♪♪ ♪♪ >>> NEBRASKA STARTED THE YEAR OFF WITH OPTIMISM BY WINNING THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019.

FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK DYLAN RAIOLA'S POISE WAS ON FULL DISPLAY AS HE LED THE HUSKERS TO A DECISIVE 40-7 WIN AGAINST UTEP.

NOW ALL ATTENTION TURNS TO COLORADO COMING TO LINCOLN THIS WEEKEND.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO BREAK DOWN THE FIRST WIN OF 2024 WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST, FORMER HUSKER AND 1890 PRESIDENT, MATT DAVISON.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL ALSO JOIN US TO KEEP US UP TO DATE ON BACK TO BACK BUSY RECRUITING WEEKENDS.

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

♪♪ ♪♪ >> HI EVERYONE, I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

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

NEBRASKA GETS OFF TO A 1-0 START, AND I'M CALLING IT A SURGEON GENERAL KIND OF WIN.

WHY?

I'LL TELL YOU, JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN, IT'S BECAUSE NO ONE'S BLOOD PRESSURE WENT UP AT ALL.

IT WAS FINE.

BY THIRD QUARTER, I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, I'M FINE.

I PROBABLY DON'T EVEN NEED TO WATCH ANY MORE."

IT'S RARE TO GET THAT KIND OF GAME.

>> IT IS.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE LIKE THAT IN A WHILE, ESPECIALLY AN OPENER.

BUT IT WAS KIND OF HOW I FELT THE GAME SHOULD GO.

THERE WAS JUST A MOMENT OF, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD THE FUMBLE ON THE GOAL LINE, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE BIG PLAY ON THE FOURTH DOWN STOP.

AND YOU'RE LIKE, "OKAY," BUT THEN THE SAFETY HAPPENED, AND THEN THINGS JUST -- THEY NEVER REALLY STOOD A CHANCE FROM THERE.

BUT IT WAS NICE TO BE RELAXED, BE CALM, SEE SOME PLAYERS PLAY.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT NEBRASKA FOOTBALL WAS FOR SO MANY YEARS WAS YOU START OFF YOUR FIRST GAME, AND YOUR STARTERS PLAYED A HALF, MAYBE THREE-QUARTERS, AND YOU GOT TO SEE A BUNCH OF YOUR OTHER SECOND TEAMERS, YOUR THIRD STRING.

HELL, THERE WERE SOME FOURTH AND FIFTH STRING GUYS THAT WERE ABLE TO PLAY ON SATURDAYS.

JUST HAVEN'T HAD IT IN A WHILE.

AND FINALLY A GAME JUST, THE GET-OFF, WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE TO START OFF THE SEASON WITH THE SCHEDULE, JUST YOU KIND OF EASE INTO IT, INTO OBVIOUSLY MUCH TOUGHER COMPETITION COME THIS WEEK.

>> A COUPLE MOMENTS WHERE PEOPLE WERE SCRAMBLING GETTING IN TO THE MEDIA GUIDE TO FIND OUT WHO PEOPLE WERE.

>> YEAH, 107 DIFFERENT PLAYERS SAW ACTION FOR NEBRASKA.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY THAT WAS AVAILABLE, THAT WAS A PART OF TRAINING CAMP, THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE MORE OF AN EXTRAVAGANT REDSHIRT PLAN FOR, WAS ABLE TO GET IN THAT THE GAME.

WHICH, MAYBE BETHUNE-COOKMAN IN 2018 WAS PROBABLY THE LAST TIME YOU COULD ARGUE -- >> GOOD CALL.

>> BECAUSE EVEN LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, THE GAME AGAINST LOUISIANA TECH WAS NOT LIKE THAT, AS WE KNOW.

AND IT'S HARD.

I MEAN, IT'S HARD IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

WISCONSIN WAS PUSHED BY WESTERN MICHIGAN.

A LOT OF THESE TEAMS IN THE BIG TEN REALLY HAD STRESSFUL OPENERS.

FOR NEBRASKA TO BE ABLE TO PULL THEIR STARTERS AT THE FIVE-MINUTE MARK OF THE THIRD QUARTER, REALLY UNHEARD OF FOR THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS OF NEBRASKA FOOTBALL.

>> SO YOU PLAYED WITH SOME GOOD QUARTERBACKS, I KNOW.

BUT WHEN YOU WATCH SOME OF THE THROWS THAT RAIOLA MADE, INCLUDING THE ONE TO THE RIGHT END ZONE THAT WAS JUST OUTSIDE, GOING TOWARDS THE OUT OF BANDS WHERE IT HAD TO BE, THE ONE WHERE HE GETS HIT AND MAKES THE THROW TO NEYOR, I MEAN, YOU DON'T SEE THAT KIND OF THING FROM A FRESHMAN.

>> NO, YOU DON'T.

AND THAT'S THE BIG -- LIKE I SAID, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO A COUPLE PRACTICES IN THE SPRING AND THIS FALL, AND YOU SAW THOSE THROWS BEING MADE.

BUT IN MY MIND, I SAID, "OKAY, THAT'S IN PRACTICE.

THAT'S AGAINST GUYS YOU'RE COMFORTABLE GOING AGAINST.

HOW IS IT GONNA BE IN FRONT OF 80,000-90,000 WHEN IT'S A TEAM OF A DIFFERENT COLOR?"

RIGHT?

AND HE DID IT.

AND HE BACKED IT UP, HE VALIDATED ALL THOSE THROWS I WAS ABLE TO SEE HIM MAKE IN PRACTICE.

AND, I MEAN, THE INCOMPLETE PASS TO NEYOR DOWN THE SIDELINE EARLY IN THE GAME, THAT WAS ON THE MONEY.

THIS THROW RIGHT HERE, YOU CAN SEE HIM STEPPING UP, THROWING IT SIDEARM, SAW HIM DO IT ALL THE TIME IN PRACTICE, YOU KNOW.

THE PASS TO NEYOR ON THE OTHER SIDELINE HEADING TO THE SOUTH END ZONE AND THEN BANKS RIGHT BEFORE HALF.

I MEAN, HIS -- HE PUTS THE BALL WHERE ONLY HIS GUYS CAN CATCH IT.

AND IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THOSE GUYS TO -- YOUNG QUARTERBACKS TO MAKE THOSE KIND OF THROWS, AND HE'S GOT IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD UTEP'S DEFENSE IS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE -- TRUST ME, WE'RE GOING TO FACE MUCH BETTER DEFENSES.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID.

LIKE, YOU CAN TAKE THIS AND JUST KNOW, AND FEEL MUCH BETTER ABOUT WHERE THE OFFENSE IS GOING INTO THIS YEAR, JUST BECAUSE HE IS -- WE HAVEN'T SEEN A QUARTERBACK LIKE THIS PROBABLY SINCE ZAC TAYLOR, WHO CAN MAKE THESE KIND OF THROWS IN IN-GAME SITUATIONS.

>> WHEN'S THE LAST TIME NEBRASKA IS SITTING AT SECOND AND 30, AND YOU'RE FELT PRETTY GOOD ABOUT GETTING THE FIRST DOWN?

>> YOU KNOW, ADRIAN, WHEN HE WAS AT HIS PEAK COULD DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A 1 OUT OF 25 SITUATION AT BEST, WHERE YOU'RE LIKE, "OKAY."

USUALLY YOU'RE KINDA LIKE, "ALL RIGHT, LET'S PLAY TO GET A RESPECTABLE PUNT FOR A FIELD POSITION."

IN THIS SITUATION, THEY CAN KNOCK IT ALL OFF IN TWO PLAYS.

AND BY THE WAY, THOSE WERE THE ONLY TWO PENALTIES THE STARTING OFFENSE HAD ALL DAY.

THEY JUST HAPPENED TO COME ON BACK-TO-BACK PLAYS -- A FALSE START AND AN OFFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE PICK PLAY.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING ALSO THAT I THINK YOU COULD REALLY HIGHLIGHT, NOT ONLY WAS RAIOLA IMPRESSIVE, BUT THE EXECUTION OF THE OFFENSE.

THE LINE WAS NOT CHARGED WITH A SACK.

I KNOW THEY GAVE UP ONE THAT WAS GIVEN TO THE OTHER SIDE, BUT THEN THEY WERE EFFICIENT ON THIRD DOWN.

11 OF 17 ON THIRD DOWNS.

THAT'S HOW YOU RUN 80-PLUS PLAYS IN A FOOTBALL GAME WHERE YOU'RE NOT RUNNING A NO-HUDDLE OFFENSE.

>> SECOND IN THE COUNTRY IN THIRD DOWN COMING OUT OF WEEK ONE.

THERE'S A LOT MORE TO COVER, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO IT.

WE NEED YOUR HELP THOUGH.

WE HAVE OUR PHONES STANDING BY.

WE PROMISE THIS WEEK THEY'LL ACTUALLY WORK.

IT WAS A JOKE LAST WEEK.

WE'RE READY FOR YOUR CALLS.

IF YOU PREFER, YOU CAN ALSO TEXT OR EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

WE'RE ALSO MONITORING OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS TONIGHT.

SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR "BIG RED WRAP-UP" FACEBOOK PAGE OR X ACCOUNT, AND WE'LL ANSWER AS MANY OF THE QUESTIONS AS WE CAN.

ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE 2024 NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE POSTER.

YOU CAN PRINT THOSE OFF AT HOME OR YOUR OFFICE AND KEEP UP TO DATE THROUGHOUT THE SEASON THE HUSKER FOOTBALL SCORES, INCLUDING 40-7 AGAINST UTEP.

TIME NOW FOR OUR SIDELINE SURVEY.

LAST WEEK WE ASKED YOU, "WILL NEBRASKA MAKE IT TO A BOWL GAME THIS SEASON?"

82% OF YOU SAID "YES, THE DROUGHT IS OVER."

9%, NEGATIVE NELLIES, SAID "THE LONG NIGHTMARE WILL CONTINUE," AND ANOTHER 9% WANTED TO CHECK BACK AFTER THE UTEP GAME.

I WONDER IF THAT PERFORMANCE CHANGED YOUR IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

NOW IT'S THIS TIME -- THIS WEEK'S ALL NEW SIDELINE SURVEY.

IN SATURDAY NIGHT'S TELECAST -- THIS IS A GOOD ONE -- WHAT WILL WE SEE THE MOST?

"SHOTS OF COACH PRIME ON THE SIDELINES," GETTING 51%.

"COMMERCIALS WITH COACH PRIME," "MENTIONS OF HOW MANY TRANSFERS COLORADO HAS" -- AND THAT'S 66 -- OR "NEBRASKA TOUCHDOWNS."

31% SAY NEBRASKA TOUCHDOWNS.

CHECK BACK EACH WEEK, EACH WEEK FOR A BRAND-NEW SURVEY.

TIME NOW FOR OUR TOP PLAYS AGAINST UTEP.

WE BRING YOU NUMBER THREE TO KICK IT OFF, AND THIS IS WHAT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BREAK DOWN A LITTLE BIT BETTER JOE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OH, "JOE," -- JAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] THIS IS THE -- THINKING ABOUT JOE GANZ.

EMMETT JOHNSON'S 42 YARD RUSH IN THE SECOND QUARTER, COMING OFF OF THAT TRIPLE CHECK, AS COACH SAID ABOUT THAT.

THE BLACKSHIRT DEFENSE STOPPING.

THIS IS A GOOD SHOT RIGHT HERE.

>> I'M GONNA GET THIS SAME SHOT TOO.

I GOTTA BREAK DOWN BOTH PLAYS.

>> GONNA BREAK DOWN BOTH OF THOSE PLAYS.

THAT'S NUMBER TWO.

AND NUMBER ONE, OF COURSE, DYLAN RAIOLA'S 59-YARD BOMB TO ISAIAH NEYOR.

THIS IS A PERFECT THROW.

IT'S -- THEY ALWAYS SAY "DROP IT IN THE BUCKET."

AND HE'S GOT A GUY IN HIS FACE AT THE SAME TIME, AND HE MAKES THAT THROW.

AND THEN HOW 'BOUT THIS BALANCE?

IT'S INCREDIBLE BALANCE BY THE TRANSFER WIDE RECEIVER TO BE ABLE TO STAY UP AND GET IN THE END ZONE TO GIVE NEBRASKA THE SCORE.

LET'S STAY THERE WITH THE WIDE RECEIVER AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, 'CAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE EXCITED.

I REMEMBER TALKING TO KENNY BELL WHO WENT TO PRACTICE.

HE SAID IT COULD BE AS GOOD AS THE 2013-2014 NEBRASKA WIDE RECEIVER CREW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OVERALL, GETTING A CHANCE TO WATCH THEM?

>> LISTEN, I SAW -- I KNOW I WAS BRAGGING ABOUT GOING TO PRACTICE, BUT I SAW THOSE TWO GUYS -- BANKS AND NEYOR -- IN PRACTICE, AND WE HAVE HAD GUYS BUILT LIKE THAT.

QUINCY ENUNWA COMES TO MIND.

>> YEAH.

>> SIMILAR BUILD.

KENNY BELL, NOT QUITE AS LONG AND RANGY AS SOME OF THOSE GUY ARE, BUT THE CATCH RADIUS THAT'S AROUND THOSE GUYS.

>> MAURICE PURIFY.

>> YEAH, MO P WAS EXACTLY BUILT LIKE THAT.

AND YOU JUST -- YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAD, 'CAUSE NEYOR WAS AT WYOMING, THEN TEXAS, THEN BANKS WAS AT WAKE FOREST.

WAKE FOREST HAD A DECENT YEAR LAST YEAR.

BUT WORKING WITH A NEW QUARTERBACK, NEW OFFENSIVE SYSTEM, WHAT DOES IT EXACTLY LOOK LIKE?

AND, I MEAN, NEYOR WAS -- HAD THE MOST YARDS, BUT BANKS WAS IN THERE, YOU THROW FIDONI IN THERE -- I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM GET SOME MORE ACTION.

BUT THESE GUYS ARE AS GOOD AS IT COMES.

AS GOOD AS NEBRASKA HAS HAD IN QUITE SOME TIME.

AND YOU PAIR THAT WITH THE RAIOLA'S ABILITY TO -- THE BALL HE THROWS IS SO CATCHABLE.

>> YEP.

>> IT'S -- IT'S NOT A FAST -- HE HAS A FAST BALL, BUT IT'S NEVER OVERPOWERED, AND IT'S ALWAYS, LIKE I SAID, A GUY -- WHERE HIS GUYS CAN CATCH IT.

AND IT'S RIGHT ON THE MONEY, MAN.

IT'S SOFT AND IT'S FUN TO WATCH.

AND I JUST -- AND THIS GROUP JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO GET BETTER AS WELL.

>> BIG PHYSICAL WIDE RECEIVERS YOU SEE JUST NOW THROWING THE GUY OFF.

THEN YOU HAVE BARNEY, WHO ADDS JACORY BARNEY WHO ADDS THE SPEED.

AND THAT'S NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT JAYLEN LLOYD WHO REALLY ONLY HAD ONE TARGET.

>> I THOUGHT THE MOST TELLING THING IN THE GAME WAS THE GUYS THAT WERE STARTING AT RECEIVER A YEAR AGO FOR NEBRASKA WERE COMING IN MORE WITH THE SECOND AND EVEN THE THIRD GROUPS.

I MEAN, ALEX BULLOCK PLAYED MORE SNAPS REALLY ON SPECIAL TEAM THAN HE DID ON THE OFFENSE.

A YEAR AGO, BECAUSE OF THE INJURIES HE WAS ESSENTIALLY DEFAULT NUMBER ONE RECEIVER.

>> LEADING RECEIVER.

>> WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THEY BATTLED.

SO IT TELLS YOU, THE QUARTERBACK OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN UPGRADED, BUT THE UPGRADES THEY'VE MADE AND EVEN THE TINKER THEY MADE WITH JANIRAN BONNER TO THE SLOT, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN MENTION CARTER NELSON.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE BIGGER BODY RECEIVERS -- MALACHI COLEMAN'S A TRACK STAR THAT THEY'RE HOPING TO REDSHIRT -- BUT YOU'VE GOT TWO STATE CHAMPION HIGH JUMPERS.

YOU KNOW, IN THE FRESHMAN FROM MONTANA, I'M BLANKING ON HIS NAME.

>> QUINN CLARK.

>> QUINN CLARK AND CARTER NELSON ARE BOTH, YOU KNOW, HIGH LEVEL ATHLETIC HIGH JUMPERS.

YOU GOT ME ON A BRAIN FART THERE, MIKE.

>> I LOVE QUINN CLARK, YOU KNOW THAT'S ONE OF MY GUYS.

>> I GET SO NERVOUS AROUND YOU.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> BUT JUST THE SIZE OF THESE GUYS, I MEAN, THE POTENTIAL, IT'S GONNA BE FUN TO WATCH THIS ROOM DEVELOP UNDER GARRET.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BLACKSHIRTS, BECAUSE REALLY WHAT CHANGED THE GAME WAS THE SAFETY, RIGHT?

YOU'RE SITTING AT 7-0, YOU GAVE UP THE FUMBLE, AND THEN THE BLACKSHIRTS MAKE A PLAY.

>> YEAH, IT WAS -- YOU NEED TO MAKE A PLAY.

AND I -- IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN INSTANCES -- AND NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE DID THIS ALL YEAR -- A SUDDEN CHANGE OR TURNOVERS OR WHATEVER IT IS, THEY STEPPED UP BIG.

AND THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN ON SATURDAY AFTER DOWDELL FUMBLES, THEY GET THE BIG PLAY, 7-7 AT THAT TIME, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO MAKE THAT THING 9-7, REALLY JUST FLIPPED THE GAME, THE MOMENTUM.

'CAUSE IT KIND OF SEEMED LIKE AFTER THAT FOURTH DOWN STOP THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET, THEY SCORED US A FEW PLAYS LATER, IT DID SWITCH A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KINDA HAD TO, LIKE, CATCH YOUR BREATH, AND BE LIKE, "OKAY, WHAT'S --" YOU GOT A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE.

BUT MAKING THAT PLAY, AND REALLY I'LL BREAK IT DOWN, I MEAN NASH HUTMACHER JUST DESTROYED THE CENTER RIGHT BACK INTO THIS, AND BAUER KIND OF BLITZED, AND -- >> TY ROBINSON.

>> TY ROBINSON COMES UNBLOCKED OFF THE EDGE AND YOU JUST -- YOU MAKE A PLAY AND THIS DEFENSE IS GONNA HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS ALL YEAR, MAKE A PLAY AND CLEAN UP SOME OF THE MESSES.

BUT THAT'S WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO -- THAT'S A TEAM FOOTBALL.

I HOPE THE OFFENSE IS GOING TO STEP UP AND SCORE SOME POINTS WHEN NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE IS STRUGGLING TOO.

>> SEAN, I READ THAT, AND PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT "NEBRASKA ONLY HAD 4.4 YARDS A CARRY."

BUT THE STARTING FOUR BACKS HAD SIX YARDS A CARRY.

33 CARRIES FOR 200 YARDS, THEY'RE PRETTY EFFICIENT, THOSE OR GUYS.

>> WELL, AND DANTE DOWDELL WAS POISED TO HAVE A 100-YARD GAME.

>> EASY, YEP.

>> HE HAD 55 YARDS PRETTY MUCH IN THE FIRST QUARTER, AVERAGING EIGHT YARDS PER POP, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, I THINK THAT TOP THREE GROUP PARTICULARLY, GABE -- YOU KNOW, GABE GOT SOME OF THE GOAL LINE SHORT YARDAGE CARRIES, BUT EMMETT, DANTE DOWDELL, AND RAHMIR JOHNSON, I THOUGHT THAT TRIO REALLY GAVE NEBRASKA A LOT ON SATURDAY IN WHAT THEY DID.

AND THEN BY MOP-UP DUTY, I MEAN, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME SEVEN I-BACKS GOT -- SEVEN OR EIGHT I-BACKS -- >> EIGHT.

EIGHT, YEP.

>> -- GOT PLAY IN THIS GAME, WHERE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE NUMBERS AND THE STATS.

I THINK NEBRASKA WAS ALMOST TRYING TO BLEED THE CLOCK LATE.

SO THOSE ARE A LITTLE MISLEADING BECAUSE I THOUGHT EARLY ON, NEBRASKA ESTABLISHED THEIR IDENTITY AND THE BALANCE THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE WITH THIS OFFENSE.

>> WHO WOULD YOU START?

>> MAN, IT'S TOUGH.

YOU KNOW, DOWDELL HAD THAT HOT HAND.

HE HAD THAT FUMBLE, THOUGH.

>> YEP.

>> I THINKGABE HAD THE TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

RAHMIR RAN TOUGH.

>> EMMETT JOHNSON HAD A LONG RUN.

>> YEAH, HE HAD A GOOD RUN.

THAT'S TOUGH.

I THINK -- IF DOWDELL DOESN'T HAVE THE FUMBLE, I THINK HE LOOKED GREAT.

HE LOOKED EXPLOSIVE.

LOOKED MORE -- NOT SLUGGISH BY ANY MEANS IN THE SPRING, BUT JUST MORE, A BIGGER BACK, BUT HE HAD EXPLOSIVENESS.

I STILL LIKE RAHMIR BECAUSE I LOVE HIM IN THIRD AND SHORT SITUATIONS.

I LOVE HIM TO BE ABLE TO CATCH THE BALL IN THE BACKFIELD.

EMMETT CAN CATCH THE BALL AS WELL.

IT'S TOUGH.

THEY GOT FOUR REALLY GOOD OPTIONS.

GABE, JUST, IF HE CONTINUES TO STAY HEALTHY, I THINK HE'S A GREAT SHORT YARDAGE BACK.

BUT I STILL THINK RAHMIR'S YOUR STARTING GUY HEADING INTO GAME TWO.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT ONE THING THE COACH RHULE DOES WELL IS HE SPEAKS THINGS INTO EXISTENCE.

HE TALKED ABOUT HOW DOWDELL WASN'T PLAYING WELL IN THE SPRING.

HOW HE WAS KIND OF BEHIND IN THE SUMMER.

YOU SEE HIM TURN IT AROUND.

SAME THING WITH TOMMY HILL LAST YEAR.

HE REALLY HAS A WAY OF TALKING THOSE GUYS INTO GETTING BETTER.

>> YOU LOOK AT DOWDELL'S BODY OF WORK.

HE'S FAR AND AWAY THE MOST TOUTED OF THE RUNNING BACKS.

I MEAN HE WAS A LEGIT HIGH FOUR-STAR RECRUIT THAT PLAYED IN THE ALL-AMERICAN BOWL IN SAN ANTONIO.

WENT TO OREGON.

I MEAN, HE COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE HE WANTED AND WENT TO OREGON AND GOT LOGJAMMED IN A REALLY BACKED-UP RUNNING BACK ROOM.

>> SURE.

>> SO THEY -- DOWDELL AND HIS STEP FATHER, LAWRENCE HOPKINS WERE VERY INTERESTED RIGHT AWAY IN NEBRASKA BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS THERE WITH TWO BACKS COMING OFF INJURY AND THAT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO GET IN HERE AND PLAY AT A HIGH LEVEL.

AND THIS OFFENSE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RUN HERE WITH TIGHT ENDS AND DOWNHILL, HE WAS A GOOD FIT FOR IT WITH HIS SKILL SET.

>> REAL QUICK, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE, BUT, THE STARTING OFFENSIVE LINE -- >> THEY PLAYED, YEAH, REALLY WELL.

THEY HAD THAT ONE SACK, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD, I MEAN -- BENHART, EVANS, SCOTT, MAZZCCUA, AND THEN CORCORAN.

I MEAN, I JUST REMEMBER ONE OF THE GOAL LINE RUNS, I THINK IT WAS WITH GABE ERVIN, BUT EVANS PANCAKED THIS GUY INTO THE BACK OF THE END ZONE.

THE POWER RUN THEY HAD WITH ERVIN, IT WAS A TIGHT END SITUATION NUMBER ONE FROM UTEP, JUST GOT TOSSED OUT THE CLUB.

POWER PLAY DOUBLED DOWN, SO IT'S WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE, RIGHT?

PROTECT THE QUARTERBACK, GIVE THEM TIME, BE ABLE TO RUN THE BALL, AND COMMIT TO RUN THE FOOTBALL TO GIVE THOSE BIG GUYS TIMING AND GET THEM GREASED UP AND READY TO GO BECAUSE THE REST OF THE SEASON, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL.

>> NO DOUBT.

LET'S CHECK OUT THE TAPE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM SATURDAY'S HOME OPENER.

IT WAS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL DAY, A LITTLE WARM, BUT I'M TELLING YOU ALL OF THE PEOPLE WERE OUT TAILGATING EARLY.

YOU SEE THE SEA OF RED.

IT WAS A REALLY GREAT DAY FOR SOME FOOTBALL.

AND IT STARTED OFF RAHMIR JOHNSON, ONE OF THE ORS GETTING THE EARLY CARRIES, A SIX-YARD CARRY RIGHT THERE.

BUT AS SEAN SAID, DOWDELL REALLY TOOK OVER.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY HE RAN WITH PHYSICALITY, GETTING 55 YARDS EARLIER, LOOKED GREAT.

BUT RAIOLA WAS REALLY THE STORY, THE NATIONAL STORY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT HIM ACROSS THE NATIONAL SHOWS.

THERE'S BANKS GETTING A CATCH FOR 19 YARDS COMING OFF THAT 2nd and 30.

THEN LOOK AT THAT HOLE.

>> YEAH, BEAUTIFUL.

GREAT LEFT FRONT BLOCKING, AND LET'S GET OFF TO A GOOD START WITH THE BIG RED.

>> UTEP ENDED UP STARTING LOCKLEAR BECAUSE HE'S LITTLE MORE ATHLETIC.

THE BEST PLAYER THEY HAVE, REALLY, WAS KAM THOMAS, THEY ENDED UP GETTING THE BALL TO HIM AT A POINT.

BUT THIS IS WHEN THEY GOT GOING WITH THE PACE.

THE PACE ACTUALLY GOT NEBRASKA FOR AWHILE.

>> YEAH, THEY TRIED TO SNAP THAT BALL WITH NO MORE -- NO LESS THAN 12 SECONDS ON THE CLOCK.

THAT IS -- THAT'S MOVING.

THEY GOT SOME TEMPO, GOT SOME PACE, GOT SOME MOMENTUM GOING AFTER THAT FOURTH DOWN STOP AND YOU'RE KINDA LIKE, OKAY, BOYS.

LET'S BUCKLE UP AND GET THIS FIGURED OUT.

>> YEP.

THAT WAS A GOOD CATCH BY KAM THOMAS.

THEIR BEST PLAYER THERE.

MINER BACK.

BUT HERE'S DOWDELL.

AGAIN, RUNNING DOWNHILL.

BUT THIS -- THEY GO LOW.

THEY WENT EARLIER AND HE PROTECTED IT.

THAT TIME HE DIDN'T.

>> IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I MEAN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THOSE FUMBLES WHERE YOU -- YOU'RE TRYING TO GET LOW AND GET A HELMET ON THE BALL.

BUT LISTEN, YOU GOTTA PROTECT AT ALL COSTS.

>> AND GOING TO BREAK DOWN THAT PLAY, AGAIN, JAY IS COMING UP FOR THE SAFETY MAKING IT 9-7.

SEAN, WHEN YOU WATCH THESE BIG WIDE RECEIVERS AND YOU LOOK BACK AT WHAT NEBRASKA WAS DOING WITH LIKE SMALL WIDE RECEIVERS, YOU KINDA UNDERSTAND WHY YOU MAKE THE CHANGE.

AGAINST THE BIG TEN, YOU GOTTA HAVE THESE BIG PHYSICAL GUYS.

>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET OPEN OFTEN, UNLESS YOU'RE TREY PALMER PLAYS VERY OFTEN, UNLESS YOU'RE TREY PALMER.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CATCH BALLS IN TIGHT COVERAGE AND BE A BIG BODY TO DO IT.

AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN A PLAY LIKE THAT FROM A RECEIVER AT NEBRASKA IN A LONG TIME.

IT DID REMIND YOU OF MAURICE PURIFY A LITTLE BIT.

THE '06 TEXAS GAME WHERE HE CAUGHT A BALL IN COVERAGE AND SCORED WHERE HE SHOULDN'T HAVE SCORED.

THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED, PLAYS LIKE THAT.

>> QUINCY ENUNWA AGAINST GEORGIA IN THE BOWL GAME JUST NOW WITH THAT.

AND HERE'S EMMETT JOHNSON GOING FOR 42 YARDS.

WE'RE GONNA BREAK DOWN THIS PLAY AS WELL.

JAY WILL SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT HOLE.

>> YEAH, INSIDE ZONE THERE AGAINST AN EIGHT MAN BOX, AND, YOU KNOW, THE LINEBACKER -- HIS VISION WASN'T VERY GOOD THERE.

MADE THE SAFETY HAVE TO COME IN AND FILL.

I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM -- YOU GOTTA THROW THE STIFF ARM OUT THERE.

HE COULD HAVE SCORED.

>> EMMETT DOES THE WORK.

GABE IRVIN GETS THE DESSERT.

GETS A TOUCHDOWN.

HIS FIRST OF THE DAY, MAKING IT 23-7.

AND THEN BACK COMES UTEP.

McCONNELL IS THE -- COMES IN, THE ORIGINAL STARTER FROM LAST YEAR.

HE THROWS AN INTERCEPTION TO MALCOLM HARTZOG, WHO COMES BACK BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, MALCOLM, OF COURSE, HAD THE BALL THROWN OVER HIM, TO CAM THOMAS EARLIER.

HE GETS A LITTLE JUSTICE BACK, MAKING THAT INTERCEPTION.

WHICH GIVES DYLAN RAIOLA A CHANCE ON A TWO-MINUTE OFFENSE, WHICH REALLY HELPS A YOUNG QUARTERBACK.

>> RIGHT.

YOU NEED THIS PRACTICE IN THIS SITUATION.

YOU JUST -- I MEAN, CAN DO IT IN PRACTICE, BUT TO GET IT LIVE LIKE THIS, THIS WAS SUCH A TEACHING MOMENT IN WEEK ONE, AND MAN, DID DYLAN RAIOLA STEP UP AND GET IT DONE.

>> EIGHT SECONDS LATER, AND HE DECIDES I'M GOING TO MAKE THIS DRIVE.

I KNOW I GOT ENOUGH TIME.

THERE STILL WAS THREE SECONDS IF IT WAS AN INCOMPLETE PASS.

BUT IT'S PERFECTLY THROWN TO THE OUTSIDE, WHICH ALLOWS HIM TO GET HIS BODY ON THE DEFENDER AND MAKE THE CATCH WITH BOTH HANDS.

IT'S WHY YOU RECRUIT THE BIG WIDE RECEIVERS.

NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

AND HERE'S LOCKLEAR AGAIN, GETTING A TACKLE FOR LOSS.

BACK TO BACK TACKLE FOR LOSSES.

HERE'S TY ROBINSON DOING THAT.

PRINCEWILL UMANMIELEN GETS ONE AS WELL, ALONG WITH LENHARDT.

AND THEN RAIOLA WITH A NICE THROW.

THIS WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING TIMES IN THE PRESS BOX WHEN CARTER NELSON HAD HIS CATCHES.

PEOPLE GOT EXCITED.

>> YOU COULD SEE THE BIG PICTURE OF WHAT CARTER NELSON IS GOING TO BE.

THIS WAS HIS -- I MEAN HE'S PLAYED SOME ALL-STAR 11 ON 11, BUT THAT WAS HIS FIRST TRUE 11 ON 11, YOU KNOW, REAL FOOTBALL GAME HE'S PLAYED IN, AND HE REALLY STEPPED UP FOR THE OCCASION.

>> YEAH, THREE CATCHES FOR HIM.

AND HERE'S THE FINAL FIELD GOAL AFTER NEBRASKA COULDN'T PUNCH IT IN.

40-7 IS YOUR FINAL.

WE GO TO THE STATS AND NEBRASKA JUST DOMINATED.

223 YARDS RUSHING AGAINST 56 FROM UTEP.

AND THEN YOU GET 284 PASSING YARDS VERSUS 149.

NEBRASKA DOMINATED AS YOU WOULD EXPECT BY THE WAY THEY PLAYED.

OKAY, TIME TO GO TO THE PLAYERS OF THE GAME.

DYLAN RAIOLA, NOT A SURPRISE.

HE WAS ALSO THE BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK AS WELL WITH HIS GREAT DAY, INCLUDING THE TWO TOUCHDOWNS.

AND ISAIAH NEYOR WITH A GREAT DAY.

SIX RECEPTIONS, 121 YARDS AND A TOUCHDOWN AS WELL.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS ALL DAY.

TIME TO DIVE INTO THE PLAYBOOK NOW.

ONCE AGAIN THIS SEASON AS WE GO IN THE HUDDLE WITH JAY MOORE.

♪♪ >> ALL RIGHT.

WELCOME IN TO THE FIRST HUDDLE OF THE YEAR.

AND LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PLAY.

THE EMMETT JOHNSON BIG TIME RUN.

THIS IS THE THREE CHECK PLAY THAT THE COACH RHULE HIGHLIGHTED IN HIS PRESSER.

THEY DID A LOT OF PRESNAP MOVEMENT IN HERE.

WE DON'T QUITE HAVE IT, SO I CAN'T QUITE HIGHLIGHT WHAT RAIOLA WAS EXACTLY LOOKING AT.

BUT AS I KINDA GET -- THEY DO SOME GAMES UP FRONT.

YOU GET A SLANT ON THE FRONT SIDE.

YOU GET ANOTHER BACK SIDE SLANT FROM THE THREE TECHNIQUE GOING FROM B TO A.

AND NEBRASKA IS REALLY JUST CREATING AN INSIDE ZONE AGAINST AN EIGHT-MAN BOX.

REALISTICALLY, THIS PLAY NUMBERS WISE SHOULDN'T WORK, BUT THEY GET THIS LINEBACKER, 41, DOWN HERE KIND OF PEEKING IN THE BACKFIELD RIGHT HERE.

YOU CAN SEE HE SHOULD BE -- HE SHOULD SWITCH GAPS HERE WITH THE THREE TECH, BUT DOESN'T.

SOMEHOW GETS HIS EYES IN THE BACKFIELD.

NOW PUTS A SAFETY RIGHT HERE IN A TOUGH SPOT NOW.

YOU CAN SEE HIM ALREADY SLIDE OVER TOP.

THE SAFETY NOW HAS -- HE CAN'T MAKE A PLAY, RIGHT.

THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH SPACE.

A REALLY GOOD JUMP CUT BY EMMETT THOUGH TO -- SEE THIS BACK SIDE AND FIND THIS HOLE.

GOOD SEAL BY CORCORAN.

HE'S OFF TO THE RACES LIKE I SAID.

A GOOD CHECK BY RAIOLA.

LOVE TO SEE HIM PUT THE STIFF ARM TO SCORE TO MAYBE SCORE.

BUT ALL IN ALL, A REALLY GOOD PLAY.

ALL RIGHT, HERE'S A SAFETY LOOK BY THE BLACK SHIRT DEFENSE.

I HIGHLIGHTED THE THREE GUYS WHO REALLY MAKE THIS PLAY.

TY ROBINSON TO COME AND BLOCK, REALLY THIS PLAY IS MADE BY THESE TWO GUYS.

HUTMACHER AND GBAYOR.

AS I HIT PLAY HERE, YOU'RE GONNA GET A PULL DOWN FROM THIS TACKLE.

HE'S GOING TO COME -- TY ROBINSON'S GONNA COME AND BLOCK.

NASH JUST DOES A GREAT JOB BLOWING THIS PLAY UP.

RIGHT NOW, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH, BUT AS I PAUSE IT, JUST A HALF SECOND LATER, THERE IS NOTHING.

GBAYOR BLOWS THIS UP, TAKES ON THE PULLING TACKLE.

NASH PUTS THE CENTER BACK IN THERE.

THIS GUY HAS NOWHERE TO GO.

SO TY GETS A HAND ON THERE, BUT REALLY GBAYOR MAKES A STOP RIGHT THERE IN THE HOLE.

JUST GOOD EXECUTION.

NEBRASKA, THEY TRIED THAT ZONE READ ALL WEEK.

ALL GAME.

THEY BLEW IT UP ALL DAY.

REALLY GOOD PLAY THERE TO GET THE MOMENTUM BACK ON THEIR SIDE.

>> THAT WAS ONE WHERE THE QUARTERBACK PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE KEPT IT, RIGHT?

I MEAN, HE WAS IN A SITUATION -- HE MIGHT STILL GET A SAFETY.

BUT HE'S GOT TO KEEP THAT?

>> YEAH, YOU'D THINK SO.

HE'S GOTTA READ THE BACK SIDE.

HE HAD TO READ TY ROBINSON ON THAT BACK SIDE THERE AND MAYBE ND KEEP IT ON THE OUTSIDE.

FORCE THE LINEBACKER TO COME UP AND PLAY OR THE SAFETY.

BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I COULDN'T REALLY TELL WHO THEY WERE READING BECAUSE THEY JUST TOOK LONG TIME WITH THAT MESH POINT ALL GAME.

AND NEBRASKA BLEW IT UP, YOU KNOW, A HANDFUL OF TIMES THROUGHOUT SATURDAY.

>> NINE TOTAL TACKLE FOR LOSS.

NEXT UP ON THE SHOW, WE'LL JOINED BY FORMER HUSKER MATT DAVIDSON TO UNPACK REACTIONS FROM GAME ONE, BUT FIRST, LET'S HEAR ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT LOCAL PROGRAMMING LIKE THIS ONE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

>>> WELL, THANKS SO MUCH.

I'M NANCY FINKEN FROM NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, AND THIS IS NEBRASKA'S HOME FOR SPORTS AND "BIG RED WRAP-UP" IS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY.

OUR FALL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE RIGHT NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO GIVE BACK FOR WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM "BIG RED WRAP-UP" THIS YEAR.

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

SO THANK YOU FOR BECOMING A MEMBER OR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP RIGHT NOW.

YOU DO THAT BY CALLING 800-989-8236 OR GOING ONLINE TO NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM ONE OF THESE GREAT THANK YOU GIFTS.

AT THE $25 PER MONTH LEVEL OR A $300 ONE-TIME GIFT, IT'S A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBORNE.

COACH OSBORNE OF COURSE LED THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TEAM AS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS, WINNING 3 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

OSBORNE'S LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND THE GAME OF FOOTBALL, BUT FOOTBALL IS WHERE HE BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN NEBRASKA.

SO CLAIM ONE OF THOSE SIGNED FOOTBALLS AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT, OR IF YOU'D PREFER, YOU CAN PLEDGE $5 A MONTH OR A $60 ONE-TIME GIFT AND YOU CAN HAVE A REALLY FUN POSTER.

IT'S THE EVOLUTION OF HERBIE.

IT'S AN 11 X 17 INCH POSTER AND THE EVOLUTION OF HUSKER HERBIE FROM 1940 TO 2022 IS OUR GIFT TO YOU.

NOW, THIS IS A LIMITED EDITION COMMEMORATIVE PRINT FEATURING HERBIE HUSKER THROUGH THE AGES.

THEY'RE NUMBERS AND AUTOGRAPHED BY HERBIE.

SO CALL NOW WITH YOUR PLEDGE OF $60 AT 800-9899-8236 OR GIVE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

HOST MIKE'LL SEVERE JOINS ME NOW, AND WE'RE SO EXCITED, MIKE'LL, FOR ANOTHER SEASON OF "BIG RED WRAP-UP" AND WHAT A GREAT EPISODE TO COME OFF A WIN.

SO WONDERFUL TONIGHT.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF OUR NEW STUDIO?

YOU HAD YOUR FIRST SHOW LAST WEEK HERE.

>> IT REALLY IS INCREDIBLE.

WE WERE TALKING EARLIER.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN ESPN ALMOST WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT.

IT GIVES US SO MANY OPTIONS, SO MANY PLACES WE CAN GO AND DO SEGMENTS.

IT REALLY IS AMAZING.

>> IT IS, AND I WAS SO GLAD LAST WEEK TO SEE ALL OF YOU SO EXCITED TO BE IN THE NEW STUDIO.

>> YEP.

>> AND YOU ARE REALLY IN TOUCH WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S HUSKERS AND I WONDER WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE NICHE FOR "BIG RED WRAP-UP," WHAT KIND OF NICHE DO WE FILL WITH THIS SHOW?

>> YOU KNOW, I WENT TO THE STATE FAIR ON MONDAY, AND 20, 30 PEOPLE PROBABLY STOPPED ME TO TALK ABOUT "BIG RED WRAP-UP," BIG FANS OF THE SHOW.

THAT'S REALLY THE NICHE THERE, AT THE STATE FAIR.

A LOT OF FOLKS STOPPING ME.

THEY LOVE THE SHOW, OF COURSE.

AND WE COVER SO MANY THINGS, NOT JUST THE FOOTBALL, OF COURSE, BUT THEY DO WITH VOLLEYBALL HERE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AS WELL, THAT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE WATCH.

>> WELL, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT MEMBER SUPPORT.

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU GIFTS THAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS TONIGHT AT THE $25 A MONTH LEVEL, JUST $300 ONE-TIME GIFT, YOU CAN HAVE A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY COACH TOM OSBORNE WHO LED THE FOOTBALL TEAM AS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS, WINNING THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

HIS LEGACY, OF COURSE, EXTENDS BEYOND THE GAME OF FOOTBALL, BUT IT'S FOOTBALL WHERE HE BECAME A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN NEBRASKA.

WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE SIGNED FOOTBALLS FROM COACH OSBORNE?

WELL, PLEDGE RIGHT NOW.

OR IF YOU PREFER, JOIN US AND BE A MEMBER OF THE SPORTS CLUB AT $5 A MONTH, THAT'S A $60 ONE-TIME GIFT, AND WE HAVE SOME LIMITED EDITION COMMEMORATIVE PRINTS FEATURING HERBIE HUSKER THROUGH THE YEARS.

THIS IS 11 INCHES BY 17, AND IT FEATURED HERBIE FROM 1940 TO 2022.

CALL RIGHT NOW TO REQUEST THAT AS YOUR THANK YOU GIFT WHEN YOU'RE A DONOR AT 800-989-8236 OR MAKE YOUR PLEDGE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

YOU CAN JOIN THAT SPORTS PARTNERS CLUB RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU PLEDGE AT 800-989-8236.

YOU'LL BE SUPPORTING OUR COVERAGE OF HUSKERS SPORTS AND SEVERAL HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WE JUST CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT FUNDING FROM PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

SO AGAIN, CALL NOW, 800-989-8236.

♪♪ ♪♪ >>> WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

WE'RE PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY FORMER HUSKER MATT DAVIDSON JOINING US HERE.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE SET.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

LOOKS GREAT, GUYS.

YEAH, NICE DIGS.

>> IT IS PRETTY AMAZING.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT LAST WEEK.

I ASSUME YOU'RE FEELING THE SAME THING AS WELL, ESPECIALLY AS PART OF 1890.

KIND OF WHAT YOU HEARING FROM THE FANS, FROM YOUR BOOSTERS AND SUPPORTERS?

>> YEAH, JUST A TON OF EXCITEMENT, RIGHT?

LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, IT'S ALWAYS A LONG OFFSEASON WAITING FOR THAT FIRST GAME.

AND YOU LOOK BACK TO LAST SEASON AND ALL THOSE GAMES THAT THE HUSKERS FELT LIKE MAYBE COULD HAVE, SHOULD HAVE WON.

A LITTLE FRUSTRATION THERE.

YOU LOOK AT THE NEW PIECES THEY ADDED IN THE OFFSEASON, ALL THE HARD WORK.

COACH RHULE'S SECOND YEAR.

YOU COME INTO THIS SEASON AND, YOU KNOW, HIGHER EXPECTATIONS.

AND YOU TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS THE WAY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.

SO EVERYBODY FELT GOOD COMING OUT OF THAT GAME, AND NOW WE'RE HEADING INTO ANOTHER BIG WEEK.

>> NEBRASKA OBVIOUSLY HAD A PLAN AND HAD TO PUT THIS ROSTER TOGETHER WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR.

HOW BIG WAS NIL TO KIND OF GETTING THIS TOGETHER, AND WHEN YOU SEE THESE GUYS HELPING NEBRASKA DO IT ALREADY, I MEAN, HOW REWARDING IS IT TO KNOW YOU HAVE HAD A BIG IMPACT?

>> WELL, IT'S OUR JOB TO BE HERE TO HELP OUR COACHES GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SUCCEED IN THIS CRAZY WORLD OF NIL.

AND HERE WE ARE ENTERING YEAR THREE, OR THREE YEARS IN AND SO WE'RE HERE TO PUT THEM IN A POSITION TO TRY TO GET THE BEST PLAYERS, RETAIN THE BEST PLAYERS, AND I THINK WE DID A DECENT JOB THIS YEAR.

THEY ADDED SOME GREAT PIECES ON OFFENSE FOR SURE.

AND ACROSS THE BOARD, REALLY, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT NIL IS SUPPOSED TO DO, RIGHT?

YOU USE IT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN AND TRY TO BUILD A GREAT ROSTER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THERE TO DO, AND I THINK WE HAVE DONE A DECENT JOB HELPING.

>> MATT, TROY DANNEN JUST STEPPED ON CAMPUS JUST THIS PAST YEAR AND HE'S BEEN FULL SUPPORT OF YOU GUYS AND 1890.

TALK ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP AND THE AVENUE THAT HE'S HAD HELPED YOU GUYS KIND OF BUILD TRUST AND ALL THESE THINGS TO KIND OF MAKE YOUR GUYS GO TO WORK AND GET THESE GREAT PLAYER ON CAMPUS.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN GREAT.

FROM THE FIRST DAY TROY GOT TO NEBRASKA PRETTY MUCH, WE WERE IN MEETINGS WITH HIM AND ABLE TO SEE HIS VISION FOR WHAT HE WANTED NIL TO BE.

I THINK HE SAW 1890 AND THE WAY WE WERE EXECUTING AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE HIS VISION AND WORK WITH WHAT WE HAD, AND COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO NOW WITH HIS TEAM, TYLER KAI, DEREK FREEMAN, AND HUSKER ATHLETIC FUND ALONG WITH 1890, WE'RE MEETING WITH THEM ALL THE TIME.

WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, AND WHEN WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S WHEN YOU HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO SUCCEED.

SO IT'S BEEN REFRESHING TO LAST FEW MONTHS TO SEE IT ALL COME TOGETHER AND TO SEE HIS LEADERSHIP COME TO FRUITION.

>> YOU STARTED AS A TRUE FRESHMAN.

I KNOW TOMMY CAME IN WEEK FIVE OR SIX IN ‘92 AND THEN OF COURSE ADRIAN STARTED.

HOW BIG OF A DEAL FOR A QUARTERBACK TO START AS A TRUE FRESHMAN HERE AT NEBRASKA?

>> YEAH, DON'T EVER MENTION ME PLAYING AS A FRESHMAN COMPARED TO THE OTHER GUYS.

THAT WAS A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

MUCH DIFFERENT AT WIDE RECEIVER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TO COME IN AND PLAY AS A FRESHMAN, IT DOES TAKE A LOT.

AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITION, TOTALLY DIFFERENT BALL GAME, AND NOT MANY GUYS COULD EVER DO THAT.

TO BE PHYSICALLY READY, TO BE MENTALLY READY TO TAKE ON ESPECIALLY A PLACE LIKE THIS IS SO MUCH AND HE'S HANDLED IT VERY WELL, OBVIOUSLY, OFF THE FIELD, ON THE FIELD, ON SATURDAY.

THE WAY HE'S HANDLED THE MEDIA, REALLY ACROSS THE BOARD, DYLAN HAS JUST BEEN A STUD.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT DYLAN, YOU SAW HIM WHEN HE CAME TO NEBRASKA AS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE WORKED OUT.

I MEAN HOW SURPRISED ARE YOU IT'S TAKEN OFF LIKE THIS?

IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO.

WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY GREAT FRESHMAN HERE IN THE PAST AND VERY FEW HAVE HAD AN OPENING GAME IF EVER LIKE DYLAN RAIOLA.

>> WELL, YEAH, I'VE KNOWN THEIR FAMILY A LONG TIME AS YOU KNOW, AND IN TALKING TO DOMINIC, YEARS AGO, HE STARTED SENDING ME CLIPS OF DYLAN PLAYING BASEBALL.

AND WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I THINK HE'S PRETTY GOOD AT BASEBALL.

I WAS LIKE, YEAH, HE IS.

HE'S THROWING GUYS OUT PLAYING CATCHER.

THROWING GUYS OUT AT SECOND AND AT THIRD.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE STARTED PLAYING FOOTBALL AND HE WAS LIKE, YEAH, HE CAN REALLY THROW A FOOTBALL TOO.

AND SO I HEARD ABOUT HIM FOR A FEW YEARS.

THEN HE STARTED TO COME ON CAMPUS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

SO I'VE SEEN HIM GROW AND HIS PHYSICAL ABILITIES ARE HARD TO OVERSTATE.

I MEAN HE CAN JUST DO ALL THE THINGS YOU REALLY WANT HIM TO DO WITH A FOOTBALL THROUGH THE AIR, AND HE HAS THE MENTAL CAPACITY TO TAKE IT ON.

AND YOU KNOW, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING WHEN HE'S WATCHING FILM.

AND HE KNOWS HOW TO STUDY FILM.

HE KNOWS HOW TO BE COACHED, AND SO HE'S JUST WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU TRY TO GO GET A BIG TIME QUARTERBACK AND YOU'RE CHECKING THE BOXES, HE CHECKS MOST OF THEM.

RIGHT?

>> WE TALK A LOT ABOUT, AND COACH RHULE HAS SAID THIS AND OTHER COACHES HAVE SAID THIS, YOU WANT TO GET OLD AND STAY OLD.

THEY HAVE ALL THESE STARTERS, ALL THIS EXPERIENCE ON DEFENSE.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN FROM THE BLACK SHIRTS, STARTING LAST YEAR INTO WHAT THEY DID ON SATURDAY?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A GOOD COMBINATION, I THINK, OF OLDER GUYS ON THE TEAM AND A BUNCH OF YOUNG GUYS WHO CAN REALLY PLAY.

AND SO THAT'S BEEN FUN TO SEE BECAUSE THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE BIG TEN A FEW TIMES AND THEY'RE HUNGRY AND THEY HAD SOME DISAPPOINTMENT, AND I THINK THEY HAVE LEARNED FROM THOSE THINGS.

AND SO THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THE YOUNG GUYS ALONG AND COACH RHULE'S TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT, THE CHARACTER OF THE GUYS IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF REALLY GOOD YOUNG MEN IN THIS LOCKER ROOM.

THE OLD GUYS WITH THE LEADERSHIP AND YOUNG GUYS WITH THE TALENT HAS COME TOGETHER.

MAN IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH.

HALF THE TIME I'M WATCHING THE DEFENSE AND I HAVE TO REALLY LOOK TO SEE WHO'S OUT THERE.

>> YES.

BECAUSE THEY'RE CHANGING SO MANY GUYS IN AND OUT ON DEFENSE.

AND SO MUCH THEY KEEP THEM FRESH.

I MEAN WE ONLY PLAYED 50 SNAPS ON DEFENSE AND STILL A LOT OF GUYS PLAYED.

THE LEADING TACKLER HAS FIVE TACKLES, AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE STAT SHEET.

WHO HAD 12 TACKLES?

NOBODY IS GONNA HAVE 12 WHEN THEY PLAY 50 SNAPS ON DEFENSE, BUT IT'S A GOOD COMBINATION OF OLD AND YOUNG.

AND ITS JUST BEEN FUN TO WATCH THEM RUN AROUND AND PLAY THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS UNDER COACH WHITE.

>> THE LANDSCAPE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAS CHANGED A TON SINCE 2021.

IT'S GOING TO CHANGE EVEN MORE NEXT YEAR WITH THE ROSTER LIMITS THAT GO INTO PLACE.

HOW MUCH COMMUNICATION HAVE YOU HAD ABOUT SOME OF THESE NEW CHANGES.

HOW DO YOU GUYS GO ABOUT ADDRESSING SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO REALLY ROCK COLLEGE ATHLETICS LIKE WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE?

>> WELL THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND SOME HAS BEEN BIG CHANGES, SOME IS SUBTLE CHANGES AS WE HAVE GONE ALONG THE LAST THREE YEARS.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY WHERE BEING ON THE SAME PAGE, THE COLLECTIVE , THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY TOGETHER, WE'RE READY FOR WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AT THE FOREFRONT, THAT WE'RE READY TO PIVOT WHEN WE NEED TO PIVOT IN WHATEVER DIRECTION IT IS.

NOBODY REALLY KNOWS HOW THIS IS GOING TO SHAKE OUT OVER THE NEXT 12, 24, 36 MONTHS.

BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE READY FOR IT, YOU KNOW WITH WHAT THE PEED FAMILY HAS DONE WITH 1890 AND GIVING US A CHANCE IN NIL, THE STRUCTURE, THE UNIQUE STRUCTURE, THE LEADERSHIP FROM TROY DANNEN.

ALL THE GREAT COACHES WE HAVE ON OUR CAMPUS RIGHT NOW, IT REALLY PUTS US IN A POSITION TO ALL WORK TOGETHER, BE ON THE SAME PAGE, AND BE READY FOR WHATEVER CHANGES COME TO GIVE US A GREAT CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> MATT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY -- THERE'S MULTIPLE COLLECTIVES AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS BUT NEBRASKA KIND OF BEING THE ONE.

IS THAT ADVANTAGEOUS TO HAVE ONE OR IS IT BETTER TO HAVE MORE COMPETITION?

OHIO STATE, YOU HEAR THEM BEING ABLE TO RAISE $20 MILLION FOR THEIR FOOTBALL PROGRAM MULTIPLE COLLECTIVES RIGHT.

BUT 1890 BEING THE ONLY ONE, THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING THAT ONE?

>> IF YOU GO BACK JUST 2 1/2 YEARS, TWO YEARS, A LOT OF SCHOOLS HAD MULTIPLE COLLECTIVES AND EVERYBODY REALIZED IT WAS IN SOME WAYS CAUSING CONFUSION TO THE DONOR BASE.

NIL IS VERY NEW AND EVERYBODY WAS TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED TO HELP.

THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.

I THINK MOST SCHOOLS FIGURED IT OUT THAT HAVING ONE COLLECTIVE IS PROBABLY THE WAY TO GO.

AND THAT'S REALLY THE WAY THAT IT'S WORKED OUT HERE.

I THINK THAT'S BEST FOR NEBRASKA AND BEST FOR MOST SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND SO THAT'S THE WAY IT'S KIND OF PLAYED OUT OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE EXPANSION OF THE BIG TEN.

18 TEAM'S NOW, GOING FROM COAST TO COAST.

A LOT OF CHANGES FROM THE BIG EIGHT.

WHAT'S YOUR FEEL ON WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN SO FAR FROM THAT?

>> IT'S WILD.

EVEN JUST WATCHING THE BIG TEN VIDEO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME.

COAST TO COAST.

IT'S BEEN FUN.

RECRUITING IT'S BEEN FUN TO WATCH HOW THAT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

BUT YOU ADD THESE TEAMS TO THE BIG TEN, IT'S FUN FOR OUR FANS TO GO ON SOME ROAD TRIPS.

I'M SURE MANY WILL GO OUT TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IN NOVEMBER.

WE HAVE BEEN TO OREGON, WASHINGTON IN THE PAST, WE'VE BEEN TO UCLA A LONG TIME AGO.

THESE ARE BIG BRANDS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

YOU ADD THEM TO THE MIX.

AND I THINK IT JUST MAKES US STRONGER AS A CONFERENCE.

IT DOES CHANGE RECRUITING A LITTLE BIT.

RIGHT?

AND IN A GOOD WAY FOR NEBRASKA.

WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND WE HAVE ALWAYS RECRUITED NATIONALLY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT IM SURE.

I THINK THIS IS JUST REALLY EXCITING TIMES AND IT'S GOOD TO BE IN THE BIG TEN RIGHT NOW.

>> MATT, COLORADO WILL COME INTO LINCOLN THIS WEEK.

MAYBE THE LAST TIME WE'LL SEE THEM IN THE REGULAR SEASON.

WHEN YOU WERE A PLAYER, HOW MUCH DID THAT GAME MEAN TO YOU.

BLACK FRIDAY EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND ARE YOU HOPING MAYBE THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO KEEP PLAYING THIS DOWN THE ROAD?

>> IT'S A GREAT GAME FOR BOTH FAN BASES.

WE KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED OVER DECADES NOW.

I WAS IN FOUR CLOSE GAMES.

WE WERE FORTUNATE TO WIN ALL FOUR OF THEM IN THE FOUR YEARS I PLAYED AT NEBRASKA.

BUT EVERY YEAR IT WAS A BATTLE AND A LOT OF YEARS IT CAME DOWN TO WHO WAS GOING TO GO TO THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND THEN FOR US IF WE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO GO ON TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN 1997.

SO THERE ARE BIG IMPLICATIONS.

IT'S A GREAT RIVALRY.

AND YOU KNOW IT HASN'T GONE OUR WAY THE LAST FEW TIMES SO IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING ON SATURDAY.

I'M EXCITED FOR OUR FANS, EXCITING FOR OUR PLAYERS TO PLAY IN SUCH A HEATED GAME ON A NATIONAL STAGE.

GOING TO BE A LOT OF EYES ON THIS ONE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN FOR EVERYBODY.

>> WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN THIS SEASON?

NOT NECESSARILY WINS AND LOSSES BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE SAY THAT IT'S A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> A BIG QUESTION.

YOU KNOW OBVIOUSLY YOU WANT TO MAKE A BOWL GAME.

THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT HASN'T HAPPENED IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.

YOU START THERE AND BUILD FROM THERE.

I THINK YOU LOOK AT THE PIECES ADDED TO THIS ROSTER.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE OFFSEASON AND THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR COMING OUT OF THE PROGRAM, I FEEL CONFIDENCE BREWING IN THIS FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

WE SAW IT ON SATURDAY.

AND IT BUILDS WITH HAVING EXPERIENCE AND GOING OUT AND DOING IT ON THE FIELD.

WE SAW THAT SATURDAY.

IF THEY'RE ABLE TO DO IT THIS SATURDAY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN MOVING FORWARD IF THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS WEEK THREE, YOU GO ONE AT A TIME.

RIGHT?

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE CONFIDENCE BUILD WITHIN THE PROGRAM AND MAYBE GET MOMENTUM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A NUMBER OF YEARS.

IF THAT HAPPENS, WHY NOT?

I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO PLAY SOLID FOOTBALL.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE TIMES WHERE THE BALL BOUNCES YOUR WAY AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T.

SOMETIMES YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OVERCOME THOSE THINGS AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT.

I'M NOT GOING TO PUT A NUMBER ON IT, BUT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS SQUAD.

I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME WE GO IN TO PLAY SOMEBODY, THEY BETTER BE READY BECAUSE WE'RE PROBABLY GOOD ENOUGH TO BEAT JUST ABOUT ANYBODY ON OUR SCHEDULE.

MAYBE NO SO GREAT SO IF WE DON'T PLAY WELL, A LOT OF TEAMS COULDN'T BEAT US, BUT I LIKE WHERE WE ARE AS A PROGRAM RIGHT NOW AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

>> LAST THING, CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE FOR NEBRASKA TO HAVE A HOME GAME IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS.

SOMEBODY FROM THE SOUTH HAS TO COME UP HERE IN DECEMBER AND PLAY IN MEMORIAL STADIUM.

>> IT WOULD BE AMAZING, A LOT OF HIGH FIVES AROUND HERE.

IT SO GREAT FOR OUR FANS.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HEADED.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A BIT OF CHAOS WITH NIL AND TRANSFERS AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.

BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHERE IT IS.

I LIKE THE PLAYOFF AND WHERE THAT'S GOING WITH 12 TEAMS.

IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE, A LOT OF BIG GAMES ARE GOING TO HAPPEN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, FOR MORE TEAMS THAN WHAT IT USED TO BE.

SO I LIKE THAT PART.

I LIKE HOME GAMES.

IF THAT EVER HAPPENED IN LINCOLN, LOOK OUT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE WOULD HAVE A BIG ADVANTAGE THERE.

THERE WERE COMMENTS MADE ABOUT CAN YOU SELL THE TICKETS AND WHAT'S THE WEATHER GOING TO BE?

COME ON.

YOU KNOW.

>> PEOPLE CAN STAY IN OMAHA, TOO.

THE WHOLE IDEA OF ARE THERE ENOUGH HOTEL ROOMS.

PEOPLE CAN STAY IN OMAHA AND DRIVE THE 45 MINUTES.

>> IT WOULD BE AMAZING.

A LOT OF HIGH FIVES WOULD BE HAD.

>> I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.

REAL QUICK, I'LL STEAL SEAN'S QUESTION.

HAVE YOU EATEN AT THE TRAINING TABLE AND HOW GOOD IS THE FOOD?

>> I HAVEN'T EATEN THERE.

BEEN IN THERE MANY TIMES BUT I HAVEN'T EATEN THERE.

IT LOOKS AMAZING.

THE WHOLE BUILDING LOOKS AMAZING.

THERE'S SO MANY GREAT THINGS GOING ON AT NEBRASKA RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS FOR A LONG TIME, THE FACILITIES AND FANS AND STADIUM.

NOW OUR COACHING STAFF AND ALL THESE GREAT THINGS.

NIL IS A PIECE OF THAT.

NUTRITION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART OF NEBRASKA ATHLETICS, NEBRASKA FOOTBALL.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THAT WAY.

WE TAKE CARE OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES PERIOD HERE AT NEBRASKA.

IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS.

>> MATT, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE WRAP UP.

SEAN WILL HELP US BREAK DOWN A COUPLE EVENTFUL RECRUITING WEEKENDS, WE WILL ALSO PREVIEW OF COURSE THE COLORADO GAME.

BUT FIRST, ANOTHER CHANCE FOR YOU TO HELP SUPPORT PROGRAMMING YOU LOVE RIGHT HERE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

>> THANKS SO MUCH, MICHAEL.

GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU AND EVERYBODY TONIGHT ABOUT THE HUSKERS.

AND IT'S SO FUN TO BE HERE IN THE STUDIO WITH EVERYONE.

AS WE SAID EARLIER, WE'RE IN OUR FALL MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, SO THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE INVITE YOU TO BE PART OF THE TEAM THAT BRINGS YOU BIG RED WRAP-UP.

YOUR DONATIONS GO TOWARDS PROGRAMMING ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SO YOU MAKE ALL THE SPORTS BROADCASTS POSSIBLE.

WE WANT TO KEEP IT GOING SO GIVE US A CALL AT 800-989-8236.

WHEN YOU DO, WE HAVE WONDERFUL THANK YOU GIFTS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM.

AT THE $25 A MONTH LEVEL OR YOU CAN MAKE A ONE-TIME GIFT OF $300, IT'S A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY TOM OSBURN, COACH OSBURN LED THE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TEAM AS HEAD COACH FOR 25 SEASONS AND HE WON THREE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

HIS LEGACY EXTENDS BEYOND THE GAME OF FOOTBALL, OF COURSE, BUT FOOTBALL IS WHERE WE ALL BECAME WELL KNOWN WITH TOM OSBURN.

OR AT $5 A MONTH, $60 ONE-TIME GIFT, A POSTER SHOWING THE EVOLUTION OF HERBIE HUSKER FROM 1940 TO 2022.

NOW, THESE ARE LIMITED EDITION COMMEMORATIVE PRINTS FEATURING HERBIE OVER THE YEARS.

SO CALL NOW WITH YOUR PLEDGE, 800-989-8236.

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO CRAIG FROM LINCOLN AND ANONYMOUS DONOR FROM GRETNA.

THEY MADE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TONIGHT DURING BIG RED WRAP-UP.

WON'T YOU JOIN THEM?

BECAUSE HUSKER FOOTBALL ISN'T EVERYTHING WE HAVE ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA SPORTS.

WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE HUSKER AND CRAYTON VOLLEYBALL AGAIN THIS FALL.

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL BE HERE ON OCTOBER 21st AND THEN IN NOVEMBER, TIME FOR HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL AND FOOTBALL.

MULTIPLE GAMES ON EACH OF THESE DAYS, ALL THESE CHAMPIONSHIPS RIGHT HERE BECAUSE OF MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU.

YOUR DONATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

WHEN YOU CALL 800-989-8236 OR GIVE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

WONDERFUL THANK YOU GIFTS, THE SIGNED FOOTBALL BY COACH TOM OSBURN, WE HAVE THOSE FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE A DONOR AT $25 A MONTH.

YOU CAN CHOOSE THAT THANK YOU GIFT.

OR STEP UP AND PLEDGE $5 A MONTH, THAT'S A $60 ONE-TIME PLEDGE, AND HERE'S A FUN THING, IT'S THE HERBIE EVOLUTION POSTER, 11 X 17 INCHES AND ITS THE EVOLUTION OF HERBIE HUSKER FROM 1940 TO 2022.

WE HAVE THESE LIMITED EDITION COMMEMORATIVE PRINTS FEATURING HERBIE THROUGH THE AGES.

THEY ARE NUMBERED AND AUTOGRAPHED BY HERBIE.

CALL NOW TO CLAIM ONE OF THOSE AS YOUR OWN AT 800-989-8236 OR GIVE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG/DONATE.

YOU CAN JOIN THE SPORTS PARTNERS JUST LIKE CRAIG FROM LINCOLN DID TONIGHT AND A ANONYMOUS DONOR IN GRETNA.

WE WOULD LOVE TO THANK YOU AS WELL.

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

WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THIS WITHOUT FUNDING FROM PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT THESE PRODUCTIONS.

ONE OF THE NEWEST IS BEING RELEASED AS A DIGITAL SERIES CALLED NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL CLASSICS.

IT'S ARER A LOOK AT SOME OF THE GREATEST CHAMPIONSHIP CONTESTS WE HAVE COVERED HERE AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, INCLUDED ARE CONDENSED VERSIONS OF THE GAMES AND CONTEMPORARY INTERVIEWS WITH PLAYERS, COACHES, AND SPORTS WRITERS.

WE CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE THESE WITH YOU.

THEY COME OUT EVERY SUNDAY ON YOUTUBE.

ONE NEW EPISODE STARTED THIS PAST SUNDAY.

GO TO YOUTUBE AND FIND IT.

IT'S ALL POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF DONORS WHO PLEDGE $25 A MONTH, FOR EXAMPLE, AND YOU CAN CLAIM THAT NEBRASKA FOOTBALL SIGNED BY COACH TOM OSBURN AS YOUR VERY OWN OR PLEDGE $5 A MONTH AT THE $60 LEVEL.

WE'LL SEND YOU A POSTER FEATURING HERBIE HUSKER OVER THE YEARS.

FROM 1940 TO 2022.

HOW HAS HE EVOLVED.

THAT WILL BE A FUN COMMEMORATIVE GIFT AS WELL.

CALL NOW, JOIN OUR SPORTS PARTNERS CLUB BECAUSE YOU'RE A SPORTS FAN.

WE RELY ON PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU TO CALL 800-989-8236.

OR MAKE YOUR PLEDGE ONLINE AT NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT.

>> I LIKE THE WAY IT FELT THAT IT WAS REALLY HOT OUT THERE, AND THANK GOODNESS WE WERE ON THE COOLER SIDELINE.

AND THEY WERE GOING FAST.

WE WERE GETTING THREE AND OUTS AND THEY WERE STAYING ON THE FIELD A LOT.

TO KEEP PUTTING DIFFERENT BACKS ON THERE THAT WERE FRESH, I KIND OF ENJOYED IT.

>> NERVOUS SOMETIMES WHEN A YOUNG GUY TRIES TO DO TOO MUCH AND IT'S TOO EMOTIONAL.

AND HE WAS LIKE A FREAKING SURGEON.

>> I THINK DYLAN PLAYED REALLY WELL.

I THOUGHT HE PLAYED A COMPLETE GAME.

I THOUGHT HE DID A GOOD JOB IN THE RUN GAME, A GOOD JOB IN THE CHECKS GAME.

THERE WERE A COUPLE COMMUNICATION THINGS JUST IN GENERAL.

WHETHER IT WAS THE HEAD SET KIND OF BEING HARD TO HEAR OR WHETHER IT WAS CHECKS GETTING OUT TO RECEIVERS OR THE RIGHT CHECK.

THERE WERE A COUPLE SMALL THINGS BUT NOT MUCH.

>> WHAT HE HAS TO DEAL WITH, WITH EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH BEING A SANDERS, HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT HOW HE'S HANDLED THAT.

I THINK HE'S AN ELITE LEVEL QUARTERBACK AND HE'S GOING TO GIVE US EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT.

AND YEAH, WE JUST GOT TO PREPARE.

FIRST ROUND QUARTERBACK, THE YOU KNOW THE WHOLE NINE.

SO RESPECT HIM A LOT.

>> HE'S GOT A BIG TIME ARM.

HE CAN USE ALL 53 AND A 1/3 YARDS OF THE FIELD.

HE CAN THROW THE BALL FROM SIDELINE TO SIDELINE.

HE'S GOT A GREAT FEEL FOR THE POCKET.

HE MOVES IN THE POCKET.

HE CAN HURT YOU WITH HIS FEET, BUT HE SLIDES IN THE POCKET TO FIND GUYS WHO ARE OPEN.

>> HE'S A TALENT AND IT SEEMS LIKE IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT ALL THE GAMES, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS PEOPLE PLAYED HIM AND HE WAS STILL ABLE TO PERFORM.

>> MY DAD SAID HE NEVER LOST TO THEM, SO EVERY TIME -- THIS WEEK, HE TOLD ME, HE GOES, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I NEVER LOST TO THEM.

BUT NO, I KNOW THE RIVALRY RUNS DEEP.

>> MY WIFE AND I, WE WENT SKIING THIS YEAR IN BEAVER CREEK, AND JUST WE WERE KIND OF SENT THE KIDS UP AND MET SOME FRIENDS, SITTING DOWN, HANGING OUT AND THIS YOUNG LADY WALKED UP AND SAID ARE YOU COACH RHULE FROM THE HUSKERS.

SHE SAID SOMETHING TO ME, I CAN'T REPEAT OUT LOUD.

>> WELCOME BACK TO BIG RED WRAP-UP.

IM MIKE'L SEVERE WITH SEAN CALLAHAN HERE TO TALK SOME RECRUITING.

I KNOW THAT YOU THINK THIS IS A SCRIPT SEAN THIS IS ACTUALLY THE LIST OF ALL THE VISITORS.

>> YEAH, YOU LOOK AT NEBRASKA THIS WEEKEND.

IT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGER RECRUITING WEEKENDS WE HAVE SEEN IN LINCOLN IN A WHILE.

NEBRASKA WILL HAVE FIVE-STAR MICHAEL TERRY BACK ON CAMPUS.

OKLAHOMA COMMIT CORTEZ MILLS.

YOU GO DOWN THE LINE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR WEEKEND OF NAMES THAT MAKE THEIR WAY IN.

TJ LATEEF THEIR CURRENT QUARTERBACK, MALCOLM SIMPSON, WHO IS BEING COURTED A LITTLE BEHIND THE SCENES REPORTEDLY BY TEXAS.

KADE PIETRZAK FROM NORTH DAKOTA.

IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PLAYERS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THEIR WAY HERE.

>> YOU WATCHED MICHAEL TERRY PLAY.

IS THERE A CHANCE, I KNOW TEXAS IS IN THE LEAD, BUT DO YOU THINK THERE'S A CHANCE?

>> WELL I THINK IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A CHANCE, IT'S THIS NIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

>> I THINK WITH NEBRASKA BEING ABLE TO SELL THIS PLACE POTENTIALLY AT ITS PEAK.

>> RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T SIMULATE A NIGHT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN LINCOLN ON SATURDAY IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT VERY MANY PLACES.

AND NEBRASKA HAS GOT A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL HIM.

TEXAS IS CLEARLY THE TEAM TO BEAT, BUT I THINK NEBRASKA IS IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION.

>> WHO WAS THE BIGGEST VISITOR FOR UTEP?

THE UTEP GAME?

>> WELL CHRISTIAN JONES DID MAKE IT IN.

IT WASN'T REALLY A BIG PRIORITY WEEKEND.

I THINK THE PRIORITY IS THIS WEEKEND FOR NEBRASKA, BUT CHRISTIAN JONES DID MAKE IT IN FOR NEBRASKA, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A BIG PLUS.

>> JAMARION PARKER OUT OF ST. LOUIS.

THAT'S CARDINAL RITTER.

GREAT BASKETBALL PROGRAM.

I KNOW THEY GOT PRETTY GOOD FOOTBALL.

COULD YOU TALK ABOUT HIM A LITTLE BIT?

>> YEAH, JAMARION PARKER HAD A HUGE GAME IN HIS OPENING GAME THIS SEASON.

FOUR TOUCHDOWNS IN HIS FIRST GAME THIS YEAR.

YOU KNOW, NEBRASKA BACK IN ST. LOUIS IN A BIG WAY.

BACK IN KANSAS CITY IN A BIG WAY.

AND JAMARION PARKER WAS A BIG PART OF THAT.

GIVE KEITH WILLIAMS A LOT OF CREDIT TO GO IN THERE, GET HIM HERE, BECAUSE NEBRASKA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE, MICHAEL, TO GET A JAMARION PARKER LEVEL PLAYER OUTTA ST. LOUIS IN A WHILE.

>> YEAH, I GUESS TREY WAS THE LAST ONE.

THE RUNNING BACK, RIGHT?

>> YEAH -- >> TREY BRYANT?

>> YOU GOTTA GO EVEN BEFORE THAT.

I MEAN TREY BRYANT OBVIOUSLY HAD THE ONE GOOD YEAR.

>> CHRIS BROOKS.

>> AND CHRIS BROOKS, AND KEITH WILLIAMS AND MIKE McNEILL.

YOU HAD A RUN THERE OF NFL PLAYERS THAT CAME OUT OF ST. LOUIS TO NEBRASKA AND THEY WERE ALL RECRUITED BY KEVIN COSGROVE.

COINCIDENTLY, KEITH WILLIAMS WAS A KEVIN COSGROVE RECRUIT, AND NOW HE IS THE GUY LEADING THE WAY, AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU MENTIONED, CHRIS BROOKS, MIKE McNEILL, THEY'RE COACHING HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN ST. LOUIS.

>> OH, WOW.

SO YOU HAVE TO GET A QUARTERBACK ALMOST EVERY YEAR NOW.

LET'S TALK ABOUT MICHAEL CLAYTON OUT OF -- SEMINOLE, OUT OF FLORIDA.

>> YEAH, MICHAEL CLAYTON WILL BE IN TOWN.

HE'S PROBABLY NEBRASKA'S TOP 2026 QUARTERBACK NAME THEY'RE IN ON RIGHT NOW.

A HIGH FOUR-STAR LEVEL PLAYER.

HE WAS HERE FOR CAMP IN JUNE.

LOOKED OUTSTANDING.

GOT HIS OFFER.

TO GET HIM BACK NOW, THIS WEEKEND, IS A BIG OPPORTUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

REAL QUICK, LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR IN-STATE CHASE LOFTIN OUT OF MILLARD SOUTH, THE TIGHT END.

>> YEAH, CHASE LOFTIN OUT OF MILLARD SOUTH, YOU KNOW, ARGUABLY THE TOP PLAYER IN THE STATE, A FOUR-STAR TIGHT END.

WAS AT ELKHORN NORTH FOR HIS FIRST THREE YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL.

TRANSFERRED TO MILLARD SOUTH FOR HIS SENIOR YEAR.

HAD A TOUGH LOSS TO START THE YEAR IN ARIZONA TO BASHA.

ONE OF THE TOP PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

BUT COMMITTED TO FLORIDA STATE.

YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE INTERESTING IF NEBRASKA PUSHES THERE A LITTLE BIT TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET HIM ON CAMPUS.

IS THERE A NEED STILL FOR A TIGHT END IS THE BETTER QUESTION AT THIS POINT.

'CAUSE YOU AND I BOTH KNOW, FLORIDA STATE, 0-2, YOU KNOW, THAT GETS YOUR ATTENTION AT LEAST WITH HIS RECRUITING, WILL SOME TEAMS AT LEAST TRY TO REACH OUT TO HIM?

BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN NOW IN TALLAHASSEE WITH THE 0-2 START.

>> WE APPRECIATE IT.

WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS NEXT WEEK, OF COURSE.

BE SURE TO VOTE ON THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY QUESTION.

IN SATURDAY NIGHT'S TELECAST, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT TO SEE THE MOST?

THERE ARE FOUR CHOICES.

ONE OF THEM OF COURSE IS "WILL YOU SEE SHOTS OF COACH PRIME ON THE SIDELINES?"

52% SAY THAT.

"COMMERCIALS WITH COACH PRIME," WHICH I THINK IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE THE ONE.

11%.

"MENTIONS OF HOW MANY TRANSFERS COLORADO HAS HAD."

66 OF THEM, AND "NEBRASKA TOUCHDOWNS," 32% OF FOLKS ARE LOOKING AT THAT.

TIME TO CHECK IN WITH SOME OF THE BEST GAME DAY PHOTOS SENT TO US THIS WEEKEND.

LACY FROM FACEBOOK SHARED THIS WITH HER CREW ON THE RIVER.

THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

WHILE THEY WATCHED NEBRASKA'S GAME.

I'M SURE THERE WERE A LOT OF FANS IN THE HOT STADIUM THAT WOULD HAVE PRESERVED TO BE ON THE RIVER INSTEAD OF THE HEAT.

AND THEN DAVID EMAILED US FROM THEIR FIRST TAILGATE.

THEIR FIRST TAILGATE BARBECUE.

LOOKS DELICIOUS, OF COURSE.

DAVID, NEXT WEEK, WE EXPECT AN INVITATION.

THANKS.

SEND IN YOUR BEST GAME DAY PICS FOR CHANCES TO WIN GREAT PRIZES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND TO SEE YOUR PHOTOS ON THE SHOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE WANT TO WELCOME IN NOW BRIAN HOWELL, BEAT WRITER FROM BUFFZONE.COM TO HELP US PREVIEW SATURDAY NIGHT'S GAME AGAINST COLORADO.

BRIAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR COMING ON TONIGHT.

>> YOU BET.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME, GUYS.

>> GO BACK BEFORE THE SEASON, BRIAN.

WHAT WAS YOUR EXPECTATION?

WHAT DID YOU THINK IN TERMS OF HOW MANY WINS, HOW COLORADO WOULD PLAY THIS YEAR?

AND HAS IT CHANGED AFTER WATCHING THE FIRST GAME AGAINST NORTH DAKOTA STATE?

>> YEAH, I THOUGHT THEIR FLOOR WAS A BOWL GAME.

SO 6-6, AND I THOUGHT THEY COULD BE A 7-5, 8-4 TYPE OF TEAM.

AND WITH SOME BREAKS MAYBE CONTEND FOR THE BIG 12.

AND I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S CHANGED AT THIS POINT.

I DON'T LIKE TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, TOO MANY RASH JUDGMENTS OFF ONE GAME.

I THINK IT WAS A GOOD WIN FOR THEM AGAINST NORTH DAKOTA STATE.

BUT, CERTAINLY THERE'S STILL SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE AND HOW MUCH BETTER THEY'RE GONNA BE THIS YEAR.

AND CERTAINLY IT'S NOT A POLISHED PRODUCT.

SO, THEY'VE SOME WORK TO DO TO GET TO THAT 8-4.

>> BRIAN, IN SOME WAYS, HOW BENEFICIAL THOUGH WAS IT TO GET AN OPENER LIKE NORTH DAKOTA STATE, TO WIN THE GAME, BUT THEN BE PUSHED AND KIND OF BE STRESSED AND GO THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE AS YOU HAD NOW TO WHAT WILL BE ONE OF THE TOUGHER ENVIRONMENTS PROBABLY COLORADO FACES IN TERMS OF A NIGHT GAME IN MEMORIAL STADIUM?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD TEST FOR THEM.

I THINK, I WAS TALKING TO A COLLEAGUE OF MINE, AND, YOU KNOW, NORTH DAKOTA STATE, THEY'RE FCS, BUT, I THINK, THEY'RE PROBABLY BETTER THAN 40 TO 50 FBS TEAMS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS ALL OF FBS.

SO, THEY'RE REALLY GOOD.

I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD TEST FOR COLORADO'S REVAMPED OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE LINES TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PHYSICAL TEST LIKE THAT.

THAT'S WHAT NDSU IS KNOWN FOR, IS BEING PHYSICAL.

IT'S GOING TO BE MORE PHYSICAL I THINK THIS WEEK IN LINCOLN, BUT I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD TEST FOR THAT GROUP TO KINDA GET THEIR FEET WET TOGETHER AS A GROUP.

>> BRIAN, OBVIOUSLY, OFFENSIVELY WITH COLORADO, EVERYONE KNOWS SHADEUR, EVERYONE KNOWS TRAVIS HUNTER, HORN.

AND THOSE GUYS ARE THE BIG PLAY CAPABILITIES THAT THEY HAVE AND THE EXPLOSIVENESS.

IF THOSE GUYS CAN'T GET IT GOING, WHO ELSE, CAN COLORADO HAVE A BACKUP TO THAT?

ARE THEY SUCCESSFUL TO RUN THE FOOTBALL?

WHO ELSE CAN THEY RELY ON TO KINDA TAKE SOME PRESSURE OFF THOSE GUYS IF THERE ARE DOUBLE COVERAGES OR PEOPLE ARE -- TEND TO SHUT THEM DOWN?

>> WELL RECEIVER WISE, CERTAINLY THEY'VE GOT MORE TALENT THAN EVEN THOSE TWO GUYS.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, LaJOHNTAY WESTER WAS NUMBER TWO IN THE COUNTRY IN RECEPTIONS LAST YEAR AT FAU.

WILL SHEPPARD HAS BEEN VANDERBILT'S LEADING RECEIVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO THOSE GUYS HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN STARTED YET.

BUT AS FAR AS RUNNING THE FOOTBALL, THAT'S THE BIG KEY AND THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION MARK.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE NOT HAD MUCH OF A RUN GAME SO FAR, AND NOW 13 GAMES UNDER COACH PRIME.

AND THEY KEEP SAYING THAT THEY'VE GOT ALL THESE TALENTED BACKS AND THAT THAT'S GONNA CHANGE, BUT THEY HAVEN'T SHOWN THAT YET.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE KEYS.

AND COACH PRIME TALKED ABOUT IT AGAIN TODAY, THAT THEY HAVE TO RUN THE FOOTBALL, AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO THIS WEEK.

ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO?

I DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR IT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> I KNOW IT'S EARLY STILL, BRIAN, BUT A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TWO TOP FIVE PICKS COMING INTO A STADIUM.

FROM WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, WOULD YOU BE SURPRISED IF WE SAW TRAVIS HUNTER AND SHADEUR BOTH GO IN THE TOP FIVE OF THE 2025 NFL DRAFT?

>> NO, NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.

I MEAN, I THINK SHADEUR, TO ME, AND MAYBE I'M BIASED, I COVER COLORADO, BUT I THINK HE'S THE MOST TALENTED QUARTERBACK IN THE COUNTRY.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS WE KNOW, THE TOP QUARTERBACKS ARE GOING TO GO IN THE TOP FIVE.

AND TRAVIS HUNTER, HE'S JUST -- PEOPLE HAVE USED THIS TERM, BUT IT'S TRUE.

HE'S A UNICORN.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GONNA PLAY IN THE NFL.

TO ME, IF YOU'RE AN NFL EXEC, YOU DRAFT HIM AND THEN YOU FIND OUT WHERE HE'S GOING TO PLAY AFTER YOU HAVE HIM ON THE TEAM.

'CAUSE I THINK HE'S THAT GOOD, YOU JUST WANT HIM IN THE BUILDING.

>> HEY, BRIAN.

THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY BETWEEN THE TWO PROGRAMS.

THE FAN BASES DEFINITELY EMBRACE THIS GAME.

BUT, AS OF NOW, IT COULD BE THE LAST TIME THEY PLAY IN THE REGULAR SEASON.

DO YOU GET THE SENSE AT ALL THAT COLORADO WOULD LIKE TO GET ANOTHER NEBRASKA SERIES ON THE SCHEDULE, MAYBE IN THE 2030s OR SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD?

>> YEAH, REALLY, THAT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BECAUSE COACH PRIME, WHO KNOWS.

IF YOU ASKED HIM, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG HE'LL BE THERE AND THE PLAYERS OF COURSE.

BUT I KNOW FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, RICK GEORGE, THEY LIKE HAVING NEBRASKA ON THE SCHEDULE.

AND I THINK THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT DONE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A GREAT SERIES.

AND CERTAINLY, COLORADO CAN SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE WON ALL THREE OF THESE GAMES SO FAR, BUT TAKE THAT -- TAKE THE RESULTS OUT OF IT, IT'S BEEN A REALLY FUN SERIES.

JUST THE GAMES THAT HAVE BEEN PLAYED IN BOULDER AND ALSO LINCOLN BACK IN 2018 OR '19, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH YEAR IT WAS, SUPER FUN ATMOSPHERES AND GAMES.

SO I THINK THEY'D PROBABLY LOVE TO HAVE IT ON THE SCHEDULE AT SOME POINT.

>> BRIAN, REAL QUICK.

BIGGEST CONCERN.

THOSE YOUNG OFFENSIVE LINEMEN AND THAT LOUD ENVIRONMENT GOING AGAINST NEBRASKA'S D-LINE?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO, 'CAUSE I THINK THAT GROUP, THEY ONLY GAVE UP ONE SACK LAST WEEK, WHICH THEY CAN GIVE UP AT LEAST THREE.

IT WASN'T THEM, BUT THE LINE GAVE UP AT LEAST THREE IN EVERY GAME LAST YEAR.

SO, ONE WAS A HUGE IMPROVEMENT.

BUT NEBRASKA GOT THEM LIKE EIGHT TIMES LAST YEAR.

SO I THINK THAT'S A HUGE THING TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK, IS HOW GOOD IS THAT OFFENSIVE LINE.

THEY HAVE GOT TO BE BETTER THAN THEY WERE EVEN LAST WEEK.

>> BRIAN, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ENJOY THE GAME AND THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> YOU BET.

THANKS, GUYS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS GAME.

YOU MENTIONED ALL THE TALENT.

EVEN LaJOHNTAY WESTER, WHO MADE THE FINALIST FOR THE JET AWARD, THAT'S HOW GOOD OF A RETURNER HE IS, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN HEAR ABOUT HIM.

THE BIGGEST -- LET'S GO BACK TO THE OFFENSIVE LINE AGAINST NEBRASKA'S D-LINE.

IN THAT BUILDING, AS A DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE?

>> I THINK FOR COMMUNICATION WISE -- YEAH, LISTEN, WITH NOW THE HELMET COMMUNICATIONS, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF BACKUP PLAN FOR SOME HAND SIGNALS ON THE SIDELINES IN CASE YOU CAN'T HEAR.

THERE MIGHT BE AN INSTANCE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE SO LOUD, WHERE SHADEUR PROBABLY CAN'T HEAR COMMUNICATION WITH HIS OC TRYING TO GET HIS PLAY CALL.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE THING.

BUT THEN, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA DO A SILENT COUNT WITH O-LINE.

YOU MIGHT SEE THEM HOLDING HANDS AS WELL.

>> PROBABLY CAN'T EVEN SNAP, RIGHT?

>> SO YES, IT'S GOING TO BE -- THEY'RE GOING TO BE TESTED.

AND I THINK THEY STRUGGLED LAST YEAR AGAINST NEBRASKA.

THEY SAID EIGHT, NINE SACKS LAST YEAR.

BUT NOW, NEBRASKA'S D-LINE IS JUST AS GOOD IF NOT BETTER AS THEY WERE LAST YEAR AGAINST THAT OFFENSIVE LINE THAT GAVE UP A TON OF SACKS, HAD STRUGGLES RUNNING THE FOOTBALL.

SO THE BIGGEST KEY IS NEBRASKA'S DEFENSIVE LINE VERSUS OUR O-LINE.

CAN YOU GET HOME WITH FOUR AS WELL?

SO YOU CAN KEEP THOSE SEVEN GUYS IN THE BACK END TO HELP COVER ALL THOSE -- THAT DEEP STABLE OF WIDE RECEIVERS THEY HAVE.

>> MOST IMPORTANT MATCHUP FOR YOU?

>> JUST IF NEBRASKA CAN KEEP PACE.

I MEAN, IF COLORADO WANTS TO MAKE THIS A TRACK MEET, CAN DYLAN RAIOLA ANSWER THOSE SCORING DRIVES?

'CAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE TOO MANY EMPTY POSSESSIONS AND GIVE COLORADO AN ADVANTAGE ON POSSESSIONS.

'CAUSE THEY CAN SCORE ON ANYBODY, WE KNOW THAT.

AND I THINK NEBRASKA NEEDS TO DO THAT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TONY WHITE, THEY DIDN'T BLITZ ONCE LAST WEEK.

THEY RAN THREE AND FOUR-MAN PRESSURES THE WHOLE GAME.

WHAT DOES TONY WHITE HAVE UP HIS SLEEVE ON DEFENSE BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY WERE VERY BASIC IN WHAT THEY SHOWED UTEP A WEEK AGO.

>> DO YOU THINK NEBRASKA NEEDS TO TRY TO DOMINATE TIME OF POSITION?

SO RUN THE BALL A LOT?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK OMMITTING TO THE RUN.

NORTH DAKOTA STATE WAS SUCCESSFUL RUNNING THE FOOTBALL WITH THEIR QUARTERBACK.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO THAT WITH RAIOLA.

MAYBE YOU SEE SOME HARD WORK SITUATIONS TO TRY TO GET, YOU KNOW, EXTRA QB RUN GAMES IN THERE.

BUT I THINK YOU STILL HAVE TO COMMIT TO IT.

AND TO SLOW THE GAME DOWN, OWN SOME TIME OF POSSESSION.

AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST KEY.

IF THEY DO, IF COLORADO DOES GET OFF TO A QUICK START, STILL COMMIT TO THAT RUN AND NOT CHASE THOSE POINTS.

>> SEAN, LET'S GO TO BURNING QUESTIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MY BURNING QUESTION IS CAN NEBRASKA LIVE UP TO THE STAGE?

I MEAN, THEY'VE HAD SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED.

THEY HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND LIVE UP TO THE MOMENT OF WHAT THIS STAGE WILL BE WHEN THE NATIONALLY TELEVISED NIGHT GAME IN MEMORIAL STADIUM.

>> I'VE ALREADY SAID IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

NEBRASKA HAS TO GET HOME WITH FOUR.

YOU CAN'T -- I DON'T THINK -- YOU DON'T NEED TO TRY TO BRING FIVE OR SIX.

MAYBE DO IT AT SOME TIMES.

BUT YOU GET HOME WITH FOUR, KEEP THOSE BACK GUYS, THOSE SEVEN GUYS IN THE BACK END TO COVER THE WIDE RECEIVERS.

>> MY BURNING QUESTION IS CAN I WEAR THIS SHIRT AFTER THE GAME COMFORTABLY?

WILL I BE ABLE TO WEAT THIS AND FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE BECAUSE NEBRASKA HAS WON THE GAME?

THIS IS A CLASSIC.

HOPEFULLY I CAN WEAR IT.

THAT'S MY BURNING QUESTION.

DON'T FORGET TO HIT OUR WEBSITE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

OF COURSE, CLICK ON THE PREDICTION.

JAY, SEAN AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT ON SATURDAY.

THE OLD BIG 12 RIVALRY RETURNS TO MEMORIAL STADIUM SATURDAY NIGHT AS NEBRASKA HOSTS COLORADO IN THE BIGGEST GAME SO FAR OF THE YOUNG SEASON.

KICKOFF IS SCHEDULED FOR 6:30.

IT'S RIGHT THERE ON NBC.

NEXT TUESDAY, WE'LL BREAK DOWN THE GAME WITH FORMER NEBRASKA ASSISTANT COACH BILL BUSH.

AND BEFORE THE COLORADO GAME ON SATURDAY NIGHT, MAKE SURE YOU TUNE IN TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AS WE BRING YOU MORE NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL.

THE HUSKERS HOST MONTANA STATE AT THE BOB DEVANEY SPORTS SCENTER.

FIRST SERVE IS SCHEDULED FOR 2:00 P.M. CENTRAL RIGHT HERE ON NEBRASKA'S HOME FOR VOLLEYBALL.

OUR THANKS TO MATT DAVIDSON AND BRIAN HOWELL AND OF COURSE, JAY MOORE AND SEAN CALLAHAN.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

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

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪