The Profizer’s Pigskin Preview: Nebraska vs Iowa

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 Profizer’s Pigskin Preview: Nebraska vs. Iowa.

Nebraska vs Iowa

The prediction last week was grim. Their record may not have reflected it, but they have a ton of talent on that team. They were playing for their brothers. Playing for a continued chance of a bowl game. Playing for the man they want to be their permanent coach, and in many ways playing to put tape out there for potential landing spots in the transfer portal. All of that is true. But that same team had six straight conference losses, including losses to UCLA and Northwestern, so even though I predicted the loss, I anticipated being competitive. Well, last Saturday night, the Huskers were a lot of things, but competitive was not one of them.

From start to finish it was a bloodbath. Penn State had their way with the Huskers. And unfortunately, the Huskers had no answers. No way to stop them. And ultimately, it felt like there was no real chance. It was no secret what Penn State was going to do going into the game. Simple really. Line it up and run it straight at Nebraska, with two simple goals in mind. Get Kaytron Allen his career rushing record and get Singleton his career rushing touchdown record.

The Blackshirts provided little resistance. Manhandled at the point of attack. Unable to stop Allen as he glided to 160 yards on his way to setting the career mark at Penn State. Nebraska, always generous, also allowed Singleton to march into the endzone twice to tie the career rushing touchdown mark. Never once was Nebraska able to force Penn State into doing anything uncomfortable. Ethan Grunkemeyer threw just 12 passes, all under minimal stress to wide-open targets. All while the offense sputtered along with no real threat of swinging momentum. The lone bright spot being Emmett Johnson again eclipsing the 100-yard mark, but half of that came on a 52-yarder on the first drive of the game.

It's disappointing to continue to lose the ‘big’ games. Laying eggs on national TV time and time again. Failing to capitalize on what feel like big time opportunities for the program. Unable to rise to the occasion and losing in much the same ways that we have in the past, being the physically lesser team on the field. Out muscled in the trenches on both sides of the ball. I don’t think this team took the leap that we all expected when entering the oft talked about Rhule Year 3, especially when looking at how the schedule shaped out at the start of the year. However, I will say that It feels like we have a competent leader of men running the program with a vision he is trying to execute. Will it ever come to fruition? The cards refuse to say. What we do know is that Husker Nation finds itself in very similar waters as in years past. Rumors swirling around what may happen in the offseason. A Black Friday game with Iowa that feels like it could be a hinge point on another era of Husker football. And the answer is and always will be one thing. Win. You win Friday morning, and the outlook is clearer. Brighter. You lose, it’s cloudier. Unclear. Who knows, maybe poaching season is fruitful in Lincoln.

Bad news for the Huskers, is that Iowa is a team built to beat them. They will do exactly what Penn State did to us last Saturday night in Happy Valley, except they have a QB that is more mobile and a statistically better defense. It’s a tall task for this Husker team in Lincoln on Friday afternoon. It will be cold. There is an outside chance for snow. So, can it be done? Can Nebraska capture some sort of momentum at the end of the regular season and avoid heartbreak yet again at the hands of Iowa? The good news for Husker fans, the Profizer has heard the whispers in the trees, has stared into the face of the oncoming storm and consulted with the winds of winter. Three simple steps towards the future. This is the Profizer’s Pigskin Preview – Iowa vs Nebraska.

1.      Intensity – Iowa will always be the jaded little brother. They will always do anything and everything in their power to beat us. To try and prove their worth. In all honesty, they have done it time and time again in recent memory. Frankly, they have clearly wanted it more. Iowa has invested more in this rivalry than Nebraska ever has. It simply meant more to them. It’s time to match that energy. Get off the high horse and admit that this game means something. If this program wants to contend at the highest level in the B1G, then we need to start dispatching Iowa on a consistent basis. It needs to mean more. There is no denying that the team will have to bring a lot of their own energy on Friday. Day after Thanksgiving. Early kick. Cold. Possibility of snow. Record not where Husker Nation may want it to be. All one big recipe for a sleepy crowd in Lincoln. Come out with your hair on fire, carry the crowd on your back for the first half, and they will show up for you in the second. Are we on the CFP bubble? Not even close. But this game means something. It sets a trajectory for the short-term future of the program and can erase a lot of questions in the offseason. It must matter.

2.      Be Special – Iowa is renowned for their special teams play. Consistently one of the best units in the nation. And you can always count on them to rip the hearts out of Husker Nation. But this Friday, it is time for the Ekeler lead unit to be special for Nebraska. Jacory Barney is more than overdue to take one to the house. So consistent but hasn’t hit the homerun yet. It’s coming. Archie needs to be on his game as well. Like every matchup, we could be trading a lot of punts back and forth and field position is going to be at a premium. The Aussie is also going to have to do his best to keep the ball away from Kaden Wetjen. That is a disaster waiting to happen, and one that Husker Nation has seen happen too many times before. If Nebraska can win the field position battle and somehow score a special teams touchdown, then we are cooking with leftover oil, baby!

3.      Blackshirts on Black Friday – Last game of the regular season. The defense, especially the front seven, is limping down the stretch. The run defense is what it is at this point. John Butler and Co. need to patch it up for this game. We saw how badly it can play out in University Park last Saturday night. We cannot have a repeat. The Blackshirts need to at least slow the Iowa run attack down to give the offense a fighting chance to win this ball game. Really, we need this defense to steal a possession or two for this young offense. The Blackshirts need to generate some turnovers and create some kind of chaos. If you can get the Hawkeyes off schedule, they will revert to the offensive shell of a team that they usually are. But if you let them rip off four to five yards per carry on first down, then, they are right on schedule, and you will get a steady diet of long sustained drives that milk the clock down quickly. A lot hinges on the Blackshirts effort Friday afternoon. Do they have another solid performance left in the tank? Can this be a turning point for a young front? Husker Nation needs it.

It seems like just yesterday the season kicked off. Long, warm fall nights. So much promise for the upcoming season. In the blink of an eye, we are already at season’s end. Black Friday, upon us whether we are ready or not. Much like Nebraska quarterbacks running for their lives against opposing pass rushers, hoping and praying a receiver will open up before everything comes crashing down, we will be scraping and clawing, working to find the perfect gift. When all hope is nearly lost, that is when we’ll see it. A streak of red flashing in front of our eyes. Was it the big man, or just Jacory Barney separating from his defender down the far sideline? Whatever it is we have to trust it. Go for it and see what happens. We can all still hold our collective breath while the ball is in the air, but we have to start knowing we’re going to be successful. No more fear. No more what-ifs. Just trust it. It’s time.

Nebraska 24 – Iowa 14