Stop the Run
Casey Thompson will not contend for the Heisman, but he’s a capable college quarterback. Many players on Oklahoma’s defense saw him up close last year when they played Thompson and the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown.
He can make some plays with his arm, but he’s not going to dominate through the air.
Nebraska’s biggest offensive threat is running back Anthony Grant. Grant is the first Nebraska back since 1950 to rush for 100 yards in the first three games of a season. Grant has 11 runs of 10 yards or more for the Huskers and is third in the nation with 142.7 YPG.
In other words, he makes an impact.
If this new defense can continue flying around and smacking people in the mouth, Oklahoma can put all the pressure on Thompson to win this game with his arm.
A successful ground attack for Nebraska does two things: It wears out Oklahoma’s defense and keeps the Sooners’ offense off the field. Oklahoma’s offensive identity is predicated on rhythm. The more plays, the better. If the offense is off the field, the game isn’t going well.