♪ ♪ >>> THE HUSKERS HIRED A NEW PLAY CALLER FOR THE "O."

THE RESULTS?

A BIG ZERO.

ACTUALLY, 13 POINTS.

WHICH WASN'T ENOUGH.

EVEN WITH THE HELP OF THE "D." WE BREAK THAT DOWN AND REVISIT NEBRASKA'S CHANCES.

ENDING THE BOWL DROUGHT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE LOOK FORWARD TO RECRUITING TALK WITH SEAN CALLAHAN.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

WE'LL TELL YOU.

IT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT ON "BIG-RED WRAP UP."

♪ ♪ >>> I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WELCOME TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP" ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

JOINED BY FORMER HUSKERS JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

INITIAL THOUGHTS?

ANOTHER CHANCE FOR NEBRASKA TO GET BOWL ELIGIBLE.

THEY FALL SHORT.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE NEW OFFENSE?

>> I THINK BEING IN L.A. AND I'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE, RIGHT?

>> YES YOU HAVE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY.

I TELL YOU WHAT.

WITH THE NEW OFFENSE, NOTICED A FEW WRINKLES.

I THOUGHT THEY DID A GOOD JOB GETTING THE BALL QUICKER OUT OF DYLAN'S HANDS.

UTILIZING SOME SHORTER TO INTERMEDIATE GAMES, SOME PLAYS, TIGHTEN DELAY SITUATIONS.

OBVIOUSLY GETTING THE EMMETT JOHNSON TOUCHDOWN.

LOVED THAT PLAY.

>> YEAH.

>> THE UTILIZATION.

I KNOW HE WASN'T THE FIRST OPTION THERE, BUT HAVING THE ABILITY TO HIT THAT AS A CHECK DOWN.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT AS OF LATE.

BUT THEN AGAIN THIS FOOTBALL TEAM HAS NOT BEEN OPPORTUNISTIC AS OF LATE.

AND WHEN GUYS -- WHEN PLAYS NEED TO GET MADE.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING MADE.

AND THAT'S NOT COACH.

I THINK SOMETIMES GUYS JUST GOT TO START SHOWING UP AND MAKING PLAYS.

HAVE TO GET OVER THE HUMP TO GET THEM TO THIS 6th WIN AND GET TO A BOWL GAME.

NOTHING LIKE THE PRESENT TO GET THAT CORRECTED.

AND IT CAN CHANGE IN A HURRY I THINK.

>> SECONDS WERE PLAYED, DID INCREASE.

THEY WERE AVERAGING 29.

THEY WENT 26 FOR THAT GAME.

DID YOU FEEL THEY WERE GOING FASTER ?

>> YEAH, I COULD TELL -- I LIKE THE RHYTHM.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

IT KIND OF HELD TRUE TO FORM.

I FELT LIKE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE TIME THAT COACH HOLGORSEN HAD WITH STAFF.

YOU WEREN'T GOING TO SEE A TON OF NEW THINGS, BUT DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITHIN THE SAME STUFF.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID.

SO, I'M ENCOURAGED.

IT'S TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

I LIKE THE TEMPO AND THE RHYTHM.

RHYTHM TO ME IS MORE ABOUT.

OKAY.

THEY ARE ESTABLISHING SOMETHING.

THEY'RE GOING TO STAY WITH IT.

THE TEMPO IS HOW QUICK IN WHICH THEY EXECUTE THAT.

AND I KINDA I LIKE BOTH.

ESPECIALLY AS THE GAME MORE ON, IN THE MIDDLE PORTION.

I FELT THINGS STARTED TO CLICK WITH THE RUN GAME.

I LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

I FELT LIKE THE THE LINE UPFRONT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

>> YEP.

>> IN TERMS OF RUNNING THE FOOTBALL.

SO, THAT I'M DEFINITELY ENCOURAGED BY.

>> YOU GOT TO LET THE RHYTHM HIT THEM, THAT'S THE GOAL.

[ LAUGHTER ] WE GOTTA CHECK NOW, TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK.

THERE'S LOTS TO COVER TONIGHT.

WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

WE'VE GOT OUR PHONES STANDING BY AND WE'RE READY FOR YOUR CALLS.

PREFER TEXT OR EMAIL US?

SEND YOUR COMMENTS OT QUESTIONS TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAMEDIA.ORG.

WE'RE ALSO MONITORING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TONIGHT, ASWELL.

SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR BIG-RED WRAP UP FACEBOOK PAGE OR X ACCOUNT.

AND WE WILL ANSWER AS MANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS AS WE CAN.

TIME FOR THE SIDELINE SURVEY.

WE LOOK BACK AT WHAT WE ASKED YOU LAST WEEK.

WHAT IS YOUR GRADE OF THE HIRING OF DANA HOLGORSEN.

AS THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

"A" THROUGH "F." 41% OF THE PEOPLE SAID "F." 25% SAID "A."

24% SAID "B."

AN 9 % SAID "C." YOU PEOPLE ARE HATERS.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION.

COULD YOU RATHER GET A WIN AGAINST IN THE LAST TWO GAMES?.

WISCONSIN.

IOWA.

OR THE ONE I VOTED FOR.

I DON'T CARE.

LET'S JUST GET ELIGIBLE FOR A BOWL GAME.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO ME.

>> THAT WAS EXHAUSTING.

>> "F"?

LIKE?

41 %?

>> LISTEN.

>> LOOK WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THE REST OF THIS STUFF.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING THAT RHULE COACH TALKS ALOT ABOUT.

AND I DON'T THINK COACHES UNDERSTAND IT UNTIL THEY GET HERE.

BUT ALL THE NOISE AROUND THE PROGRAM THAT'S SOMETHING YOU REALLY HAVE TO AVOID.

YOU GUYS HAVE LIVED IT, I KNOW, BUT.

>> I DIDN'T LIKE IT THEN AND LIKE IT LESS NOW.

I'M JUST BEING HONEST.

>> IT'S FUNNY.

NOWADAYS, IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO HEAR THE NOISE.

‘CAUSE THERE IS SO MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES.

>> IT'S FOLLOWING YOU AROUND.

>> I MEAN D.B.

YOU ARE OLDER THAN ME.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> BARELY.

I MEAN WHAT'S 15 YEARS.

>> RIGHT, YOU KNOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] I HAD TO MAKE THE VIEWERS AWARE RIGHT?

>> MORNING.

YOU HAVE TO PICK UP A PAPER.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> SAME WITH US.

SOCIAL MEDIA WAS JUST KIND OF COMING AROUND.

>> SURE.

>> TALKS SHOW RADIO WAS JUST KIND OF GETTING GOING AGAIN.

NOW I MEAN, EVERYONE HAS A VOICE AND EVERYONE HAS OPINIONS.

AND YOU CAN FIND THEM JUST AS EASILY.

IT TAKES A LOT OF POWER JUST TO SHUT IT ALL OFF.

AND NOT PAY ATTENTION.

BUT IT'S REALLY HARD THIS DAY.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

EVERYWHERE' S DIFFERENT.

AND THIS PLACE IS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT IN A GOOD WAY THOUGH.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND WANT TO SEE SUCCESS BUT, ALSO, THESE PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED, AS WELL.

AND GET APATHETIC.

I DON'T THINK WE ARE THERE QUITE YET.

>> WELL THAT'S WHAT DANNEN SAID, "HE WANTED TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CARE," AND THEY DO CARE AT A REALLY HIGH LEVEL.

BUT HOW DIFFICULT IS WHAT DANA HOLGORSEN DID.

COMING IN.

LIKE COACH RHULE SAID "HE LEARNED A NEW LANGUAGE."

RIGHT?

TALKING ABOUT WRITING IN ITALIAN.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT?

AND HE DID IT IN LIKE 10 OR 11 DAYS.

>> I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH SPANISH.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THAT WOULD'VE BEEN.

>> THIS WAS ITALIAN HE WAS SAYING THOUGH.

>> THEY'RE VERY -- THEY'RE SIMILAR.

>> IT'S HARD BECAUSE YOU SPEND -- I JUST TRY TO EQUATE TO LIKE LEARNING NAMES IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> SURE.

>> AND UNDERSTANDING MY CURRICULUM.

RIGHT?

YOU FIRST GET STARTED WITH TEACHING YOU'RE IN THE CLASS ROOM.

THE LANGUAGE BARRIER IS INCREDIBLE.

SO WHEN YOU WANT TO GO FAST AND DO THINGS, JUST COMMAND OF THE LANGUAGE IS NUMBER ONE.

THEN, YOU HAVE TO SEE.

OKAY.

WELL WHAT DO THEY DO?

ALL RIGHT.

WELL WHO DOES WHAT AND WHAT ARE THEIR NAMES.

I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT.

I WAS GLAD HE EXPLAINED THE STORY OF THE TIMELINE.

I GOT A CHANCE TO PUT IT AGAINST OF WHAT I SAW.

I SAID FOR THE FIRST HANDFUL OF DAYS HE DIDN'T SAY A WORD, HE WAS CRUNCHING TAPE.

>> HE WAS JUST WATCHING AND LISTENING.

>> YEAH.

>> HE AFFIRMED THAT TODAY.

I'M LIKE "YEAH, IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN PEOPLE THINK."

>> SO, THEY'VE HAD 36 OPPORTUNITIES.

YOU PROBABLY SEEN THE NUMBER OUT THERE.

TO SCORE WHEN TIED OR TRAILING ON THE LAST DRIVE.

THEY'VE ONLY SCORED THREE TIMES.

ONLY WON 1 GAME.

HOW DO YOU GET OVER THIS HUMP ON THESE LAST DRIVES?

>> IT'S TOUGH.

I'VE BEEN A PART -- I HAD SUCCESS.

GAMES I BEEN APART OF.

WHERE, DEFENSIVELY YOU NEED TO MAKE A PLAY.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE PLAYS, OFFENSIVELY.

I JUST ALWAYS THINK BACK TO THE '06 GAME AT TEXAS A&M.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THE LAST SECOND DRIVE.

>> THE PURIFY.

>> YOU THE FADE ROUTE, THE PURIFY.

LIKE THAT WASN'T LOOKING GOOD.

I HAD A HORRIBLE FEELING OF THAT, WATCHING ON THE SIDELINES.

BUT WE HAD GUYS SHOW UP AND MAKE PLAYS.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AND I KNOW PEOPLE MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH THIS ANSWER.

BUT YOU GOT TO PUTTING YOURSELF IN THESE POSITIONS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND HOPEFULLY THE TIDE WILL TURN.

YOU GET TO BOUNCE THE BALL.

YOU GET SOMEONE WHO JUST FINALLY MAKES A PLAY.

BANKS.

NEYOR.

FIDONE.

WHOEVER.

DYLAN.

WHOEVER IT IS.

WHEN YOU GET IN THAT SITUATION, SOMEONE HAS TO MAKE A PLAY.

IT'S NOT COACHING.

SOMEONE HAS TO STEP UP AND WHATEVER PLAY IS CALLED EXECUTE TO YOUR BEST ABILITY.

YOU GOTTA GO UP AND GET THAT BALL.

YOU GOT TO BREAK A TACKLE.

WHATEVER IT IS.

STEP IN THE POCKET AND DEFEND OFF A DEFENSIVE END.

SOMEONE'S JUST GOT TO STEP AND MAKE A PLAY.

AND THEY'LL GET THERE EVENTUALLY.

BUT IT IS OBVIOUSLY, VERY, VERY FRUSTRATING.

THEY'VE HAD SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES WITH SUCH FEW SUCCESS.

BEING SO UNSUCCESSFUL.

>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT.

A LOT OF THESE YOUNG KIDS NOW.

THEY GO THROUGH A LOT OF BIG GAMES.

WHEN THEY'RE VERY YOUNG.

AAU.

WHATEVER SPORT IT IS.

I THINK THEY LEARN HOW TO WIN.

THEY LEARN HOW TO GET OVER THE HUMP.

MAKING A PLAY SOUNDS SIMPLE.

BUT IN TURN AND BOTH YOU GUYS HAVE MADE THAT PLAY KNOCKING THE BALL DOWN ONE TIME.

COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME.

>> THIS ONE GOT OVERLOOKED.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT TEAMS WOULD HAVE DONE WITH THAT STRIP SAC FROM TY ROBINSON?

>> YEAH.

>> SCORE.

>> BEAR WOULD'VE SCORED.

>> YEAH.

>> HE WOULD'VE SCOOPED SCORED.

ON THAT ONE, SO.

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE JUST HAPPY TO MAKE THE PLAY LIKE THE SELF-AWARENESS CAN GET AWAY FROM YOU.

>> SURE.

>> OR, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN COVER THREE.

AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE A DEEP THIRD GUY.

RIGHT YOU'RE DEEP THIRD.

RIGHT?

IT'S ELEMENTARY.

>> RIGHT.

>> DEEP IS THE DEEPEST MAN IN MY ZONE.

BUT IT'S LIKE, "HEY, I GOT TO MAKE A PLAY."

"I HAVE TO MAKE THE PLAY."

RIGHT, WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS THING WHERE WE THINK THAT EVERY PLAY WE MAKE TO THE GOOD OR TO THE BAD IS LIKE THE ULTIMATE REFERENDUM OF THE GAME.

AND IT'S NOT.

IT'S A LOT EASIER TO MAKE THOSE PLAYS REAL-TIME WHEN YOU'RE JUST PLAYING FREE, IN THE MOMENT.

AND SURE IT'S LIKE " OH, D.B.

YOU CAN JUST SAY THOSE KINDS OF THINGS."

WELL IT'S NOT LIKE I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, EITHER, RIGHT?

THE BEST WAY OF GIVING YOU THE ANSWERS TO THE TEST.

IS TO JUST STAY IN THE MOMENT.

WHEN YOU FAST-FORWARD TO THE SITUATION AND YOU'RE LIKE, "NOW, IF THIS HAPPENS -- THIS WHAT I'M" -- WHEN YOU DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

SECOND TO SECOND.

>> I REMEMBER A GAME THAT YOU WERE PLAYING YOU GUYS WERE PLAYING A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

AND THEY GOT A BIG SCORE.

ALL THE MOMENTUM IS GOING THEIR WAY.

KICK OFF RETURN BY -- TURN THE WHOLE EMOTION -- CHANGE THE GAME AROUND.

>> WE HAD NO BUSINESS WINNING THAT ONE.

>> YEAH, NO BUSINESS WINNING IT.

>> I'VE SEEN IT.

>> ONE GUY MAKES A PLAY.

>> AS A FAN, YOU LOOK AT THIS -- YOU CAN FEEL IT, RIGHT?

THE ENERGY CHANGE.

THE MOMENTUM CHANGE.

BUT THE BLESSING --YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT A CERTAIN SITUATION ON A PEDESTAL AND MAKE IT MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE OTHER ONES.

I MEAN D.B.

SAID IT.

IT'S EVERY PLAY.

DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S THE FIRST OR 62nd.

IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT.

THE SAME MINDSET.

IT'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY IN PRACTICE IS THE SAME THING YOU WANT TO DO ON SATURDAYS.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CAN'T SEPARATE THOSE THINGS, AND SAY IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

NO, IT'S SUCH A SIMPLE PROCESS BUT IT'S SUCH A HARD THING TO REALLY TRULY UNDERSTAND AND DO IT.

>> DO YOUR 1 OF 11.

RIGHT.

>> DO YOUR JOB AND KEEP PUTTING YOURSELF IN THE SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY YOU'RE GOING TO GET THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THOSE PLAYS FINALLY.

>> GAME MANAGEMENT, TIMEOUT MANAGEMENT, THAT'S A HUGE PART OF THE GAME, YOU KNOW THAT.

THE SITUATION WHERE THEY DECIDE THEY'RE GOING TO MAYBE FAKE THE PUNT.

CHANGE THEIR MIND.

THEY CALL TIMEOUT AND GO BACK OUT THERE.

DECIDED NOT TO GO FOR IT.

DIDN'T TRY TO GET HIM TO JUMP UP.

WHAT DID YOU TAKE OUT OF THAT ?

>> I DON'T KNOW, LIKE I -- MAYBE I'M DESENSITIZED.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING.

RIGHT?

BECAUSE I UNDERSTOOD -- I SAID THIS REAL TIME ON THE RADIO SHOW.

I THINK THEY WANTED A LOOK.

>> YEAH.

>> RIGHT?

I THINK THEY WANTED THE FAKE.

THEY DIDN'T GET IT.

AND WHEN YOU PUT THE OFFENSE BACK ON THE FIELD LIKE THINKING YOU WILL GO FOR IT, YOU TALKED YOURSELF OUT OF IT.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE A TON OF PROBLEMS.

>> WHAT ABOUT TRYING TO GET THEM TO JUMP?

THAT'S JUST SOMETHING -- YOU GO BACK OUT THERE MAYBE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN IT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET THE LOOK.

BUT AT LEAST TRY TO DO THE CLAP, OR SOMETHING GOING TO CENTER.

TRY TO GIVE THEM A JUMP.

>> WE'VE SEEN THAT.

>> YEAH AND YOU'LL SEE -- WASN'T VERY DISCIPLINED IN THE GAME.

>> I GUESS, OF ALL THE THINGS THAT I WOULD PICK AT THAT NEBRASKA COULD'VE DONE DIFFERENTLY, THAT'S WAY DOWN ON THE LIST.

>> 4th AND 3, 39 YARD LINE.

I THINK IF THEY HAD BEEN WINNING GAMES, HE GOES FOR THAT.

>> YEAH, AND THAT'S WHO HE WANTS TO BE.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK WHEN HE GETS OVER THE HUMP AND I BELIEVE THAT HE WILL.

I THINK, HE'S GOING TO BE A BE A HANDFUL.

BECAUSE HE KEEPS RECEIPTS AND SOMETIMES THEY COME UP A LITTLE TOO OFTEN BUT HE WILL BE A GUY THAT WILL STAY ON THE GAS.

>> MY ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT SITUATION IS YOUR PUNT TEAM IS OUT AND YOU HAVE A FAKE PUNT.

THEY COME OUT A PUNT SAFE.

THIS IS NORMAL DEFENSES OUT THERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> INSTEAD OF CALLING TIMEOUT, WHY CAN'T YOU HAVE A BACKUP PLAY?

SAY, "LET'S PUNT IT."

"LET'S JUST PUNT SAFE."

"LET'S JUST DO WHAT WE NORMALLY HAVE DONE."

"SO MANY TIMES THIS YEAR.

>> SOMETIMES YOU THOUGH THEY WERE GOING TO GO FOR IT.

>> RIGHT BUT THAT'S FINE.

CAN'T YOU JUST SAY, "OKAY THIS IS NOT THE LOOK."

YOU CAN AUDIBLE JUST A NORMAL PUNT.

NO ONE'S RUSHING ANYWAYS, THIS PUNT IS SAFE.

>> SO WHY I THINK THEY DIDN'T -- I HAVE TO GO --THAT'S A FANTASTIC QUESTION.

AND I THOUGH ABOUT THAT IN MY HEAD.

AND I JUST GOT LAZY TO GO LOOK BACK AND LOOK AT THE PERSONNEL.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE WITH BRANCH.

>> SO I THINK -- >> AND IT WAS TWO WIDE RECEIVERS WIDE.

>> BUT THEY'RE STILL PUNT SAFE.

>> TWO STARTING WIDE-RECEIVERS.

>> I BEEN ON PUNT SAFE AS A DEFENSIVE BACK -- YOU AIN'T.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

I COACH IT.

I GET IT.

>> I JUST THINK.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT THEY DID HAVE STARTING WIDE RECEIVERS AS GUNNERS.

>> YEAH I THINK THEY WERE A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT NOT HAVING THE RIGHT PERSON.

>> BUT THAT MAKES IT FROM A PERSONNEL STANDPOINT -- >> 'CAUSE THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> YEAH.

>> IT JUST SEEMS SO SIMPLE TO BE LIKE.

>> JUST EAT IT, RIGHT?

YEAH.

>> "LET'S JUST PUNT IT" OR "KICK IT OUT OF BOUNDS."

WHATEVER IT IS.

BUT YEAH, AGAIN IT'S -- >> I THINK YOU ARE WORRIED THAT SOMEHOW THEY WILL RETURN THE BALL.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT CEYAIR WRIGHT DID.

THE GAME HE HAD.

HE GOES HOME.

OBVIOUSLY HE HAD ALL KINDS OF ENERGY GOING BACK THERE, TO THE PLACE HE LEFT.

GETS THE PICK SIX.

GET THE BLOCKED FIELD GOAL.

>> YOU KNOW WHY I LIKE CEYAIR WRIGHT?

IT'S NOT EVEN -- IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CALIBER OF PLAYER HE IS.

IT'S THE FACT THAT HE EMBRACES THE NEXT MOMENT.

IT'S NEVER TOO BIG FOR HIM.

IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S ALWAYS PERFECT.

I MEAN SOMETIMES HE CAN JUST KIND OF GOES ROGUE A LITTLE BIT.

>> HE TAKES CHANCES, THAT'S WHAT I LIKE.

>> BUT HE PLAYS WITH MAXIMUM EFFORT AND I LIKE THE FACT.

ESPECIALLY IN FOOTBALL.

I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS IN LIFE MORE.

HE SOLVES PROBLEMS WITH AGGRESSION.

>> YEAH.

>> AND IN FOOTBALL, YOU GET A CHANCE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT OUTLET FOR IT.

>> RIGHT?

IN FOOTBALL, YOU GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT HIM.

>> YEAH.

HE CHOSE TO SOLVE IT WITH VIOLENCE.

>> YEAH.

>> I HEARD THAT BEFORE.

>> LET'S GO TO THE HIGHLIGHTS.

WE'RE GOING TO CHECK OUT EVERYTHING GOT STARTED AND D.B.

WAS THERE.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHERE THERE.

IT ALL GOT STARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD AS NEBRASKA DID WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO.

MEET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD.

TO GET READY FOR THE GAME.

AND THE FOLKS OF USC DIDN'T LIKE IT AND YOU HAD A LITTLE SCRUM BEFORE THE GAME.

THIS IS THE STADIUM THAT HOSTED THREE OLYMPICS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH, THAT WAS KIND OF CRAZY.

>> THE IRONY.

>> YES.

>> THE PEACE OF THE OLYMPICS.

THROWS IT.

PICKS OFF BY CEYAIR WRIGHT.

BRINGS IT BACK.

GOOD JOB BY HARTZOG GETTING IN FRONT OF HIM TO HELP HIM OUT A LITTLE BIT, AS WELL.

BUT WHAT A WELCOME HOME FOR HIM.

>> YEAH HE HAD BEEN PLAYING WITH FIRE.

THIS ONE WAS ONE YOU COULD KIND OF SEE COMING.

AND HE GOT AWAY WITH SO MANY INTERCEPTION WORTHY THROWS.

>> SIX.

>> I'M NOT TOO BAD.

I GUESSED SEVEN.

>> YEAH.

>> EVEN ON PLAYS THEY SCORED I'M LIKE, "THAT SHOULDN'T WORK NORMALLY."

AND HE GOT AWAY WITH IT.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WILL SEE A BUNCH OF THOSE AS WE GO ALONG.

BUT HERE'S -- AGAIN, HE PROBABLY COULD HAVE GOTTEN PICKED THERE AGAIN.

OVER AND OVER, HE MADE THESE DIFFERENT THROWS, AND THIS IS THE BIG ONE RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS TOMMY HILL'S OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PLAY.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT PLAY.

IT'S SIMPLE AS THAT.

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT PLAY.

>> I THINK TOMMY HILL'S PLAYING -- >> AND HE DOUBLED DOWN.

THERE'S NOWHERE FOR HIM TO GO.

>> INEXCUSABLE.

>> BRANT'S GOT THE SIDELINE, HE CAN'T COME INSIDE.

YOU GOT TO HIT HIM THERE.

WOODY MARKS, I SAID THIS LAST WEEK.

I THINK HE'S THE MOST COMPLETE BACK.

I KNOW THERE'S BETTER BACKS.

PASS PROTECTION, CATCHING THE BALL TO BACK FIELD, RUNNING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

HE'S ONE OF THE MOST COMPLETE BACKS IN THE BIG 10.

>> HE IS DYNAMIC.

WHAT THEY WERE DOING TRYING TO BOX COUNT THAT COUNTER AND HE JUST KEPT BREATHING IT.

HE'S AN INCREDIBLE INSIDE RUNNER.

>> YEAH, AND PATIENCE.

HERE'S ZONE READ.

KEEPER.

NOT A GREAT RUNNER.

HE'S A FUNCTIONAL RUNNER.

HE GETS YARDS.

>> HE RUNS LIKE HE'S ON BROKEN GLASS.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER CHANCE RIGHT HERE FOR AN INTERCEPTION.

HE GETS UP, THE REPLAY SHOWS IT PERFECTLY, IT BASICALLY GOES RIGHT.

HE JUMPED A LITTLE EARLY, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

JUMPED A LITTLE EARLY.

THE BALL GOES THROUGH HIS HANDS.

THEN IT GOES OFF THE HELMET, OFF THE CHEST.

MAKE A PLAY.

>> MAKE A PLAY.

>> MAKE A PLAY.

>> MAKE A PLAY.

14-7.

>> PUT YOURSELF IN POSITION, GOT TO MAKE A PLAY.

>> USC GOES UP AND NEBRASKA COMES BACK.

THEY EVENTUALLY HIT THE RUN GAME GOING BUT BEFORE THAT THOUGH, YOU SEE A LOT OF THIS.

UNDERNEATH SHOTS.

BIG SHOTS TAKEN BY BARNEY.

HE HAD TO LEAVE THE FIELD FOR A WHILE BUT HE CAME BACK IN.

BUT GETTING THE BALL TO LUKE, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN.

>> LOVE THAT PLAY.

I LOVE THAT.

>> LOVE THAT.

>> AND HERE'S A THIRD-DOWN PLAY.

THIRD AND FOUR, JAHMAL BANKS HAD A GOOD GAME.

FIVE INTERCEPTIONS, 35 YARDS.

AND HERE'S THE TOUCHDOWN PLAY.

>> YEAH, JUST DECISIVE.

>> I MEAN, SIMILAR CONCEPT.

>> HERE WE GO RIGHT HERE.

>> IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT, RIGHT.

HE PUTS HIS FOOT IN HIS GROUND AND HE GETS VERTICAL.

YOU'RE JUST ON GUYS.

YOU PLAYED A LOT OF GOOD DEFENSE, JAY.

IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN OFFENSIVE GUYS TRY TO DO THE DICTATING.

>> YEAH, AND JAY'S GOING TO BREAK THIS DOWN.

JUST MADE IT 14, 14.

BUT BEFORE THAT, IT WAS BONNER.

WE LOVE SEEING HIM ON THE FIELD.

>> WHO ALSO PUT HIS FOOT IN THE GROUND AND GOT VERTICAL.

>> GOOD STUFF HAPPENS WHEN BONNER IS ON THE FIELD IN MY OPINION.

>> HERE'S NEBRASKA TRYING TO GET IT GOING WITH THE RUN GAME.

EMMETT JOHNSON JUST GIVES YOU ALL KIND OF LEGS AND SHOULDERS AND EVERYTHING THERE.

>> THAT WAS FILTHY.

THAT WAS SILLY.

>> NOW HERE'S THE INTERCEPTION.

THIS WAS JUST A POOR CHOICE, RIGHT.

POOR DECISION MAKING.

I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A PLAY BUT THAT'S JUST POOR DECISION MAKING.

THAT'S THE NINTH INTERCEPTION.

AND THEN THIS WAS A SITUATION WHERE I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS OFF BUT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LINE DIDN'T GO OFF WITH THE SNAP.

>> WELL THEY TOLD US TODAY.

>> YEAH, THEY DID.

IT WAS THE CENTER'S FAULT.

>> IT IS CLEARLY THE CENTER'S FAULT AND EVEN HE WOULD TELL YOU.

AND HE SAID -- YEAH, OBVIOUSLY PULLING A LOT OF PUNCHES WHEN HE'S TALKING AT ALL.

HERE WE GO AGAIN, JAHMAL BANKS, ANOTHER GOOD PLAY.

I'M GLAD TO SEE HIM GET INVOLVED.

THE EX RECEIVER IN THIS SYSTEM USUALLY CATCHES A TON OF BALLS SO I WASN'T SURPRISED BY THAT.

AND THEN MORE EMMETT JOHNSON MAKING PLAYS.

>> YEAH, I DON'T LOVE THE SPIN MOVE, BUT MAN, IS HE ELUSIVE.

>> YEAH, HERE'S A CHANCE TO MAKE ANOTHER PLAY.

HE SLIDES, GETS IN A POSITION.

SO IT'S THIRD AND NINE.

THEY RUN A GREAT PLAY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE FIELD.

THIS IS A NICE BACK SHOULDER THROW.

IT'S INTERFERENCE, I'M SORRY.

>> YEAH, IT'S HOLDING, HE GOT PULLED TO THE GROUND.

>> IT'S JUST INTERFERENCE.

HE ALMOST CAUGHT THE BALL.

FIELD GOAL.

JOHN HOHL MAKING FOUR IN A ROW NOW.

HE'S KIND OF ON FIRE WITH THE WAY HE'S KICKING THE BALL DOING A GREAT JOB THERE.

GIVES NEBRASKA THE LEAD.

BUT BACK COMES USC QUICKLY.

BACK SHOULDER THROW.

NOT SURPRISING.

AND THEN THIS THROW HERE D.B.

>> YEAH, INEXCUSABLE.

IT'S A LITTLE OVER ROUTE AGAINST COVER TWO.

BACK SIDE SAFETY.

YOU GOT TO GET OVER THE TOP.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE PLAYING HASH TO HASH.

YOU JUST CAN'T HAVE IT.

>> 20-17.

WITH A NICE RUN THERE.

JUMPS OVER THE DEFENDER.

THIS IS WHEN THE RUNNING GAME KIND OF GETS GOING.

BANKS AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE OF HIS FIVE CATCHES ON THE DAY.

NEBRASKA GIVES THE BALL BACK.

THIS IS A GREAT PLAY BUT GETTING HIS HAND WHERE HE NEEDED IT TO BE TO KNOCK THE BALL AWAY.

BUT AS YOU MENTION, IT WOULD BE NICE IF HE PICKED IT UP AND TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE.

>> AND JAY MOORE WOULD HAVE SCORED.

>> OH, MOST DEFINITELY.

>> IT'S THE QUARTERBACK THAT GETS HIM.

>> RUNNING BACK DAYS -- >> IT'S THE QUARTERBACK THAT GETS HIM THERE.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PUT IT IN THE HAND OF AN OFFENSIVE STRUGGLES IN THE RED ZONE.

AND AGAIN IN THE RED ZONE, ANOTHER STRUGGLE, YOU HAD BANKS OFF TO THE LEFT, HE DIDN'T SEE HIM.

>> THEY HAD A GREAT DESIGN TOO.

>> IT IS.

>> THEY FAKE THE LITTLE SKITTLES IN THE TUNNEL SCREEN.

>> THEY HAD THE CORNER COMPLETELY CONFUSED OVER THERE BUT HE DOESN'T SEE IT.

NEBRASKA DOWN 21-20.

ANOTHER GREAT FIELD GOAL BY JOHN HOHL.

FIVE IN A ROW ON THE SEASON.

HERE'S WOODY MARKS MAKING PLAYS.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT -- >> IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.

>> YOU THINK YOU FIT THAT CORRECTLY AS THE DEFENSE.

>> DID GREAT AGAINST ZACHARIAH BRANCH ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL THAT PLAY, REALLY.

AND HE ALWAYS GET YOU ONE.

HE'LL GET YOU ONE WITH HIS QUICKNESS.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT SPIN MOVE WAS RIGHT THERE.

BUT JOHN BULLOCK ALMOST GETS A PICK.

ANOTHER CHANCE TO MAKE A PLAY.

>> OH, HE REMINDED ME OF RUSSELL WILSON.

>> THAT WAS KIND OF WEIRD, YEAH.

>> BLOCK FIELD GOAL.

ANOTHER BIG PLAY BY CEYAIR WRIGHT.

KNOCKING THAT BALL DOWN, GREAT JOB BY HIM.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT EFFORT.

>> SUPER -- >> LAID OUT COMPLETELY.

>> JUST BENDY.

>> YEAH, FANTASTIC EFFORT.

>> NEBRASKA GETS THE BALL BACK.

HERE'S A GREAT PLAY TO START THIS DRIVE.

13 YARD GAIN.

>> I'D LIKE TO SEE THEM DO IT A COUPLE OF TIMES IN A ROW SO THEY GET LINED UP BECAUSE IT'S HARD WHEN YOU DON'T PREPARE FOR QB RUN GAME.

>> AND HERE'S WHEN THEY WENT OUT FOR THE PUNT AND THEY CAME OUT TO GO FOR IT, DECIDED TO PUNT AGAIN AFTER BURNING THE TIMEOUT THERE.

GIVE THE BALL BACK TO USC, AND USC MOUNTS A DRIVE RIGHT HERE.

THIS WAS AN IMPRESSIVE DRIVE.

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY HARD WHEN YOU WANT TO BOX THOSE, AND I KEEP SAYING BOX AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT GETTING IN ON THE DRY ERASE BOARD, BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE A DIFFERENT WAY TO PLAY THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BOX FOR SECOND AND THIRD LEVEL DEFENDERS, RIGHT.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE SHORT SHOT OPTION.

HERE'S THE QUARTERBACK WHO WENT FROM TWO YARDS UP -- 28-20.

TIME FOR NEBRASKA TO MAKE A RALLY TO COME BACK AND TRY TO GET BACK IN THIS GAME.

ANOTHER PLAY TO HEINRICH HAARBERG EARLY IN THE DRIVE TOO.

THAT GOT HIM MOVING A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS A NICE THROW ACROSS THE MIDDLE TO BANKS.

AND THEN A NICE RUN FOR THE FIRST DOWN.

A PERFECT DECISION THERE.

NOW I MIGHT HAVE CALLED A TIMEOUT INSTEAD OF BURNING ANOTHER 12 SECONDS.

BUT, HE TRIED TO GO DOWN FIELD.

NICE CATCH.

BORCHERS GETS OUT OF BOUNDS HERE.

THERE'S A SHOT PLAY COMING UP HERE THAT HE MISSES DOWN THE SEAM.

>> OH BARNEY DOWN THE HASH.

>> DOWN THE HASH, YEAH.

BUT THIS THING COMES BACK THE NEXT TIME.

GOES TO HIM, BALLS KNOCKED OUT.

AS A CHANCE TO HAVE A CATCH THERE.

THIS IS A GREAT CATCH BY YOUR BOY, LLOYD.

>> YOU'VE GOT THE FIND WAYS TO GET HIM INVOLVED MORE.

HE'S UBER COMPETITIVE.

>> HE MAKES SO MANY PLAYS IN THE AIR.

THIS IS A GUY WHO BARELY HAD ANY CATCHES COMING OUT OF CENTRAL.

YOU GOT HIM GOING AT WESTSIDE.

HERE'S THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME.

THROWING IT UP, GIVING BANKS A CHANCE.

YOU GOT THE HOLD.

THEY DIDN'T CALL IT.

THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES SOMETIMES IN THESE GAMES.

28-20 USC WINS THE GAME.

YOU LOOK AT THE STATS, NEBRASKA STARTED OFF THIS GAME NOT GETTING A LOT DONE, BUT DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF KIND OF BATTLING, WENT BACK INTO THE GAME.

NOW GIVING UP 6.4 YARDS A PLAY TO USC.

DEFENSE -- THAT JUST CAN'T HAPPEN.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU ALLOWED A GOOD BRUSHING FOOTBALL TEAM TO REALLY RUN THE FOOTBALL.

YOU GOT A GET SOME RUN SUPPORT.

>> NEBRASKA SCORES JUST 13 POINTS.

GETS 10 POINTS FROM THE DEFENSE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PLAYERS OF THE GAME.

OUR PLAYS OF THE GAME THIS WEEK -- EMMETT JOHNSON NOT A SUPRISE ON OFFENSE.

OVER 100 YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE FOR EMMETT JOHNSON.

AND ON DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS, CEYAIR WRIGHT WITH THE PICK SIX AND BLOCKED FIELD GOAL.

TO KEEP THE HUSKERS CLOSE.

TO BREAK DOWN SOME OF THOSE PLAYS HERE'S JAY IN THE HUDDLE.

>> ALL RIGHT GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO THE HUDDLE.

LET'S LOOK AT A COUPLE PLAYS TONIGHT.

THE FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE AN OFFENSIVE PLAY.

EMMETT JOHNSON TOUCHDOWN.

RECEPTION.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, USC IS GOING TO COME OUT IN WHAT I REFER TO AS A COVER SIX LOOK.

THAT IS A QUARTER TO FIELD SIDE.

COVER TWO TO THE BOUNDARY AT THE BACKSIDE.

SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A QUARTER -- QUARTER HALF PLAY.

DYLAN RAIOLA DOES A FANTASTIC JOB HERE OF USING HIS EYES.

YOU CAN SEE HIM EARLY LOOK AT THE SIDE.

HE WAS IN THE SLOT OVER HERE WORKING ALL THE WAY OVER HERE.

WAS LOOKING FOR HIM.

IT'S NOT THERE.

USC DOES A FANTASTIC JOB OF COVERING HIM.

NOW, EMMETT SNEAKS OUT THROUGH THE MIDDLE.

DOES A GREAT JOB.

THIS IS WHAT I LIKE, AND I DON'T IF THIS IS NECESSARILY A -- THING, BUT I THINK JUST GETTING A BACK IN THIS SITUATION AND GETTING SOME MISMATCH AND GETTING SOME SPACE IS REALLY WHAT NEBRASKA NEEDED.

OBVIOUSLY KICKSTARTED SOME POINTS.

BUT YOU CAN SEE DYLAN DOES A GREAT JOB STEPPING IN THE POCKET.

PUTS THE BALL PERFECTLY RIGHT HERE IN FRONT.

THIS CORNER SITTING OVER HERE IN TWO, COVER TWO.

CAN'T GET TO IT.

EMMETT DOES A GREAT JOB RECEIVING AS HE USUALLY DOES.

GETS UP FIELD SOME SPEED.

AND THAT SAFETY ON THE BACKSIDE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANGE TO GET TO HIM SO SIX POINTS FOR THE BIG RED.

NOW THE DEFENSIVE PLAY WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TONIGHT IS THE FOURTH AND ONE.

KIND OF COOL LOOK FROM RIGHT OVER TOP.

NEBRASKA KIND OF GETS CAUGHT.

A REALLY CLEVER PLAY CALL DESIGNED BY USC.

THIS MOTION'S COMING, RIGHT?

END COMING UNBLOCKED.

HE DOES A GOOD JOB SHOULDERS STAYING PARALLEL AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT A TON ON THIS SHOW SO FAR THIS YEAR.

WHAT HAPPENS THOUGH WITH THIS MOTION, THESE LINEBACKERS UP TOP HAVE TO HONOR IT.

SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE A STEP THAT WAY.

WHICH IS JUST GOING TO GIVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THIS LINEMAN TO GET UP FIELD BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A PITCH GUY FOR THE OPTION.

EVEN THOSE IT'S SHORT SIGHTED WITH THE BOUNDARY.

THIS, THE DEFENSIVE END ON THE END IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUARTERBACK.

RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO ONE GETTING OVER HERE.

JEUDY IS NOT THE PITCH GUY.

YOU CANNOT HAVE HIM BE HERE.

BAYER CAN NOT GET OVER TOP.

BECAUSE HE, YOU KNOW -- HE GOT PAUSED WITH THAT MOTION COMING ACROSS.

NOW WOODY MARKS IS ABLE TO GET UP FIELD.

THE RECEIVER DOES A GOOD JOB OF RUNNING OFF GETTING THE BLOCK.

I'D LIKE TO SEE JIMARI BUTLER JUST LAY OUT HERE.

TRY TO GET A LEG OR SOMETHING.

DOESN'T GET THERE.

GOOD JOB.

I DON'T KNOW YOU CALLED ME, WHERE HAS THE REFEREE BEEN?

IT'S OBVIOUSLY DICEY THIS YEAR.

LOOKS KIND OF LIKE A HOLD HERE.

HE GRABBED THE BACK OF HIS HELMET.

OBVIOUSLY HE CAN'T GET OVER TOP.

A GOOD PLAY DESIGN EXECUTION.

SHORT SIGHTED OF THE BOUNDARY OPTION.

NEBRASKA FANS HISTORY WISE VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT.

>> YEAH THAT'S EVEN MORE SALT IN THE WOUND.

THEY RUN WHEN NEBRASKA SHORTS THAT OPTION AGAINST THEM TO DO THAT.

BUT JUST GOT OUTNUMBERED.

AND THAT ONE STEP, RIGHT?

WITH THE MOTION, GETS YOU OUT OF POSITION.

>> THEY GOT TO THE SECOND LEVEL QUICKLY.

I DON'T KNOW EVEN WITH THE MOTION, THEY'D HAVE TO KNOW IT WAS COMING.

COMING.

THAT'S HARD.

>> YOU HAVE TO ROTATE.

I MEAN YOU ZONE THAT OFF, YOU MAYBE GET A BACKSIDE ALLEY RUNNER THAT'S FROM THE SAFETY SPOT.

BUT HE HAS TO HONOR THE MOTION.

>> YEAH, DAVID MAKES THAT PLAY.

COMING UP, WE DIVE DEEPER INTO THE OFFENSIVE CHANGES WITH SAM McKEWON AND WE'LL GET HIS THOUGHTS ON DANA HOLGORSEN THE HUSKERS OVERALL.

THANKS TO -- SPORTS FOR ALL THE PICTURES THEY PROVIDE US ALL SEASON.

WE'LL BE BACK IN TWO MINUTES ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

♪ ♪ WRAP-UP.

>> I THINK IT WOULD BE LIKE, JUST TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT WHAT DANA DID -- IT WOULD BE LIKE YOU GUYS HAVING TO WRITE THIS ON A DEADLINE AND HAVING TO WRITE IT IN ITALIAN WITH A TRANSLATOR NEXT TO YOU.

IT BE HARD RIGHT?

THIS IS ALL NEW LANGUAGE.

I THOUGHT GARRETT DID A GREAT JOB OF HELPING.

I THOUGHT DANA PREPARED AT A REALLY HIGH LEVEL.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE'RE EXCITED.

SINCE URGENCY COMING IN YOU KNOW, SUNDAY.

THE EXCITEMENT TO BUILD OFF WHAT WE DID IN THE SECOND HALF AND MOVING INTO THIS WEEK.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

WE HAVE TO DO IT NOW.

>> I WAS BORED.

GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR COACH RHULE.

YOU KNOW WE WE VISITED IN DECEMBER.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FAIR TO HIM, ME OR THE PROGRAM TO DO IT AT THAT POINT.

YOU KNOW I WAS TIRED.

I HAD BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

JUST DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT AT THAT POINT.

DIDN'T FEEL I WAS READY TO GIVE IT MY ALL.

I WAS VERY GRATEFUL TO SONNY AND TCU FOR BEING A CONSULTANT WHICH KEPT ME AROUND THE GAME.

>> LET'S WELCOME IN SAM McKEWON, SPORTS EDITOR, COLUMNIST, PODCAST ALL WITH THE OMAHA WORLD HERALD.

YOU BASICALLY RUN THE JOINT.

YOUR FEEL LISTENING TO COACH HOLGORSEN TODAY STANDING IN FRONT -- YOU HEARD A LOT OF GUYS.

WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> I LIKED HIM.

I THOUGHT HE WAS REALLY, REALLY GOOD AND INTERESTING TO TALK TO.

I DEFINITELY FELT LIKE HE HAS A CERTAIN VIBE AND IT WAS REAL.

IT'S NOT LIKE A FAKE VIBE.

HE HAS SORT OF A CALM AND CONTROL, SORT OF LIKE, "HEY BROTHER, HOW ARE YOU DOING?"

I THINK HE CAN PROBABLY HAVE A GOOD EFFECT ON THE TEAM.

NOT THAT MARCUS WAS OVERLY AMPED.

BUT I ALMOST FELT LIKE AT TIMES HE WAS TOO LAID BACK.

WHEREAS I THINK THIS GUY CAN MAYBE TURN THE DIAL UP A LITTLE BIT.

I JUST LIKED THE WAY HE TALKED ABOUT THINGS.

HE WAS VERY HONEST ABOUT TWO POSITION GROUPS THAT I THINK A LOT OF NEBRASKA FANS DON'T THINK ARE PLAYING AS WELL AS THEY COULD BE.

FOR HIM TO SAY THAT IN A PRESS CONFERENCE ABOUT THE RUNNING BACKS AND RECEIVERS, I THINK THAT PROBABLY GET SOME PEOPLE TO SIT UP STRAIGHT AND PERK UP THEIR EARS.

>> SAM, HAVE YOU PLACED YOUR ON THE PLAYER HE WAS REFERRING TO?

THAT THEY FOUND TODAY IN PRACTICE.

>> A YOUNG PLAYER.

>> A YOUNG PLAYER THAT YOU MIGHT SEE MORE ON A SATURDAY?

>> YEAH PART OF ME THINKS IT'S SOME SORT OF WALK ON.

I'VE GOT TO THINK THAT THE OTHER PLAYERS THAT HE MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT OR THAT WE MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT OR GUYS THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT -- YOU KNOW IT COULD BE CARTER NELSON.

CARTER NELSON HAS BARELY PLAYED.

BUT THEN AGAIN CARTER NELSON HAS BEEN THERE ALL YEAR.

SO THAT WOULD BE A GUY THAT YOU WOULD THINK ABOUT.

IT COULD BE ONE OF THOSE RED SHIRT FRESHMAN RECEIVERS.

IT COULD BE QUINN CLARK.

>> MM-HMM, THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING.

>> IT COULD BE HIM.

THOSE GUYS COULD PLAY.

IN THEORY IT COULD BE MALACHI COLEMAN.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHO HE COULD BE THINKING ABOUT.

THEY'VE GOT BODIES AVAILABLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO LOSE THEIR REDSHIRTS IF THEY PLAY RIGHT NOW.

AND THERE'S NO REASON TO HOLD ANYONE BACK BASED ON WHAT THAT OFFENSE HAS SO FAR THIS YEAR.

>> YOU CAN GIVE US TWO IDEAS, YOU SAID?

>> NOW, FULL DISCLOSURE, I WANT TO BE RIGHT.

BECAUSE I SAID THIS AFTER THE 18-90 OPEN SCRIMMAGE.

DO YOU REMEMBER THE GUY THAT I TOLD YOU I LIKE ?

>> I DON'T REMEMBER.

>> I'M A BIG MEKHI NELSON GUY.

>> OH YEAH, OKAY.

>> YOU DID SAY YOU LIKED HIM.

>> WATCHING HIM RUN IN THAT 18-90 OPEN SCRIMMAGE, I WAS LIKE, OH HE MOVES DIFFERENT.

I LIKE HIM.

AND THEY NEED WITHOUT A HUGE E.J.

GUY THEY NEED RUNNING BACK.

SO I THINK IT'S EITHER MEKHI NELSON OR I THINK IT'S QUINN CLARK.

AND I'M BIASED CAUSE QUINN, I'M WITH HIM A LOT AND TRY TO COPY HIS DAD'S RUNNING STYLES.

>> I WOULD GO WITH 6'5", CAN JUMP OUT THE GYM AND CAN RUN.

>>HE'S COMPETITIVE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING SAM, CAUSE THIS IS INTERESTING.

NOW THAT COACH RHULE HAS KIND OF MORPHED INTO THE CEO THING, DO YOU GET THE SENSE AND I THINK I'VE SAID THIS TO YOU BEFORE ON THE SHOW, HE NEEDS A HEAVY.

SOMEBODY THAT IS THE HAMMER THAT'S NOT LIKE HIM.

DANA SOUNDS LIKE COACH RHULE'S ALTAR EGO.

HE SAYS ALL THE THINGS THAT COACH WILL WANTS TO SAY BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY SAY AS THE CEO IN WEEK 11.

HE WAS VERY FINITE.

HE COMES ACROSS LIKE HE COULD BE GOOD FOR HIS SPIRIT.

>> HE WAS ABLE SAY IT IN A WAY TOO THAT WAS VERY -- THAT WAS NOT LIKE OVERLY EDGY OR ANGRY.

>> IT'S JUST MATTER OF FACT.

>> YEAH HE WAS VERY MATTER OF FACT.

>> BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS-- >> BUT HE TELLS THE TRUTH, HE'S A REALIST.

>> BUT YOU HAVE TO CRITICIZE HIS TONE.

>> HIS TONE WAS GOOD.

>> SO YOU CAN READ THAT?

>> YEAH, NO QUESTION.

>> MATTER OF IS A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.

BUT IT WASN'T OFFENSIVE.

>> ACTUALLY WHEN RHULE GETS FRUSTRATED HIS TONE GETS A LITTLE EDGY.

AND SO A COUPLE OF WEEK AGO WHEN HE WAS SAYING IT'S GOT TO BE ON THE PLAYERS, YOU COULD SENSE HE WAS IRRITATED.

AND YOU KNOW HE WASN'T SAYING EVERYTHING HE WANTED TO SAY.

>> IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE KNEW SATURDAY WAS COMING.

>> AND THEN HOLGERSON I THINK JUST HAS THAT WAY OF MODULATING HIM OUT, AND WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE RUNNING BACKS WAS VERY GOOD.

YOU KNOW THE HOLE IS THIS BIG.

YOU GOT A GET IN THE HOLE.

>> INCREDIBLE TO JUST HAVE SOMEONE ARTICULATE THAT.

BUT THAT'S WHY IS BRISTLED UP A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE WATCHING BUT IT'S NOT ON THE O-LINE.

>> YEAH, AND FRESH EYES THAT'S THE FRESH EYES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN LOOK AND GO OH, THAT'S OBVIOUS.

THERE'S A HOLE.

AND HE'S WILLING TO SAY IT.

AND THE BLOCKING ON THE OUTSIDE, I'M SURE HE TURNED THE TAPE ON AND SAW IT RIGHT AWAY.

AND SAID YOU GUYS HAVE TO FIX IT.

>> IT'S BEEN MULTIPLE YEARS, I MEAN, I REMEMBER PUSHING MY CHAIR BACK AT MICHIGAN STATE.

21, WHEN NEBRASKA RUNNING BACKS WERE MISSING HOLES IN THAT GAME.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU'VE HAD A GUY, GUYS, MULTIPLE GUYS THAT PLAY THE WAY NEBRASKA RUNNING BACKS DID FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE.

FROM THE TIME I REMEMBER NEBRASKA FOOTBALL WITH LIKE '82-'83 UNTIL 2014 NEBRASKA HAD THE BEST CONSISTENT RUNNING BACKS OF ANY SCHOOL IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THEN IT STOPPED.

IT HAS NOT BEEN BACK FOR A DECADE, AND I WOULD ARGUE THAT IS AS BIG OF A REASON WHY NEBRASKA'S OFFENSE HAS STRUGGLED AS ANY OTHER ISSUE ON THAT OFFENSE IN THE LAST DECADE.

>> HOW DID IT LAND WITH YOU WHEN HE KIND OF WENT INTO POSITION COACHES, AND SOMETIMES HAVE THEY FALL IN LOVE WITH THE PLAYERS.

HE'S LIKE HEY IT HAPPENS.

THE FRESH SET OF EYES ALMOST TO SAY WERE NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE.

>> THAT'S WHAT A COORDINATOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY OF AGE.

BECAUSE NOW YOU DON'T JUST HAVE 10 COACHES.

NOW YOU COULD HAVE 15.

YOU SHOULD HAVE A GUY LIKE HOLGORSEN WHO'S ABLE TO STEP BACK FROM ALL THE PERSONAL RELATIONS THAT POSITION COACHES HAVE, AND SAY NOPE YOU'VE GOT TO BE MORE OBJECTIVE ABOUT YOUR DETERMINATIONS.

YOU CAN'T JUST PLAY THE GUY A PERSONAL LIKE THE MOST.

YOU HAVE TO PLAY GUYS CAN GET POINTS AND YARDS ESPECIALLY LATE IN THE SEASON WHEN YOU HAVE EVERYONE ON THE ROSTER AVAILABLE TO YOU.

>> THAT'S KIND OF JANIRAN BONNER RIGHT?

HE'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS YOU PUT HIM IN THAT SCENARIO.

WE GET TO THIS PART OF THE SEASON AND UNFORTUNATELY NEBRASKA HAS BEEN HERE WAY TOO OFTEN.

WHERE WE WILL HAVE THIS CONVERSATION OF YOU'VE STRUGGLED LATE IN THE SEASON, YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF OLDER GUYS THAT HAVE PLAYED, CONTRIBUTED A TON, DONE THINGS THE RIGHT WAY BUT NOT GETTING THE RESULTS.

AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SAY WHY CAN'T THESE YOUNG GUYS GET MORE SHOTS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY TO MAYBE GET US OVER THE HUMP.

WHERE ARE YOU AT WITH THAT STANDPOINT OF DOES COACH RHULE THE STAFF NEED TO TAKE MORE LOOKS, AND THROW MORE YOUNG GUYS IN THE SITUATION.

KNOWING THAT THEY DON'T POTENTIALLY HAVE TO BURN REDSHIRTS, BUT ALSO KNOWING THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE PLAYERS THAT HAVE DONE IT THE RIGHT WAY FOR SO LONG.

YOU WANT TO REWARD THEM AS WELL.

>> I THINK ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT MORE YOUNG PLAYERS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY A QUINN CLARK 47 SNAPS.

I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING DEFENSIVE BACKS IF YOU START PUTTING YOUNG GUYS ON THE FIELD FOR A COUPLE SNAPS, WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

WE SAW IT WHEN JEREMIAH CHARLES WAS OUT THERE AND UCLA TOOK HIM APART.

AND THEY TOOK HIM OFF THE FIELD.

SO I DON'T THINK YOU CAN NECESSARILY THROW GUYS INTO CERTAIN POSITIONS ESPECIALLY ON DEFENSE.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THEM GETTING CONFUSED.

BUT I THINK ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO DO IT IMPERATIVELY AT THIS POINT.

THEY ROLLED THE DICE WITH DYLAN RAIOLA RIGHT AWAY.

THEY MADE THAT CHOICE LATE LAST YEAR.

THEY COULD HAVE BROUGHT A KYLE McCORD IN.

BUT THEY'RE LIKE, "NO WE'RE GOING TO LET THIS KID LEARN."

HE'S GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES, WHICH HE HAS.

BUT HE'S GOING TO BE A HECK OF A LOT BETTER NEXT YEAR BECAUSE HE DIDN'T MAKE THEM.

AND NOW IN A COMPRESSED TIMELINE WHAT YOU HOPE YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN GET QUINN CLARK AND A FEW OTHER GUYS TO GET THAT JUMP TOO.

HERE'S WHAT'S INTERESTING JAYLEN LLOYD GOT THAT OPPORTUNITY, THAT EXPERIENCE LAST YEAR, AND THEN THEY RECRUITED OVER HIM.

AND NOW HE'S JUST GETTING BACK TO WHERE HE'S GETTING AS MANY PLAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES AS HE DID LAST YEAR, AND I WONDER IF HE GOT A LITTLE OVERLOOKED DURING THE COURSE OF THE SEASON.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT HE DID.

LET'S GO TO WISCONSIN A LITTLE BIT LAST YEAR ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BEAT NEBRASKA IN THAT GAME WAS MORDECAI GETTING LOOSE.

IM NOT SAYING BRAEDYN LOCKE IS A GREAT RUNNER BUT HE WILL GET YOU A FIRST DOWN.

HOW IMPORTANT IS DO YOU THINK WATCHING HIM, MAKING SURE HE DOESN'T GET OUT OF THE POCKET, AND OF COURSE SLOWING DOWN THEIR RUN GAME WHICH HAS BEEN PRETTY GOOD?

>> CRUCIAL.

IN THE LAST FEW NEBRASKA MISSED MORDECAI ON A COUPLE BLITZES UNFORTUNATELY.

PLAYS THEY WOULD MAKE 85 % OF THE TIME AND THEY JUST DIDN'T MAKE THEM.

I DO THINK THAT LOCKE CAN GET OUT.

I'M GUESSING THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY FIRED PHIL LONGO, THEY'RE GOING TO TRY AND USE THE GAME PLAN THAT HE USED AGAINST NEBRASKA LAST YEAR.

I THINK HE WAS FIRED MORE BECAUSE OF CLEARLY ISSUES BETWEEN HIM AND LUKE FICKELL BASED OFF FICKELL'S WEIRD PRESSER.

SO YEAH THEY'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THEY KEEP THAT QUARTERBACK IN THE POCKET AND THAT THEY WATCH THAT RUNNING BACK.

HE'S A NICE RUNNING BACK.

THAT'S YET ANOTHER TEAM THAT I THINK HAS A BETTER RUNNING BACK AS A STARTER THAN NEBRASKA DOES.

>> EVEN THE FRESHMAN DUPREE IS COMING ALONG.

THAT'S THE GUY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE REALLY REALLY GOOD.

DO YOU REMEMBER A CONFERENCE IN A WEEK LIKE, HEADING INTO A GAME LIKE THIS WHERE THE OPPOSING COACH DID NOT ASK ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE TEAM THEY ARE PLAYING?

>> I DON'T.

BUT HE GAVE THE STRANGEST ANSWER I CAN IMAGINE TO THE OBVIOUS QUESTION.

WHO IS CALLING THE PLAYS ?

I LITERALLY WROTE HE MADE A FACE.

I WILL TRY TO MAKE THE FACE NOW.

>> HE DID, HE DID MAKE THE FACE.

>>WHAT DOES IT MATTER ?

THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER YOU WANTED TO GIVE THERE LUKE.

>> NOW HE'S JUST GOING TO GET MORE QUESTIONS.

>> NOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET 17 MINUTES OF QUESTIONS.

AND AT THE END HE'S HUFFING AND SIGHING.

I'M LIKE, "THIS DID NOT GO WELL."

THIS DID NOT GO THE WAY YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO GO.

>> NOT ONE NEBRASKA QUESTION.

>> ONE GUY STARTED TO ASK THE QUESTION THEN IT GOT FLIPPED.

HE'S LIKE WE WOULD ASK MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT NEBRASKA IF YOU HADN'T ANSWERED THE FIRST QUESTION THE WAY YOU DID.

IT WAS A ROUGH STRETCH FOR HIM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY WILL PLAY A GAME ON SATURDAY.

AND IF WISCONSIN WINS, THEY WIN.

SO I THINK NEBRASKA HAS TO PLAY ITS VERY BEST.

I THINK NEBRASKA CAN WIN BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

IF THEY PLAY WELL.

IF THEY PLAY WELL.

>> ARE YOU OKAY?

CAUSE I THINK HE KIND OF MORPHED INTO IT THAT COACH RHULE USE THE PLATFORM ON MONDAY TO TALK ABOUT THE ROSTER LIMITS.

>> I'M OKAY WITH IT.

I THINK THAT'S CLEARLY ON HIS MIND.

IT'S ONLY THREE WEEKS AWAY -- WELL, IT'S KIND OF LATE.

THEY CAN TAKE SOME OF IT INTO SPRING WHERE THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO TAKE IT DOWN TO 105 BY SPRING CAMP.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BY BY NEXT FALL THAT THEY NEED TO DO THAT.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START IT IN TWO OR THREE WEEKS.

>> HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE, DABO TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE TOO ON HIS PRESS CONFERENCES.

THESE GUYS, THEY'RE FRUSTRATED FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

>> WELL I THINK THEY THOUGHT MAYBE THEY GOT A REPRIEVE.

>> WE WILL GET TO 105 IN THREE YEARS BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO 125.

AND THEN IT WOULD HAVE NATURALLY HAPPENED.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT NOW AND IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY HARD I THINK.

>> SAM, WE APPRECIATE IT MAN.

>> THANK YOU GUYS.

>>THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

COMING UP, WE TALK ABOUT THE BADGERS AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE TOP PLAYS.

THANKS TO HURRDAT SPORTS FOR PREVIEWING WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO USC WITH THESE GREAT PICTURES THAT WE HAVE FROM SATURDAY.

MORE OF THE "BIG RED WRAP-UP COMING UP."

GREAT PICTURES WE HAVE FROM SATURDAY.

OF THE BIG RED WRAP-UP COMING UP.

>>> TIME FOR TOP PLAYS.

WE START AT NUMBER THREE.

EMMETT JOHNSON.

NIFTY.

29 YARD CATCH AND RUN FOR THE TOUCHDOWN TO GET NEBRASKA UP TO 14-14.

NUMBER TWO, CEYAIR WRIGHT DIVING WITH EVERYTHING HE HAD TO BLOCK THE FIELD-GOAL.

KEEPING NEBRASKA CLOSE AND THEN OF COURSE NUMBER ONE THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE GAME.

CEYAIR WRIGHT COMING HOME TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CATCHING THE ARRANT PAST AND TAKING IT BACK FOR THE TOUCHDOWN TO PUT NEBRASKA UP 7-0.

FOOTBALL THAT YOU LOVE.

NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA HAS IT ALL FOR YOU.

STARTING ON MONDAY WITH THE NSA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES AT 10:00.

THE D2 MATCH UP FEATURING RIVERSIDE AT CENTRAL VALLEY.

FOLLOWED BY D1 GAME BETWEEN SANDY CREEK AND STANTON.

THE NIGHTCAP HAS A HUGE MATCH UP.

OMAHA WESTSIDE BATTLING MILLARD SOUTH FOR THE CLASS A TITLE.

GOING FOR THREE IN A ROW.

ON TUESDAY WE DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

10:00 A.M. NORFOLK CATHOLIC TAKES ON BISHOP NEUMANN.

FOR THE C2 CROWN AT 2:30 IT'S CENTRAL CITY AT WAHOO.

CLOSING UP THE TITLE GAME AT 7:00.

CLASS B FINAL FEATURING BENNINGTON AND SKUTT CATHOLIC.

ALL HERE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

YOUR HOME FOR CHAMPIONSHIP SPORTS.

BENNINGTON GOING FOR ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP.

WELCOME BACK RECRUITING TIME.

I'M JOINED BY SEAN CALLAHAN.

WHERE IS NEBRASKA KIND OF SITTING?

AFTER GETTING A BIG FLIP LAST WEEK.

>> GETTING DAWSON MERRITT TO COMMIT HAS REALLY GIVEN THIS CLASS A BOOST.

THEY ARE JUST KIND OF IN THIS SCRUM OF TEAMS.

AND THEY PUSH THEMSELVES UP AT ONE POINT TO NUMBER 19.

NEBRASKA THOUGH SITTING AT 20.

WHICH ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AGO I'M NOT SURE PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS A POSSIBILITY AND THERE'S STILL MORE OUT THERE.

CORTEZ MILLS A POSSIBLE NAME TO WATCH.

MICHAEL TERRY THE THIRD.

A FIVE STAR.

ANOTHER NAME TO WATCH.

SO THIS CLASS HAS PUT THEMSELVES IN A VERY GOOD SPOT DESPITE THE STRUGGLES ON THE FIELD AND THEY'VE GOT A CHANCE TO PUSH UP A FEW MORE.

>> OUR FEATURED RECRUIT IS PIERCE MOOBERRY.

HE'S OUR ON THREE NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN THE STATE.

I KNOW --THERE ARE MULTIPLE RANKINGS.

BUT OUR ANALYSTS HAVE HIM AS A NUMBER ONE PLAYER IN NEBRASKA BASED ON HIS LENGTH, HIS UPSIDE, HIS POSITION VERSATILITY THE FILM HE'S PUT OUT.

HE'S A FOUR-STAR BY ON THREE CONSENSUS.

THREE STAR WHEN YOU ADD UP ALL THE INDUSTRY RANKINGS TOGETHER.

PLAYED TIGHT END, LINEBACKER.

GREAT LENGTH AND GREAT SIZE.

RUNS WELL.

I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT UP SIDE AND PROJECTIONS, HE'S GOT IT.

HE'S A LEGITIMATE 6'4."

ALMOST BUILT LIKE A SEAN FISHER WHEN HE WAS COMING OUT OF MLLARD NORTH MANY YEARS AGO.

>> HE'S KIND OF OVERSHADOWED BY HIS TEAMMATE.

>> THEY HAVE THREE DIVISION I GUYS ON THAT TEAM WITH HENRY.

A TALENTED TEAM.

>> TALKING ABOUT OUR IN-STATE RECRUIT.

>> YEAH, TORY PITTMAN FROM OMAHA CENTRAL.

JUST A SOPHOMORE BUT HAS MAJOR OFFERS.

USC ONE OF THOSE.

NEBRASKA.

A LONG LIST OF BIG TIME OFFERS FOR TORY PITTMAN AS A FRESHMAN.

HE WAS ONE OF THE TOP LONG JUMPERS IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

HE'S GOT EXPLOSION NUMBERS THAT ALSO TRANSLATE TO THE TRACK.

FOR A FRESHMAN TO DO THAT, IT TELLS YOU THE KIND OF ATHLETE HE IS.

I KNOW MIKE'L, YOU'VE BEEN TO A LOT OF GAMES.

>> I'VE SEEN HIM A LOT.

>> I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE?

>> HE'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY.

NOT A WIDE RECEIVER.

BECAUSE HE PLAYS BOTH OF THEM.

HE'S TOUGH.

HE'S A TOUGH KID.

HE MAKES A LOT OF PLAYS.

BUT --HE'S ONE OF THOSE KIDS THAT WHEN YOU SEE HIM DO SOMETHING, IN THE FIELD, HE STANDS OUT.

>> AND EARLY ON.

HE'S A NATIONAL LEVEL GUY, WITH THESE OFFERS.

SO JANUARY, WHEN THESE COACHES COME AROUND, THERE WILL BE SOME PRETTY GOOD FOOT TRAFFIC IN OMAHA TO SEE TORY PITTMAN.

>> AWESOME, SEAN WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT AN EARLY LOOK AT OUR CURRENT CFP RANKINGS FROM THE COMMITTEE.

THIS IS A PROJECTED MATCHUPS.

YOU GOT BYU GETTING IN THE 12 SPOT AFTER DROPPING WAY DOWN AND AFTER LOSING.

THIS WEEK AGAINST OHIO STATE, NOTRE DAME GAME VERSUS ALABAMA.

WHICH WILL BE PRETTY FUN.

GEORGIA AND PENN STATE.

THEN OLE MISS AND INDIANA HAVING THAT -- SOUTHERN SCHOOL GOING TO INDIANA WILL BE INTERESTING.

NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

PLAYING THEIR FIRST TOP FIVE GAME IN HISTORY AGAINST OHIO STATE.

THAT IS WHAT INDIANA IS DOING THIS WEEKEND AT OHIO STADIUM.

MEANWHILE THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TOP FIVE MATCH UP FOR THE BUCKEYES THIS SEASON.

OREGON HAS MOVED TO 11-0 FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN THEIR HISTORY.

LAST TIME WAS BACK IN 2010 WHEN THEY WENT TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND LOST TO AUBURN.

BIG TEN OF COURSE STILL HAS TOP 25 OREGON NUMBER ONE.

AND THEN COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS OHIO STATE NUMBER TWO AND PENN STATE AT NUMBER FOUR.

HOOSIERS AT NUMBER FIVE.

ALL RIGHT LET'S BRING IN OUR GUEST TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE GAME.

JAY WILSON JOINS US.

LONG TIME GUY WHO WAS ON TV IN MADISON.

HOW ARE YOU DOING JAY?

>> I'M WELL TONIGHT.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> DOING REALLY WELL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIG NEWS.

THE CHANGE IN OC.

AND THE WAY LOOK FICKELL HANDLING THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> WELL I THINK THE INVITATION OF LUKE FICKELL EXPRESSION WAS FANTASTIC.

FIRST OF ALL.

AND IT'S REMARKABLE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR SO MUCH ON THIS PROGRAM.

BUT THE BADGERS OFFENSE HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING.

BECAUSE WHEN PHIL LONGO WAS HIRED, HE WAS BRINGING IN THIS AIR RAID OFFENSE AND EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE DREW BREES AND THROW 400 YARDS PER GAME.

THE AIR RAID OFFENSE IS A GREAT THEORY AND CONCEPT BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE GUYS WHO CAN PLAY IT.

WHEN PHIL LONGO WAS AT MISSISSIPPI, HE HAD AJ BROWN AND DK METCALF AS TWO OF HIS RECEIVERS.

WHEN HE WAS AT NORTH CAROLINA, HE HAD DRAKE MAYE WHO WAS DRAFTED BY THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.

HERE HE DIDN'T HAVE GUYS.

GETTING RID OF HIM AFTER TWO YEARS, THAT'S SOMETHING.

WE SUGGESTED THERE MAY BE MORE TO IT THAN JUST AN OFFENSE THAT BEING AS PRODUCTIVE BUT SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON BETWEEN HEAD COACH AND OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR.

I THINK THAT IS AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.

BUT IT'S BEEN A TURBULENT FEW WEEKS.

JACK DEL RIO HIRED AS A CONSULTANT EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

CRASHED HIS CAR ON MADISON STREET AND GOT PICKED UP FOR DUI.

HE'S NO LONGER WITH THE PROGRAM.

NOW THIS PHIL LONGO STUFF HAS DEVELOPED.

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN WISCONSIN FANS USUALLY TALK ABOUT GOING TO THE BIG 10 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OR A REALLY GOOD BOWL GAME.

IF THEY DON'T BEAT NEBRASKA AND MINNESOTA THE WEEK AFTER, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO A BOWL GAME.

>> JAY, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN MADISON-- IF IT WAS MORE RECOGNIZABLE TO THE FAN BASE AND THEY HAD AN IDEA WHERE THEY WERE HEADED.

WOULD IT BE MORE PALPABLE FOR WHAT COACH FICKELL SAYS AND HOW IT'S GOING ABOUT IF THEY CAN JUST SEE SOME ASSEMBLANCE OF WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE?

>> OH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DOUBT.

BUT AGAIN YOU HAVE TO HAVE GUYS.

THE REASON GREAT COACHES GET THE BE GREAT COACHES IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE GREAT PLAYERS.

IN LARGE PART.

WHAT LUKE FICKELL DID IN CINCINNATI TO GET TO THE PLAYOFFS IN 2021 WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

AND WHEN HE WAS HIRED TO REPLACE PAUL CHRYST, THE PROGRAM AT THAT TIME NEEDED A JOLT.

THEY NEEDED SOMETHING.

AND RATHER THAN DO THE COMFORTABLE THING AND KEEP JIM LEONHARD THEY WENT WITH LUKE FICKELL.

YOU CAN SEE HIS NUMBERS THERE.

INCLUDING THAT PLAYOFF IN CINCINNATI.

I THINK THE OPTIMISM IS STILL THERE.

THE OTHER THING WISCONSIN HAS DONE IS MADE SUCH A HUGE INVESTMENT IN LUKE FICKELL.

THEY'RE DOING A $285 MILLION RENOVATION OF THEIR INDOOR AT PRACTICE FACILITY.

THEY REDID THE FIELD THIS YEAR AFTER A COUPLE YEARS.

PUT $5.5 MILLION IN A NEW FIELD WITH HEATING COIL BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE READY TO HOST A PLAYOFF GAME IN DECEMBER.

THEY PUT $77 MILLION INTO A RENOVATIONS IN THE SOUTH END ZONE.

THEY'RE PAYING LUKE FICKELL $7.7 MILLION A YEAR.

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG INVESTMENT.

AND YOU WANT SOME RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT.

FANS WILL BE FANS AND WILL SAY THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT HE'S NOT IN THE HOT SEAT YET BUT IT'S WARMER THAT IT LOOKS.

>> HEY, JAY, THERE ARE TWO PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INJURY SITUATIONS FOR WISCONSIN I WANTED TO HIT YOU ON.

WILL PAULING ARGUABLY YOUR BEST RECEIVER AND THEN WOHLER THE SAFETY.

THEY BOTH WENT OUT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA ON THEIR STATUS FOR THIS GAME ON SATURDAY?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IF THEY DON'T HAVE HUNTER WOHLER, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT DEAL.

I MEAN, HE IS THE GUY ON THEIR DEFENSE.

HE MAKES PLAYS.

HE GETS EVERYBODY IN THE RIGHT SPOT AND IS JUST ONE OF THE SMARTEST FOOTBALL PLAYERS YOU'D EVER WANT TO MEET.

HE'S GREAT IN THE COMMUNITY, BY THE WAY, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE HAVEN'T HAD AN UPDATE TODAY, BUT WHEN HE LEFT THAT GAME AGAINST OREGON ON SATURDAY IT CERTAINLY DID NOT LOOK GOOD.

AND SO WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT DEVELOPS DURING THE WEEK.

PAULING, YOU KNOW, WE'D SAY THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF GUYS.

WELL, HE'S ONE OF THEIR GUYS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND A GO-TO GUY AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S LEADING THE TEAM IN RECEPTIONS, 42.

I HAVEN'T HAD AN UPDATE ON HIS INJURY STATUS EITHER.

BUT I WOULD SAY WOHLER IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO THE DEFENSE THAN PAULING WOULD BE TO THE OFFENSE.

BUT, BOY, YOU GO INTO LINCOLN WITHOUT EITHER ONE OF THOSE GUYS, THAT'D BE REALLY TOUGH.

>> HEY, JAY, WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

ENJOY THE GAME ON SATURDAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GO TO OUR GAME DAY PHOTO WINNER.

THIS WEEK IT GOES TO RANDY FOR THIS SHOT OF A JERSEY BEING PULLED AS THE INTERCEPTION IS HAPPENING, LAST PLAY OF THE GAME ON SATURDAY.

FOR THIS SHOT RANDY GETS A NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS SHIRT FOR SHARING WHAT HE SHARED WITH US.

AND NOW WE FIND OUT WHAT THE VIEWERS THINK OF THE SURVEY SO FAR THIS WEEK.

AND IT WAS, "OUT OF THE REMAINING TWO REMAINING GAMES, WHO WOULD YOU RATHER SEE NEBRASKA BEAT?"

AND WE'RE GOING WERE GOING WITH THE "DON'T CARE, JUST BE BOWL ELIGIBLE," AT 60%, WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

>> YEAH, THAT WILL CARRY WEIGHT.

>> IT MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.

I WILL SAY THAT PAULING, YOU KNOW, THAT GAME, HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES.

IT SOMETHING LOWER BODY-WISE.

IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS BAD NEWS WHEN HE CAME OUT.

>> THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

>> IT IS.

>> I MEAN, THOSE ARE TWO OF THEIR DUDES.

>> HE SINGLE-HANDEDLY KILLED NEBRASKA A YEAR AGO, ESPECIALLY ON THIRD DOWN.

>> NOT THE LEADING RECEIVER, BUT THE LEADING IN TERMS OF CATCHING -- NOT THE YARDS, BUT CATCHES.

YOU FEEL OVERALL.

I'M GONNA START WITH YOU, JAY.

>> OKAY.

>> JUST YOUR FEEL OVERALL.

YOU'RE GOING AGAINST A TEAM THAT SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE IN MORE OF A MESS THAN NEBRASKA IS, AND WE THOUGHT LAST WEEK THAT NEBRASKA WAS KIND OF A MESS.

>> YEAH, IT'S -- AGAIN, IT'S THEY'RE -- BOTH TEAMS ARE VERY -- IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, NEBRASKA IS HEALTHIER THAN WISCONSIN COME THIS GAME.

BUT I THINK FROM A MENTALITY STANDPOINT, I THINK NEBRASKA IS IN A HEALTHIER MENTAL STATE THAN WISCONSIN IS.

WISCONSIN PUT EVERYTHING INTO ALMOST UPSETTING OREGON IN MADISON.

DIDN'T GET IT DONE.

SO OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF ENERGY WAS SPENT DOING THAT.

OBVIOUSLY NEBRASKA SPENT A BUNCH OF ENERGY AS WELL.

BUT I THINK NEBRASKA MENTALLY AND JUST WHERE THEY'RE AT WITH THE STAFF AND HAVING GOING INTO NOW WEEK THREE WITH DANA HOLGORSEN IS A MUCH BETTER SITUATION THAN WISCONSIN IS.

>> DO YOU THINK -- AND WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT WHO MIGHT THAT YOUNG PERSON BE.

BUT YOU THINK ABOUT WATCHING, AND YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF PRACTICE AND YOU KNOW THE TEAM.

ARE THERE SEVERAL GUYS YOU'D SAY, YOUNG GUYS, YOU'D LIKE TO PLAY ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE OPPOSED TO OFFENSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE -- YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY McGAHEE HAS COME ON LATE.

SHAVERS WAS EARLY AND THE SECONDARY, THESE GUYS COME ON.

THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE QUARTET.

IT'S PRUDE.

IT'S DONOVAN JONES.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S AMARE SANDERS AND CALEB.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THERE'S A LOT OF GUYS BACK THERE THAT I THINK ULTIMATELY WILL PLAY.

AND THE ENCOURAGING THING IS THEY PRACTICE TOGETHER ON THE SAME -- THOSE FOUR PRACTICE TOGETHER ON THE SAME UNIT.

SO THAT'S ENCOURAGING.

OF COURSE, DON'T FORGET YOU'VE GOT KEONA DAVIS WHO MAY FIND HIMSELF, COINCIDENTALLY, IN A RILEY VAN POPPEL SITUATION THIS YEAR WHERE HE COULD RED SHIRT.

'CAUSE YOU'LL GET VAN POPPEL NEXT YEAR.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THOSE TWO GUYS WILL BE PRETTY GOOD AS WELL.

>> IT'S A LOT OF GUYS.

JERRY, ON THE EMAIL, SEAN SAYS, "YOU THINK YOU WILL SEE MORE OF HEINRICH HAARBERG IN SOME OF THOSE PATCHES WE SAW ON SATURDAY?"

>> I MEAN, I THINK YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE HIM IN A SPOT ROLE.

THE THING IS IT'S SO PREDICTABLE.

I MEAN, YOU NOTICE WHEN HE CAME IN IT WAS TO START THE HALF, I BELIEVE, WHERE THEY WEREN'T REALLY READY FOR IT.

>> STARTING TO DRIVES.

>> SO THE BOOTH IS PROBABLY NOT THINKING, "OH, HAARBERG'S COMING IN" BECAUSE IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

BUT I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE THEY'RE GONNA DO MORE THAN A PLAY HERE OR A PLAY THERE.

IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SOMETHING -- MAYBE THE RED ZONE.

I MEAN, MAYBE THE RED ZONE MAKES SENSE WHERE THEY COULD BRING HIM IN FOR SOME DIFFERENT ELEMENTS.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S VERY PREDICTABLE AT THAT POINT IF HE'S NOT GOING TO THROW.

>> I WOULD SAY IF YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH, THEY MAY KNOW WHAT'S COMING.

NOTHING CAN STOP HIM.

>> AND YOU COULD ALSO -- I THINK THE DIFFERENCE WITH HOLGORSEN NOW AS A GUY THAT UNDERSTANDS TRUE TRIPLE -- >> YEAH.

>> THE RPO IS NOW IN PLAY WITH QUICK LOOK-INS AND CHOICE ROUTES, NOT JUST THOSE LITTLE ARROW ROUTES TO THE OUTSIDE.

SO THERE'S STILL A LITTLE WRINKLE IN THERE WHERE I THINK HE COULD STILL PLAY CATCH.

>> YOU WORRIED ABOUT GOING AGAINST WISCONSIN'S RUN TEAM?

>> A LITTLE BIT.

I LIKE NEBRASKA'S FRONT, YOU KNOW, THEIR FRONT SEVEN GUYS.

I DO.

I THINK WHAT I'M NOW WORRIES ABOUT -- IN FOOTBALL IN GENERAL, IT'S ALWAYS A VERY COPYCAT LEAGUE.

SO I THINK -- SO WISCONSIN IS GONNA TRY TO EMULATE A LITTLE BIT WHAT USC DID THE PREVIOUS WEEK TO SEE IF THAT MIGHT NOT FIT SITUATIONALLY TO WHAT WISCONSIN LIKES TO DO.

BUT I THINK YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO IMPLEMENT SOME SORT OF THE SAME LOOKS JUST TO SEE IF NEBRASKA IS ON THEIR "Ps" AND "Qs," IF THEY GOT THE SITUATION RESURRECTED FROM NEXT WEEK.

SO BUT I STILL LIKE NEBRASKA.

I MEAN, THE STRENGTH OF THEIR DEFENSE IS UP FRONT.

SO I LOVE THAT AGAINST ANY RUN GAME.

BUT THEY HAVE TO CLEAN IT UP, HOW USC ATTACKED THEM.

NOW, GRANTED, WOODY MARKS IS A FANTASTIC RUNNING BACK.

SO I THINK THAT WAS HALF THE BATTLE.

BUT I LIKE NEBRASKA'S MATCH FOR THE RUN GAME.

>> YEAH.

REAL QUICK, A FEW PEOPLE ASKING THIS QUESTION.

YOU GUYS THINK HOLGORSEN'S BACK NEXT YEAR?

>> I DO.

I THINK WITH DYLAN RAIOLA, THAT'S A SELLING POINT FOR HIM TO WANT TO BE HERE LONGER.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU, DAMON?

>> YEAH, I DO TOO.

>> SAME THING?

>> YEAH, HE MUST HAVE BEEN REALLY BORED APPARENTLY.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO HE'LL BE BACK FOR SOME WORK NEXT YEAR TOO.

>> MAKES SENSE.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THE MEDIA WILL BE READY FOR HIM.

BUT THE FAN BASE -- I THINK EVERYBODY ELSE WILL.

>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> LET'S GO WITH BURNING QUESTIONS.

>> CAN DANA HOLGORSEN FIND ENOUGH OFFENSE ?

I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT, BUT CAN THEY GET ENOUGH TO GET THIS WIN AGAINST WISCONSIN?

>> CAN PLAYMAKERS BE ACTUALLY WHAT IS IS, BY DEFINITION?

IT'S A GUY MAKING A PLAY.

IF NEBRASKA GETS THAT, THEY'LL BE JUST FINE ON SATURDAY.

>> YEAH, I KIND OF ASKED SAME, WHO THAT GUY MIGHT BE ON THAT -- THAT HOLGORSEN MIGHT IDENTIFY IN PRACTICE THIS WEEK.

SOME YOUNG GUYS MIGHT GET THROWN IN THE MIX TOO WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS YEAR TO STEP UP AND, LIKE DAMON SAID, FINALLY MAKE THOSE PLAYS.

>> CAN DYLAN RAIOLA MAKE THE THROWS THAT HE HAS TO MAKE WHEN IT'S OPEN?

IF YOU GOT A BIG WIDE RECEIVER AND HE'S BETWEEN THE DEFENDER AND THE BALL COMING TO YOU, YOU GOT TO MAKE THOSE THROWS SOMETIMES.

AND CAN HE GET THAT DONE?

DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE OR THE FACEBOOK PAGE OR "X" ACCOUNT AND CLICK ON THE PREDICTION.

JAY AND DAMON AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE WISCONSIN GAME.

THE GAME AGAINST THE BADGERS IS AT 2:30 ON SATURDAY.

IT'S THE 23rd ON THE BTN.

AND THEN NEXT WEEK, "BIG RED WRAP-UP" SPECIAL DAY.

WE'LL RECAP THE GAME AND BE JOINED BY A SPECIAL GUEST, ERIN SORENSEN, AT A SPECIAL TIME AND DATE ON WORLD, FACEBOOK LIVE, AND YOUTUBE, LIVE AT 7:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY.

AND YOU CAN CATCH THE RE-AIR AT 10:00 P.M. ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

AND DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASSICS ANY TIME ON YOUTUBE.COM/NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.

OUR THANKS TO SAM McKEWON AND JAY WILSON FOR BEING WITH US.

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

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

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