESE KIDS THAT I'M RECRUITING NOWADAYS.

>> I CAN UNDERSTAND.

JEREMIAH, WE APPRECIATE YOU TIME.

THANKS, MAN.

>> ABSOLUTELY, GUYS.

APPRECIATE IT.

GO BIG RED.

>> TIME FOR ANOTHER BREAK.

NEXT UP, SEAN WILL HELP UPDATE US ON RECRUITING.

BUT FIRST, MORE SCENES FROM NEBRASKA'S WIN OVER RUTGERS, COURTESY OF "HAIL VARSITY."

BACK IN TWO.

♪ >>> TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND THE BIG TEN.

OHIO STATE CONTINUE TO CRUISE.

THIS TIME OVER MICHIGAN STATE, 49-20.

ILLINOIS FOUGHT OFF IOWA IN A PUNTING BATTLE, 9-6.

AND PURDUE REALLY DID HOLD ON AGAINST MARYLAND, 31-29.

WELCOME BACK.

MIKE'L SEVERE, SEAN CALLAHAN.

TIME TO TALK SOME RECRUITING.

SEAN, HAS THINGS KIND OF CALM DOWN A LITTLE BIT BASED OFF OF WHAT HAPPENED IN TERMS OF THE COACHING CHANGES?

>> YEAH, I THINK THEY'VE WON A COUPLE OF GAMES.

THE COACHES HAVE GONE OUT AND TALKED TO ALMOST EVERY RECRUIT.

SO I THINK THINGS -- FOR WHERE THE SEASONS AT -- HAVE SETTLE DOWN.

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COACHING SITUATION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

BUT I THINK MICKEY JOSEPH AND THE STAFF HAVE REALLY DONE A GOOD JOB AND THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF NEW OFFERS AS WE'VE HIT ON THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

ALRIGHT, LET'S TALK TO OUR GUEST NOW.

MAVERICK NOONAN JOINING US FROM ELKHORN SOUTH.

>> MAVERICK, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

HOW'S THINGS -- THE SEASON GOING ON SO FAR?

>> I'M GOOD.

UNDEFEATED.

READY FOR PLAYOFFS IN OMAHA NORTH SO, I'M EXCITED.

>> WELL MAVERICK, YOU'VE BEEN A COMMIT NOW FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS.

WE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO COME IN NOW FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS.

HOW DO YOU -- WHEN YOU TALK TO NEBRASKA AND JUST YOUR ROLE, HOW DO THEY ENVISION YOU PLAYING IN THIS DEFENSE GOING FORWARD?

>> I'D SAY MORE OF LIKE A RUSH END.

SO EVEN WHEN COMPARING TO SOMEONE LIKE GARRETT, HOW HE'S PLAYING NOW.

GETTING AFTER THE QUARTERBACK, SET THE EDGE.

MAKING TACKLES ON THE LINE.

>> WE HAVE YOU LISTED HERE ON THE SCREEN AT 230.

ARE YOU 230 OR ARE YOU MORE?

>> I'M A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT.

>> WHAT YOU THINK THE IDEAL WEIGHT FOR YOU IS NOW AND THEN MOVING INTO NEBRASKA?

>> I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT NOW SINCE I'M IN SEASON.

BUT WHATEVER THEY WANT ME TO BE AT, I'LL ADAPT.

I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THAT NOW.

>> MAVERICK, THIS GROUP OF RECRUITS THAT IS CURRENTLY COMMITTED TO NEBRASKA, IT FEELS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AS A GROUP.

HOW MUCH DO YOU GUYS TALK, ESPECIALLY DURING THE CURRENT TIMES.

JUST WITH SOME OF THE UNCERTAINTIES OF NEBRASKA AND IT FEELS LIKE, AS A GROUP, YOU GUYS HAVE STAYED TOGETHER AND NOBODY HAS LEFT THE RECRUITING CLASS.

>> YEAH I MEAN WE ARE PRETTY CLOSE.

I MEAN WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING TO EACH OTHER MIDFIELD DURING THE GAME.

AND JUST GETTING TO KNOW THOSE GUYS.

I KNOW THE IN STATE GUYS PRETTY WELL, TOO.

I MEAN, WE'RE ALL PRETTY CLOSE AND I THINK WE'RE ALL COMMITTED TO THE SCHOOL RATHER THAN THE COACHING STAFF, SO.

I THINK WE'RE ALL STILL LOCKED IN.

>> MAVERICK, I KNOW YOUR DAD PLAYED A LONG TIME AGO BUT GROWING UP, DID YOU REALIZE HOW GOOD HE WAS IN TERMS OF -- HOW GOOD HE WAS AT NEBRASKA AND BEING A HIGH DRAFT PICK?

DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE LEGEND OF YOUR DAD.

>> I MEAN, WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH, TO BE HONEST.

HE DIDN'T EITHER SO -- WE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH, NO.

>> YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT SEASON AT ELKHORN SOUTH.

YOU GUY'S HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN TESTED ALL YEAR.

HOW MUCH -- YOU GOT A BIG ONE AT OMAHA NORTH, WEEK NINE.

THE PLAYOFFS, I MEAN HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR TEAM AND HOW EXCITED ARE YOU FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> YEAH I MEAN, WE REALLY HAVEN'T -- LIKE YOU SAID WE HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN TESTED.

BUT I THINK OMAHA NORTH WILL BE GREAT JUST BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS AND THEN I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE WILL SEE HOW GOOD WE ARE DURING THE PLAYOFFS.

WE GOT A GREAT RUNNING BACK COLE BALLARD, NOAH BUSTARD, ASHTON MURPHY, HENRY PROCHAZKA.

CARSON RAUNER IS DOING GREAT AT QUARTERBACK THIS YEAR SO I THINK WE CAN GO REALLY FAR IN THE PLAYOFFS.

AND HOPEFULLY MAKE IT DOWN TO LINCOLN.

>> ONE THING I NOTICED ABOUT YOU GUYS YOUR FANBASE TRAVELS.

THE STUDENTS REALLY TRAVEL AS WELL.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT ANYTIME YOU GUYS ARE ON THE ROAD.

>> I MEAN IT'S GREAT.

I MEAN, JUST HAVING THOSE GUYS EVEN THOUGH THE GAMES REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN TO CLOSE, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD.

>> AND MAVERICK, THERE'S A NUMBER OF ELKHORN SOUTH GUYS ON THIS NEBRASKA FOOTBALL ROSTER AND THERE'S OTHER ELKHORN SOUTH ATHLETES ALL OVER THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.

HOW MUCH DO YOU RUN INTO THOSE GUYS WHEN YOU ARE DOWN HERE.

JUST WHETHER THEY'RE FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, TRACK.

I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ELKHORN SOUTH GUYS ALL OVER CAMPUS RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH I ALWAYS SEE TEDDY ON THE SIDELINES.

HE ALWAYS COMES UP, AS WELL.

I MEAN, IT'S COOL I GUESS.

>> MAVERICK, WE APPRECIATE IT, HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE YEAR.

>> YUP, THANK YOU.

>> YEAH, I SAW THEM PLAY AGAINST CENTRAL AND OBVIOUSLY CENTRAL IS UNDERMANNED AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF GUYS.

BUT THEIR SIZE IS AMAZING.

WE'RE TALKING LIKE 6'5", 6'6", OFFENSIVE LINE AND YOU'VE GOT HIM AND PROCHAZKA AT THE TIME.

THEY'RE JUST SOME BIG KIDS.

>> YEAH AND THEY'RE -- THE DEPTH THEY HAVE.

LIKE WE SAID, NOBODY PLAYS TWO WAYS.

UNLESS YOU'RE -- YOU KNOW MAVERICK NOONAN PLAY OFFENSIVE LINE, D-LINE.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE THAT LEVEL OF THE GUY TO BE A TWO WAY PLAYER.

BECAUSE GUY ROSENBEG JUST HAS THE NUMBERS, HE HAS THE DEPTH.

SCHOOLS LIKE CREIGHTON PREP, ELKHORN SOUTH JUST HAVE THE LUXURY OF HAVING SO MANY MORE KIDS WITH GREAT DEPTH.

>> LETS TALK ABOUT CARTER NELSON NOW, OUR IN STATE RECRUIT.

>> YEAH, 2024 AINSWORTH TIGHT END, CARTER NELSON.

PROBABLY A HIGH THREE STAR GUY WHEN IT'S ALL SET AND DONE.

MAYBE A FOUR STAR TALENT.

JUST AN ALL-AROUND SPECIMEN OF AN ATHLETE.

THE GUY CAN RUN SUB-11 IN THE 100.

HE HIGH JUMPS LIKE 6'9" 6'10."

HE'S THROWING THE DISCUS AT CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL.

YOU KNOW, HE'S AN ALL-AROUND ATHLETE.

WHAT HE DID IN TRACK THIS LAST YEAR REALLY SHOWED THAT.

BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO EVALUATE THIS TRUE EIGH MAN FILM.

BUT HE IS, BY FAR, THE FASTEST, THE BIGGEST, THE STRONGEST GUY ON THE FIELD AT THE EIGHT MAN LEVEL.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE SEEN AN EIGHT MAN GUY LIKE THIS IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA IN A LONG LONG TIME THAT HAS THE TOTAL PACKAGE.

HE'S ALSO A GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER.

COACHES KID.

HIS MOM AND DAD ARE BOTH COACHES AT AINSWORTH.

>> I KNOW IT'S EARLY BUT LOOKING AHEAD TO ILLINOIS, YOU THINK HE COULD BE A BIG RECRUIT VISIT?

YEAH AND YOU KNOW, MALACHI COLEMAN IS GOING TO MAKE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT THERE ON THE BYE-WEEK.

THAT WEEK COMING UP, WE'LL HAVE AN IN STATE ANNOUNCEMENT.

I THINK NEBRASKA IS WHERE HE IS GOING TO END UP GOING.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

BUT I THINK NEBRASKA IS IN A GOOD SPOT THERE.

THE COACHES WILL GO OUT ON THE ROAD OF THE BYE.

BUT YEAH, ILLINOIS YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD NUMBER.

WITH VINCE GUINTA AND MICKEY JOSEPH, THEY REALLY MADE A HUGE EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AT A HIGH LEVEL.

AND NOT, AT LEAST, SHOW THAT "HEY, WE ARE SHUTTING THIS THING DOWN."

THEY'RE MOVING FULL STEAM AHEAD.

EVEN AT A HIGHER LEVEL, HONESTLY, THAT WE'D SEEN BEFORE.

>> THANKS, SEAN.

BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEKS SIDELINE SURVEY.

RATE THE JOB MICKEY JOSESPH HAS DONE SO FAR THROUGH THREE GAMES, AND THESE NUMBERS BETTER BE GOOD.

49% EXCELLENT, 49% GOOD, 2% NEUTRAL, AND NO ONE SO FAR VOTING BAD.

WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT THE WRAP-UP WEBSITE AND CAST YOUR VOTE.

LETS DIVE INTO ANOTHER COACHING CANDIDATE.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS EACH WEEK.

THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT MATT RHULE WHO IS NOW BACK ON THE LIST FOR COLLEGE COACHES NOW AFTER GETTING FIRED AT CAROLINA.

WE KNOW WHAT HE DID AT TEMPLE.

TAKING OVER A TEAM THAT WAS REALLY BAD.

TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO GET GOING BUT GOT THEM GOING.

AND THEN HE GOES TO BAYLOR.

TAKES OVER AFTER ART BRILES, GETS THEM GOING AS WELL.

LEAVES A BUNCH OF TALENT BEHIND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MATT RHULE?

>> YEAH, YOU CAN'T REALLY DENY WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED AT TEMPLE AND BAYLOR.

OBVIOUSLY THE PROS DIDN'T GO WELL.

BUT WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE.

NICK SABEN DIDN'T DIDN'T GET IT DONE.

PETE CARROLL, HIS FIRST TRY IN THE PROS DID GET IT DONE.

IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU'RE A BAD COACH BUT --WHAT HE DID AT BAYLOR AND TEMPLE --HE HAD COLLEGE GAME DAY COME TO A TEMPLE NOTRE DAME GAME.

AND THEY AIRED A TEMPLE-NOTRE DAME GAME ON ABC.

I THINK WHAT YOU GOT TO FIGURE OUT IS HE A TRUE FIT FOR NEBRASKA.

CULTURALLY IS HE A FIT FOR THIS JOB.

AND DOES HE WANT A COACH?

>> 40 MILLION DOLLARS HE HAS IN HIS POCKET RIGHT NOW.

>> DOES HE WANT TO JUMP RIGHT BACK INTO THINGS OR SURVEY THINGS.

I DO THINK THE OPENING JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO OPEN THIS YEAR AREN'T AS GOOD.

YOU KNOW, AUBURN MIGHT OPEN, NEBRASKA'S OPEN, WISCONSIN'S OPEN.

>> AUBURN'S OPENING.

>> THEY'LL EVENTUALLY OPEN.

>> AND ARIZONA STATE IS A PLACE WITH A LOT OF TALENT IF YOU WANT TO GO TO A PLACE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A LOT OF TALENT.

>> BUT A BIG BLUE BLOOD JOB, THERE AREN'T A LOT OF THEM OPENING.

AT LEAST, THAT'S THE FEEL.

>> HEY, A&M MIGHT OPEN, YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> 86 MILLION DOLLARS IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOU'VE BEEN BOTH SPOTS, WHY DO YOU THINK HE COULDN'T GET IT DONE IN THE NFL?

>> THE NFL IS JUST A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE IN THE NFL.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF OWNERS AND GENERAL MANAGERS THAT WANT TO BE SO INVOLVED, AND THEY'RE NOT FOOTBALL PEOPLE.

THIS IS, I ALWAYS TELL THE STORY -- WHEN I WAS DRAFTED BY THE 49ers IN 2007, PICKED IN THE FOURTH ROUND.

SO THAT WAS BACK WHEN IT WAS A TWO DAY DRAFT.

I WAS LIKE THE SECOND OR THIRD PICK.

THAT SUNDAY MORNING IN THAT FOURTH ROUND.

I GET A CALL ABOUT THREE OR FOUR HOURS LATER -- WE'RE HAVING A PARTY AT MY HOUSE -- FROM THE ARIZONA CARDINALS ASKING ME TO SIGN AS AN UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT.

>> WOW, THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW.

>> THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I WAS DRAFTED.

>> THEY WERE THAT GUY AT YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT THAT'S DRAFTING IN THE FIFTH ROUND.

>> MANY PEOPLE WONDER WHY THE ARIZONA CARDINALS STRUGGLE SO MUCH IS BECAUSE THEIR SCOUTING DEPARTMENT IS BAD.

ITS ALWAYS, YOU HAVE THE SAME FRANCHISES THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL.

YOU KNOW, THE STEELERS, THE PATRIOTS.

>> THE PACKERS.

>> YEAH SO, YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD MANAGEMENT.

THERE'S A LOT OF BAD MANAGEMENT.

AND THE HEAD COACH WILL UNDERMINE YOU.

AND IT'S A MESSY BUSINESS.

AND NOT TO SAY THAT COLLEGE IS SQUEAKY CLEAN.

BUT THE NFL, YOU GET SOME -- THE EGOS ARE SUBSTANTIAL.

THE GENERAL MANAGERS AND THE OWNERS JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETIMES JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE OWNERS, THEY'RE FUNDING THE WHOLE THING, UNFORTUNATELY.

IT'S JUST A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BALL GAME.

YOU MENTIONED CULTURAL FIT, THIS IS A GUY WHO LEFT TEMPLE AND WENT TO WACO, TEXAS.

AND WON EVERYBODY OVER.

HE SEEMED LIKE THE KIND OF GUY WHO COULD GO ANYWHERE.

>> WELL YEAH AND I THINK A LOT OF IT HE WANTS TO JUMP INTO THAT THOUGH.

DOES HE WANT TO SIT OUT A YEAR AND SURVEY THE LAND.

DOE HE WANT TO GO BACK IN THE NFL?

OR IS HE DONE IN THE NFL AND GO BACK TO COLLEGE.

I THINK THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT MATT RHULE, YET BECAUSE THIS JUST HAPPENED A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO ON MONDAY WHEN HE WAS FIRED.

BUT YOU CAN'T DENY WHAT HE DID.

GETTING BAYLOR TO THE, WAS IT THE SUGAR BOWL THYE PLAYED IN.

THEY LOST, BUT TO GEORGIA.

BUT TO GET HIM AT THAT LEVEL -- BEFORE HE WENT TO THE NFL HE DID A REMARKABLE JOB AT THOSE PLACES.

>> WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT PURDUE EARLIER THE BIGGEST STRENGTH THEY HAD, LOOKING OVER STATS WISE, WAS IN THE RED ZONE.

OFFENSE, 94% RED ZONE SCORING WHICH IS GREAT.

AND THREE OUT OF FOUR TIMES YOU SCORE ON THEM IN THE REDZONE, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

THATS 24th IN THE COUNTRY.

75% THEY'VE GIVEN UP SCORING IN THE REDZONE.

THAT'S WHERE THEIR STRENGTH IS.

AND THAT'S HOW THEY BEAT MARYLAND.

>> WE ALWAYS REFERENCE THIS QUOTE, IT'S NOT ABOUT YARDS, IT'S ABOUT POINTS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT MA'AM.

>> THAT'S THE KEY.

IF YOU HOLD TEAMS TO FIELD GOALS, MAN YOU GIVE YOUR OFFENSE TO FIGHTING CHANCE EVERY DAY.

AND IT'S A HUGE CONFIDENCE BOOSTER TOO.

THAT IS THE OFFENSE YOU DRIVE.

CALL IT 75 , 80 YARDS AND YOUR HOLDING THROUGH, IT'S JUST LIKE MAN.

AND IT GET'S EXHAUSTING, BUT THAT'S JUST A HUGE CONFIDENCE BOOSTER.

AND, ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE OFFENSE IS REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN THE REDZONE.

AND HOW MANY YEARS WAS SCOTT FROST STRUGGLING INSIDE THE REDZONE?

WE DRIVE UP AND DOWN THE FIELD, BUT WE HAD ONE OF THE WORST REDZONE SCORING PERCENTAGES, NOT ONLY IN THE BIG TEN, BUT NATIONALLY.

IT'S A TOUGH BATTLE WHEN EVERYTHING GETS TIGHTENED UP INSIDE THE 20s THERE.

BUT PURDUE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB THIS YEAR.

>> THEY HAVE AND PART OF THAT IS BRAUM IS A GREAT PLAY CALLER.

DOES A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS.

YOU MENTIONED YOU'VE BEEN THERE FOR 16 YEARS.

HE WILL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO INTERCEPT THE BALL BUT HE WAS THE BIGGEST KEY, THOUGH, WAS NEBRASKA ABLE TO GET THE RUN GAME GOING.

>> YEAH BECAUSE THAT TAKES PRESSURE OFF OF THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

I FELT LIKE ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THEY COULDN'T RUN IT.

AND IT REALLY MADE IT OBVIOUS THAT THEY HAD TO THROW IT.

THAT'S WHEN THE STUNTS, THE MOVEMENT, THE BLITZES COULD COME IN.

AND THAT OFFENSIVE LINE IS NOT BUILT FOR THAT.

BUT IF YOU GIVE THEM SECOND IN MEDIUMS AND THIRD AND SHORTS WHERE THEY RUN PAST.

THEY NEED A DIFFERENT LINE OR THEY CAN BE A DIFFERENT LINE.

THEY GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GIVE THAT OFFENSIVE LINE A CHANCE.

BECAUSE IF IT'S OBVIOUS, CASEY THOMPSON'S GOING TO GET A LOT AGAIN.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

HOWARD SAYS OMAHA FOR JAY.

WHAT WILL THE TEAM DO TO DEVELOP THE DEFENSIVE LINE?

TAKE THE NEXT STEP AS BLACK SHRITS, WHAT DO THEY DO.

>> WELL, IT STARTS, ONE, WITH RECRUITING.

GETTING THE GUYS IN HERE.

IT'S HARD TO DEVELOP GUYS, AS WELL, WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.

BECAUSE WHEN I CAME IN, YOU KNOW, I HAD DEMOINE ADAMS, CHRIS KELSEY, TREVOR JOHNSON.

I WAS NOT FORCING THE SITUATION TO PLAY.

HECK, I DIDN'T PLAY FOR MY FIRST TWO YEARS.

I DEVELOPED.

I FINALLY STARTED PLAYING MY SOPHOMORE YEAR.

I THINK NOWADAYS, BECAUSE A LACK OF DEPTH, AND A LACK OF TALENT WHERE SO MANY YOUNG KIDS ARE FORCED TO PLAY, IT'S REALLY HARD TO PLAY AS 18 , 19-YEAR-OLDS IN THE BIG TEN, UPFRONT.

SO I THINK, IF THEY CAN GET THOSE GUYS TO PLAY AND DEVELOP SOME OTHER WALK ONS -- GET SOME MORE COLTON FIESTS ABLE TO STEP UP AND PLAY.

AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO RUSH SO MANY YOUNG KIDS INTO THIS.

AND YOU CAN, HEY, PUT ON 25 POUNDS, PUT ON 30 POUNDS.

DEVELOP, LEARN THE DEFENSE.

LEARN TO PLAY WITH THE CORRECT PAD LEVEL AND HAND PLACEMENT, GOOD FOOTWORK.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN BLOCKING ASSIGNMENTS.

LEARN PASS RUSH MOVES.

BUT IT'S HARD TO DO.

YOU THROW THIS KID IN THERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GOT OUT THERE AND YOUR CONFIDENCE CAN GET CRUSHED REAL QUICK AS A YOUNG KID.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

GET THE GUYS YOU HAVE.

GET THEM UP TO SPEED.

BUT THESE YOUNG KIDS, MAYBE HOLD THEM BACK.

BUT IT'S HARD TO DO WHEN YOU'RE RECRUITING GUYS AND YOU'RE PROMISING THEM PLAYING TIME EARLY.

>> I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD IT BEFORE, SEAN.

HUSKER HEX.

EVERY TEAM THAT'S PLAYED NEBRASKA, OBVIOUSLY HAS STRUGGLED SINCE THEN.

NORTHWESTERN HAS NOT WON A GAME SINCE THEY BEAT NEBRASKA.

OKLAHOMA HAS NOT WON A GAME SINCE THEY BEAT NEBRASKA.

AND GEORGIA SOUTHERN WITH ONE WIN.

EVEN INDIANA, AFTER, YOU KNOW SAME THING -- LOST.

IT'S TOUGH WHEN YOU PLAY NEBRASKA.

>> HEY, THEY BEAT YOU TWICE.

>> WHICH IS AMAZING.

>> 1-11, COMBINED RECORD, THOSE THREE TEAMS AFTER BEATING NEBRASKA.

IT IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE TO THINK ABOUT.

REAL QUICK, WHY DO YOU THINK LOGAN SMOTHERS ISN'T PLAYING?

WHY DO YOU THINK CHUBBA PURDY IS AHEAD ON HIM?

AND DO YOU THINK IT'S A TALENT LEVEL THING?

EXPERIENCE?

WHY DO YOU THINK HE'S PLAYING?

>> I THINK IT'S ARM STRENGTH.

TO MAKE THE THROWS THAT MARK WIPPLE WANTS, CHUBBA'S GOT A BETTER ARM FOR HIM.

I KNOW LOGAN IS A BETTER ATHLETE.

HE CAN RUN.

THE ZONE READS AND THINGS.

WE SAW THAT.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW, WHEN THEY PUT HIM IN THAT GAME, WAS THAT A SCOTT FROST WRINKLE?

WAS THAT GEORGIA SOUTHERN OR NORTH DAKOTA, WHERE WE SAW HIM COME IN?

>> HE CAME IN BOTH GAMES, DIDN'T HE?

>> NORTHWESTERN AS WELL.

>> BECAUSE ONE WAS A FACE MASK -- >> THAT FELT LIKE A SCOTT FROST WRINKLE AT THAT POINT.

CHUBBA IS WIPPLE'S GUY, YOU GOTTA REMEMBER THAT.

>> RIGHT.

>> CASEY'S WIPPLE'S GUY.

>> SURE.

>> LOGAN IS MARIO AND SCOTT FROST'S GUY.

SO THEY'RE -- YOU KNOW THAT'S THE REALITY OF COACHING ROSTER POLITICS.

>> YOU WANT CHUBBA TO STAY MAYBE NEXT YEAR AS WELL.

WHAT DO YOU GOT FOR YOU BURNING QUESTION?

>> MY BURNING QUESTION IS CAN THIS TEAM GO INTO A HORNETS' NEST IN WEST LAFYETTE, ROSS-ADE STADIUM -- A TRUE SELLOUT.

NOT A FAKE SELLOUT, AS MICKY JOSEPH SAID TODAY.

AND HANDLE THEMSELVES IN A REALLY TOUGH ENVIRONMENT.

>> JAY?

>> PURDUE DOES STRUGGLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL.

BUT CAN NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE STOP THE RUN?

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING.

FORCE THEM INTO PASS -- PASSING SITUATIONS.

AND THEN SIT BACK THERE AND HOPEFULLY O'CONNELL GETS CARELESS WITH THE FOOTBALL.

>> WHEN HE DOES GET CARELESS WITH THE FOOTBALL AND HE THROWS THE INTERCEPTION, WILL NEBRASKA ACTUALLY INTERCEPT IT?

THAT'S THE KEY TO THE GAME, I THINK.

DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AND CLICK ON THE PREDICTION.

JAY, SEAN, AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN ON SATURDAY.

NEBRASKA STAYS ON THE ROAD THIS WEEKEND AS THEY HEAD TO WEST LAFAYETTE TO TAKE ON THE PURDUE BOILERMAKERS.

KICKOFF IS SET FOR 6:30 ON THE BIG TEN NETWORK.

OF COURSE, WE'RE BACK NEXT WEEK TO RECAP THE GAME, WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST SAM McKEWON FROM THE OMAHA WORLD HERALD -- AWESOME.

ON SUNDAY, NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS IS PROUD TO PRESENT MORE NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL.

HUSKERS HOST BIG TEN FOE NORTHWESTERN AT THE BOB ON SUNDAY.

FIRST SERVE IS SET FOR 2:00PM CENTRAL.

CATCH ALL THE ACTION RIGHT HERE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

OUR THANKS TO JEREMIAH, MAVERICK NOOAN, AND OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEERS IN THE CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

FOR JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON "BIG RED WRAP UP."

♪ ♪