Profizer’s Pigskin Preview: Nebraska vs Penn State

Each week, the Profizer sits down to read the tarot cards. Dip his toes into the Sea of Red. And put his fingers on the pulse of college football. Though his glasses may be dangerously rose colored and he continues to drive with an open container of Rhule-aid, he can see clearly what must be done each week. This is the Pigskin Preview: Nebraska vs Penn State.

The roses were red.

The Bruins wore blue.

TJ carved ‘em up.

And EJ ran through.

What a homecoming it was for TJ Lateef. The lights of the Rose Bowl were none too bright. The freshman looked unfazed by the Bruins, nearly perfect all night. With his 13 of 15 passing performance to go along with three touchdowns and no interceptions…what more can you ask of the young man. He seemed to be in complete control of what Dana was asking him to do out there. And it truly is amazing what a solid running game can do for a quarterback’s success.

Emmett just continues to be the man. The first Nebraska back to have 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game. A truly remarkable feat considering the line of storied backs that have come through Lincoln. Is he a Heisman caliber back? Maybe. His chances would be better if the 2025 Huskers could have won some of those big games this year. But one thing is for certain. I wouldn’t trade him for any back in the nation. He’s running hungry man. And he is out to prove that he belongs. That he is first team all B1G. An All-American type of back. And this offense will need him to be at his best for these final two games of the regular season, as the defenses left on the slate only get better.

On the flip side of the ball, the Blackshirts were what we thought they were. For the most part, they kept the passing game of Nico Iameleava in check. But the ole Achillies heel reared its ugly head once again. Nico was able to run pretty wild on the Blackshirts, with the Blackshirts seemingly having corralled him many times only to see him scoot for another first down. At the end of the day, they bent, but didn’t break, and holding a team to 21 points should be good enough to win in today’s game.

The Huskers handled business. Vegas may have had us as underdogs, but we beat a team we were supposed to beat. Got out of LA relatively unscathed and ready for a much needed bye week to tune up for what could be two of the more difficult opponents of this seasons schedule. First things first. We set sail back to the east coast, hoping to repeat the success from the last voyage out east. The Penn State Nittany Lions await the Big Red arrival. We all know what has been happening in Happy Valley this year. After the heartbreaking loss to Oregon started a six-game skid that saw James Franklin relieved of his duties by mid-October and Drew Allar out for the season, many left Penn State for dead. That’s not quite the case. There is still a pulse in University Park as the Nittany Lions are still fighting for bowl eligibility.

After the wheels completely fell off the Penn State wagon with losses to UCLA, Northwestern and Iowa, signs of life were shown in the first half against Ohio State, and the very next week, they took the #2 team in the nation, Indiana, all the way to the wire, with Indiana needing a miracle catch in the back of the endzone to escape. They finally got the train back on the tracks last week, defeating a dead duck of a team Michigan State. Not only did this keep their bowl eligibility chances alive, as hard as it is to believe, it was also their first conference win of the season. Nebraska is heading into its most hostile environment this year, with a team fighting for its postseason life and more importantly its pride. They will not roll over. And let’s not forget, this team was ranked preseason #2 for a reason. Penn State is extremely talented and is incredibly capable. Can the Huskers stroll into Happy Valley at night and steal one away from a down on their luck Penn State team? Admittedly, it looks a hell of a lot easier today than it did when the season started, but that is why you strap it up every week. The bye week has come and gone. The Profizer has stewed on it for two weeks. He has consulted the college football spirits, seen through the fog of University Park, and meditated amongst the Sea of Red. The path to a victory has never been clearer. This is the way. This is the Pigskin Preview.

1.      Ain’t No Rest for the Weary – The bye week can be beneficial. It allows players to heal up. Recharge the batteries for the final stretch of the season. In Nebraska’s case, it helps a young freshman QB, TJ Lateef, get more accustomed to being the man. More reps. More install. More comfortability. But the Huskers cannot let the bye week cause a slow start to the game. It is senior day in University Park. Penn State is on the ropes, fighting for their lives. A quick score to start the game could get the ball rolling.  A defensive stop can give that ball a push down the hill. Another quick score could start the snowball. Yes, Penn State has undoubtedly improved the past few weeks. However, a team that has experienced what they have this season can quit easily. We’ve seen it in Lincoln. A team falling drastically short of its goals, going down early is a recipe for a long evening. Maybe for once, the long evening won’t be at the expense of Husker Nation. Suck the life out of them early. Then leave Happy Valley with the most regular season wins since 2016.

2.      Sell Out – The verdict is out on this defense. The run defense is soft and vulnerable. Missing run fits and missing tackles. Thus, anyone with half a brain knows what the game plan will be for the Nittany Lions this Saturday night. Buckle it up and run it straight ahead. But the Blackshirts cannot allow the running game of Penn State to beat them. They must sell out to stop the two headed running game of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, both of whom are trying to break Penn State records. Singleton needs just two touchdowns to tie Saquon Barkley for career rushing touchdowns, while Allen needs just 138 yards to claim the career rushing yardage record at Penn State. If the Blackshirts can somehow at least slow down the running game of Penn State and force the young Ethan Grunkemeyer who is filling in for the injured Drew Allar to throw the ball and beat us, you have to like the Huskers chances of winning Saturday night. John Butler and crew will have to scheme up some good run defense and hopefully force Grunkemeyer into throwing downs and distances, leading to mistakes and extra possessions for the Husker offense. Both of these teams are going to want to run the ball, so odds are possessions are going to be limited. Any extra ones will be at a premium.

3.      Let it Fly – As easy as it is to know what Penn State’s game plan will be on offense, you better believe it is just as easy to know what they will be keying in on defense. The Nittany Lions will do everything they can to stop EJ from running wild. This means Dana and Co. are going to have to lead TJ eat. Penn State has some grown ass men playing on that defense and they are going to make TJ show that he can beat them. Get TJ on the move. Give him some options and quick reads. Don’t let the Penn State pass rush heat up. The pass game is going to have to be respected to soften up the box and allow for Emmett to get his. With two weeks of preparation under his belt, it is time for this freshman to spread his wings and fly this week in Happy Valley. Believe the moment isn’t too big. Believe he can make all the reads. Believe he can make all the throws. Believe in Lateef.

Back in August, it was hard to believe a Husker team going into Happy Valley and winning. I for one thought Penn State would be firmly in the CFP race. Then the six straight losses happen, including the soul snatching loss to Indiana, and I thought they may roll over for the rest of the season. But they rebounded last week. Beat a shitty Michigan State team, but nonetheless, they are still looking to get to a bowl game and salvage some pride. They have nothing to lose. Their head man is already gone. Their season long goals have long since vanished. They are playing for Terry Smith and each other, and that makes them dangerous. Last trip out east, these Huskers needs a come from behind effort to knock off Maryland. This trip out east, although their record may not reflect it, we are playing a much tougher football team. I saw the road ahead this weekend, and it will not be easy. These Nittany Lions are not going into the night gently. It will be an ugly football game. A rock fight in every way, worthy of its Big Ten name. All I can do now is hope that the tarot cards lied, that the crystals were misaligned, and that fate has mercy on Nebraska in the valley of the lion.

Penn State 21 – Nebraska 17