The October window in Nebraska could define the season. Here are six keys to success

LINCOLN, Neb. – There’s just one thing you need to know about the first weekend of October for Nebraska football as Rutgers visits Memorial Stadium. It means a lot.

Yes, every game counts equally. The nuanced reality for the Huskers, however, with two games against undefeated Big Ten foes on deck before taking on third-ranked Ohio State on Oct. 26, is that the direction of this season will likely change on Saturday and Oct. 19 the game is on. near Indiana.

There could be three outcomes from the next two matches.

• A sweep: Nebraska is 6-1 ahead of Columbus, assured of a bowl game and well positioned to win at least eight games regardless of the outcome against Ohio State.

• A split: The Huskers are 5-2. Barring one of the biggest wins in program history on Oct. 26, Nebraska will enter November with the same eight-game record as a year ago – with the opportunity to play its best football late and reverse the trend that soured the coach’s end . Matt Rhule’s first season.

• A slide: At 4-3, Nebraska stumbles into the Ohio State game against its most talented opponent. Hopes of qualifying for a bowl game are not lost, but the Huskers’ backs are against the wall. Preseason talk of a big jump in Year 2 under Rhule has died down.

The Pulse Newsletter

Free, daily sports updates straight to your inbox.

Free, daily sports updates straight to your inbox.

To register

The third outcome would be disastrous for Nebraska. A win on Saturday would at least provide a break and make a win in two weeks seemingly more attainable against the Hoosiers, who have defeated five foes by an average margin of 35.8 points.

That’s the stakes when Rutgers arrives in Lincoln on Saturday after three-point wins over Virginia Tech and Washington. The Scarlet Knights bring a stingy pass defense, the third-leading rusher nationally in Kyle Monangai and quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis. He defeated Nebraska twice while playing in Minnesota.

Through five games, here’s a look at the state of the Huskers and what they need to accomplish in October to continue pointing in a positive direction this season.

Continue dividing roles

The running back situation has come into focus with Emmett Johnson on the rise. Although Nebraska didn’t beat Purdue to the ground, it ran effectively in the second half and features a trio of backs — including Dante Dowdell and Rahmir Johnson — with a varied skill set.

Likewise, the Huskers have built depth into the secondary that allows for versatility to cover weaknesses. And they’re finding new weapons, like backup wide receiver Alex Bullock, a starter last year who helps Nebraska on special teams as a key blocker in offensive sets.

Quarterback Dylan Raiola even calls for Bullock in certain spots, Rhule said, “because he’s a guy who finds a way to get the job done.”

Double the sales emphasis

It has managed so far to turn a margin of minus 17 last year into a margin of plus 5. Rhule said he wants to see more effort put into forcing turnovers. Nebraska has created eight. “I would like to see us get a lot more,” he said.

He especially likes the offense’s ability to protect the ball, as it produces big plays and a nice line to run. The Huskers are averaging 6.3 yards per play this year, compared to 5.1 a year ago. Through the air, Nebraska is gaining 8.5 yards per pass attempt, a jump from 6.2 in 2023.

Think outside the box about special teams

The Huskers are 4 for 9 in field goal attempts this season, including a 1-for-5 streak over the past two games.

Two of John Hohl’s kicks were blocked against Purdue last week. Of Hohl, the freshman from Lincoln Southwest, Rhule said, “He’s as talented a kicker as we could ever hope to be here.” But with issues plaguing the snappers and kickers, the Huskers would be best served going for fourth down at manageable distances from the opponent’s 35-yard line to their 15-yard line.

If that’s the plan, it opens up possibilities for play choices on third down.

‘Can we get the hard yards? Can we get fourth-and-1?” Rhule said this week. “Can we get to third-and-1 without everything having to be a speed sweep?”

Regardless of the answer, the question remains: Can they make a field goal?

Lean on the leadership

Nebraska has a core of emerging young leaders, led by Raiola. But Rhule believes in the older players on the roster, he said, to get the Huskers through their toughest challenges. He said he is seeking input from the team’s leadership council on disciplinary matters, such as the situation he faced last week when he opted to suspend offensive guard Micah Mazzccua.

“I have so many guys doing things right,” Rhule said.

Create an edge with roster management

This is Rhule’s strength. He is thoughtful in planning for players to redshirt for four games to help the Huskers win.

There are two games remaining this year for sophomore defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel. Sophomore wide receiver Malachi Coleman and cornerback Blye Hill have not played this season. Nebraska, if they’re ready, can hold them at the right times as they return from injuries, a la Marques Buford a year ago.

There is also help available from true freshmen. Raiola, receivers Jacory Barney and Carter Nelson, defensive end Keona Davis and linebacker Vincent Shavers already burned redshirts. Linebacker Willis McGahee IV and cornerback Mario Buford have appeared in four games. DB Amare Sanders has played in three.

Among the other true freshmen, Nebraska is ready to go with receivers Quinn Clark, Keelan Smith and Isaiah McMorris if needed, plus defensive backs Larry Tarver Jr. and Donovan Jones and defensive lineman David Hoffken. And four true freshman offensive linemen have played in one game each.

Remove the penalties

This is simple. Nebraska ranks 107th nationally in penalties per game; Rutgers is fifth. Nebraska players watched a presentation Thursday that showed the majority of their opponents’ scoring drive this season has been aided by Nebraska penalties.

Rhule can live with penalties committed out of aggression, such as holding or interfering with passes. But the personal fouls and pre-snap fouls have to go, he said. As the importance of matches on the schedule increases, so does the importance of penalties committed in those matches.

Photo: Steven Branscombe/Getty Images