Tag: Nebraska

Nebraska true freshman quarterback predicts win vs. Badgers

Nebraska true freshman quarterback predicts win vs. Badgers

Nebraska true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola predicted a Cornhuskers over the Badgers on Nov. 23.

Following Nebraska’s 28-20 loss to the USC Trojans in Los Angeles on Saturday, Raiola did not lack confidence when asked about the adjustment process moving to new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.

“We’re only gonna keep building on it these next two weeks,” Raiola said. “We’ll get the win next week and get us to a bowl.”

He was referring to Nebraska’s 11th game of the season vs. the Wisconsin Badgers. Like UW, the Cornhuskers are on a multi-game losing streak dating back to October.

Raiola’s crew has dropped four consecutive contests, to No. 5 Indiana, No. 2 Ohio State, UCLA and USC. The Badgers, meanwhile, have lost three straight to No. 4 Penn State, Iowa and No. 1 Oregon.

Through 10 games as a true freshman this season, the Georgia native has registered 203 completions, 2,112 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. Earlier this season, he led his group to a signature win over Shedeur Sanders and the No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes in Lincoln.

Raiola has attracted a decent amount of media attention this season because of his uncanny physical resemblance to Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. His level of play, however, is far from that caliber — during the four-game skid he’s thrown just two touchdowns to six interceptions.

Wisconsin hasn’t dropped a game to Nebraska since 2012. The Badgers will look to continue that streak when the two teams meet on Saturday.

Jayden Maiava played well enough to win, but turnovers are cause for concern

There was a lot of good and a lot of bad for Jayden Maiava. The main thing to remember is that this was only his first start. Improvement should occur.

On Saturday, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava made his first start in Cardinal and Gold when the Trojans took on Nebraska. As expected with any new starting QB, Maiava’s performance was a mixed bag. There were some very high highs, but also some very low lows.

Overall, Maiava played a solid game. He completed 25 of 35 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding another score on the ground.

However, he also had two horrible turnovers, both of which, to put it bluntly, were simply inexcusable plays. The two turnovers essentially handed 10 points to a Nebraska team that was struggling offensively, keeping the Cornhuskers in the game.

On USC’s second possession of the game, Maiava threw a brutal interception to old friend Ceyair Wright in which there were no receivers anywhere near the ball. Wright returned the pick 45 yards for a touchdown, giving Nebraska its first points of the game.

Later on, with the Trojans leading 21-17 in the third quarter, Maiava had a bad fumble on a rushing attempt deep inside USC territory. Nebraska got a field goal off the turnover, cutting the deficit to one point.

With the game on the line in the fourth quarter, however, Maiava came through when it mattered most. With the Trojans leading 21-20 with a little over 10 minutes left, Maiava led USC on a 13-play, 84-yard touchdown drive that ate up 7:39 of clock. Ultimately, that insurance proved to be enough, as the Trojans held on for a 28-20 victory.

Overall, outside of the two turnovers, Maiava played fairly well. While there is certainly a lot that needs to be cleaned up, Maiava and the Trojans will look to build off the performance heading into next week’s rivalry matchup against UCLA.

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USC celebrates proud football history while trying to restore on-field success

The irony is lost on no one: USC is celebrating its 1972 team and its 1970s-era heritage, including John Robinson, at a time when on-field results aren’t good.

Traditionally, USC football does not wear alternate uniforms. However, the Trojans announced that they will be making an exception this week—and for a very good reason. For USC’s homecoming game against Nebraska Saturday, the Trojans will wear 1970s-themed throwback uniforms. You can take a closer look at them here.

The uniforms will be a fighting tribute to legendary USC head coach John Robinson, who passed away on Monday. Robinson coached the Trojans from 1976-1982 and again from 1993-1997. He led USC to four Rose Bowl victories and the 1978 national championship.

In addition to the uniforms, Connor Morrissette of 247Sports reported on Friday that the Trojans will also have throwback field painting for Saturday’s game. Per Morrissette, “the endzones will be marked with gold paint, cardinal lettering and a cardinal and white diamond pattern, as well as a gold interlock painted at the 50-yard line.”

The irony cannot be ignored or missed: USC football is celebrating its rich history and the era which delivered so many of its best teams and greatest moments, all while the 2024 team is struggling to live up to that standard. The greatest tribute USC can create is to thump Nebraska and reawaken the echoes of glories past.

Kickoff between USC and Nebraska is set for 1 p.m. local time in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon.

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USC announces tunnel captain for homecoming game

Adoree Jackson will be USC’s tunnel captain for the Nebraska game. USC hopes the game’s outcome matches all the festivities surrounding the event.

On Friday, USC announced its tunnel captain for Saturday’s homecoming game against Nebraska. Serving in the role will be none other than former USC All-America cornerback Adoree’ Jackson. He played at USC from 2014-2016. As a junior in 2016, he became the second Trojan to win the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back.

Jackson also saw action on offense and special teams during his time in Cardinal and Gold. In fact, he is the Trojans’ all-time leader in both kickoff return yards and punt return touchdowns.

One of Jackson’s most memorable moments at USC came during the 2014 Holiday Bowl against Nebraska, when he returned a kickoff 98 yards for the game’s first touchdown. The Trojans would go on to win the game 45-42.

Jackson was selected 18th in the 2017 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans. He spent the first four seasons of his professional career there, before signing with the New York Giants in 2021, where he has been since.

Kickoff between USC and Nebraska is set for 1 p.m. local time in Los Angeles on Saturday.

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One fan base will be very angry about USC-Nebraska, regardless of who wins

The USC-Nebraska matchup is a must-win game for both teams. Fans are showing frustration toward both Lincoln Riley and Matt Rhule.

USC football has a big matchup this weekend against Big Ten foe Nebraska. The matchup contains an intriguing twist. Both Lincoln Riley, head coach for the Trojans, and Matt Rhule, head coach for the Cornhuskers, could very likely be under a lot of fire with a loss on Saturday.

The Trojans have clearly had a lot of problems this season with a 4-5 record after being ranked as high as No. 11 in the AP Poll this season, while Nebraska is sitting at 5-4 and is on a three-game losing streak.

Heading into the matchup, Nebraska fans are feeling reasonably frustrated with Rhule, but they are optimistic about handling the Trojans.

Evan Bredeson of Cornhuskers Wire put it this way:

“Nebraska fans are very nervous. Matt Rhule overachieved going 5-7 with last year‘s team and people were expecting the program to take the next step in year two. That hasn’t really happened and frustration is now starting to build and for the first time since he’s gotten here, he’s feeling the heat. With all that being said I think fans are optimistic about this Saturday’s game due to the change in offensive coordinator, but also due to the dysfunction within the USC program. From the outside, looking in, it looks like Lincoln Riley is really struggling and Husker fans think now is the perfect time to meet.”

This weekend will be very telling about the Trojans. With a new quarterback, a head coach in hot water, and future commits falling left and right, the game against Nebraska feels like a must-win.

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Cornhuskers Wire offers insight on Nebraska’s new offensive play-caller

A Nebraska analyst explains why the Huskers and Matt Rhule had to change offensive play-callers before playing USC. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes.

Earlier this week, Nebraska football announced that it will make a major offensive change ahead of the matchup with USC on Saturday. Former Houston and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen, who recently joined the Cornhuskers as an offensive consultant, will take over the team’s offensive play calling for the remainder of the season.

Holgorsen replaces Marcus Satterfield, who had served as Nebraska’s offensive coordinator since the start of the 2023 season. Satterfield will now solely serve as the team’s tight ends coach.

Following the announcement, Evan Bredeson of Cornhuskers Wire offered some perspective on the move.

“Matt Rhule had to make a change. I don’t know that any of us thought he would do something this drastic, especially considering how loyal he is to the guys on his staff. The fact that he made the change though is welcomed news. The offense had been regressing the last two years under Marcus Satterfield. Quarterback Dylan Raiola is playing worse now than he did at the start of the season, and if a staff change wasn’t made at the top of the offense, the chances of him hitting the portal was possible.

“With Holgorsen, I expect to see shorter passes designed to get the quarterback into rhythm early. Nebraska’s passing game had evolved to screen pass or deep shot. Nothing really in between. I also think we’ll see a lot more of the tight ends being involved in the passing game. Dana is known to have an affinity for using tight ends and the huskers actually have some depth at that position group and have not been utilizing it in any effective way this season.

“And they will run the football. Even though DH is an Air Raid guy, all of his top offenses always had a very good running game. Matt Rhule has said over and over again since arriving in Lincoln that he wants to be able to run the football consistently with power. The offense has simply not delivered on that front.”

USC takes on Nebraska at 1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time this Saturday.

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A look back at Nebraska’s last visit to the Los Angeles Coliseum

The USC-Nebraska game played in 2006 marked a Trojan quarterback’s home debut. Jayden Maiava makes his first home start for USC, 18 years later.

On Saturday, USC will host Nebraska at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This will mark the first meeting between the Trojans and the Cornhuskers as Big Ten opponents. USC and Nebraska have met just five times prior, with the Trojans holding a record of 4-0-1 in those games.

Nebraska has visited the Coliseum just twice. The most recent of those visits came in September of 2006.

The days leading into the game were turbulent ones at USC. The week prior, the Trojans had gone into the heart of SEC country and opened the season with a 50-14 throttling of Arkansas. Head coach Pete Carroll’s team returned home to the Coliseum for their first home games of the post-Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush era. Both Leinart and Bush’s jerseys were officially retired prior to the game against the Cornhuskers.

During the lead-up to the game, however, reports began to surface that Bush had received improper benefits from an agent during his time at USC. As we all know, this would eventually lead to a mutli-year NCAA investigation that resulted in USC receiving incredibly harsh sanctions that would hold the program down for the better part of a decade.

As for the game itself, it was not particularly close. Although Nebraska scored first on an early field goal, the Trojans then went on a 21-0 run to largely put the game out of reach by the third quarter. When the clock hit zero, Pete Carroll’s team had a 28-10 victory to improve to 2-0 on the season.

The star of the show was Leinart’s replacement, new starting quarterback John David Booty. Making his second college start—and first in the Coliseum—Booty completed 25 of 36 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns. Star wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett was also superb, catching 11 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

Ironically enough, this Saturday’s matchup will also feature a USC quarterback making his first start in the Coliseum. The Trojans are hoping that Jayden Maiava can channel a little Booty magic of yesteryear and lead the team to a victory over Nebraska.

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PHOTOS: Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema through the years

PHOTOS: Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema through the years

Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema is leading the college football news cycle this morning.

The longtime Badgers head coach (2006-2012) led his No. 24-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini to a statement 31-24 overtime victory over No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night. The win moved Illinois to 4-0 on the young season and 1-0 in Big Ten play.

More significantly, it moved Bielema to 4-5 against ranked teams during his Illinois tenure. That mark comes after the program went just 3-28 in those matchups in the 10 years before his arrival.

The win shakes up a complicated Big Ten landscape with conference play beginning to heat up. Nebraska was considered a sleeper contender to reach the Big Ten title game, though now will face a daunting path to that destination. Illinois, meanwhile, could enter College Football Playoff contention if it continues its stellar play against upcoming opponents No. 10 Penn State, No. 18 Michigan and No. 9 Oregon.

Friday’s result had major implications for the rest-of-season race. It also had many discussing Bielema’s coaching history and undeniable winning track record.

That all started at Wisconsin in 2006. Here is a look Bielema then, and through the years with the Badgers, Arkansas Razorbacks and now Illinois:

Former Wisconsin coach leads program to signature win over Nebraska

Former Wisconsin coach gets signature win over Nebraska

Former Wisconsin and current Illinois head coach Bret Bielema led his No. 24-ranked Fighting Illini to a signature win over No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night.

The 31-24 overtime triumph moved his team to 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten play. The ranked matchup, paired with the hype surrounding Nebraska’s 3-0 start, the national profile of freshman QB Dylan Raiola and the Friday night national television stage makes the win arguably the biggest of Bielema’s Illinois tenure.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin’s remaining Big Ten opponents from easiest to toughest

The former Badger coach is in his fourth season at Illinois. His best season with the Illini came in 2022 — an 8-5 finish with as high as a No. 14 ranking in the AP Poll. The Nebraska win puts 2024 on pace to surpass that finish.

Illinois’ 4-0 start also includes a home win against a ranked Kansas team, plus blowout wins against Eastern Illinois and Central Michigan. The win moves Illinois’ record against ranked teams under Bielema to 4-5. In the 10 years before his arrival, the program went just 3-28 in those matchups.

Bielema’s postgame excitement captures the gravity of the road victory.

Bielema coached at Wisconsin from 2006-2012. He went 68-24, including Big Ten titles in 2011 and 2012. His controversial departure to Arkansas in 2012 cast a shadow over his tenure. Given Wisconsin’s ongoing struggles since firing Paul Chryst in 2022, many have turned around to appreciate Bielema’s ability to win during his time in Madison.

To add to the Wisconsin connection, the Illinois staff includes former Badger players Aaron Henry (defensive coordinator) and Terrance Jamison (defensive line coach).

Wisconsin does not play Illinois this season for the first time since 2010. It beat Bielema and the Fighting Illini 25-21 last season on a last-minute touchdown pass to OT Nolan Rucci.

The Badgers do play Nebraska, however. Friday’s loss halts the Cornhuskers’ momentum after a flawless start to the season. The late-season matchup between the two teams could go on to largely define each of their respective seasons.

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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes praises Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola for mimicking his style

Kansas City #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes praises Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola for mimicking his style | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ stars have become icons to many who have followed their dominance over the past few seasons. Their popularity and success will influence future stars trying to emulate that championship mindset.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes finally had the opportunity to openly share his thoughts with reporters Wednesday on Nebraska freshman Dylan Raiola’s impersonating him with viral clips on social media.

“I mean it’s cool, honestly. I was that guy. I grew up watching players. I remember being – when I (was growing) up, I loved (Former Yankee Shortstop) Alex Rodriguez (who) played shortstop.” said Mahomes “I would try to make plays just like him and do stuff like that and it helped me become the athlete that I am. It’s just telling me I’m getting a little old. That’s the biggest thing is that you have these guys that are coming up and doing some of the side arm stuff. I know (Nebraska Quarterback) Dylan (Raiola and) I train with him in the off season. (He is) a great kid (and) a great football player. I think he is going to make his own stamp on the game, and I think you have seen that early in his career.”

After two games, Raiola started his college career with three touchdown passes, no interceptions, and 423 yards for the undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers. Mahomes doesn’t believe the freshman quarterback is paying much attention to social media reactions.

“I don’t know if whenever you come in as a freshman you want to be on Twitter and be the part of the team. I think he (Nebraska Quarterback Dylan Raiola) wants it to be about his team.” said Mahomes “I think that is the right way to play the quarterback position is that it’s not about you, it’s about going out there and having success as a team. They’ve done that so far this year. So, even though – I think he just kind of wants to push this out and play football and go out there and win football games. I think that is the right way to play the position.”

The Mahomes clone label on Raiola will continue to be discussed this season. He has the approval of the reigning Super Bowl MVP, so it will be interesting to see his development over the next few years.