Here we go, Nebraska football fans. For the first time since 2016, Nebraska has a meaningful game in November. The USC Trojans come to town for a battle of 2-loss Big Ten teams. The winner still has an opportunity to play in the College Football Playoff. On Thursday, Matt Rhule signed an extension to remain at Nebraska. The game is a Blackout...with black flags hanging from Memorial Stadium, the endzones have been painted black, along with the N at the 50-yard line. Every coach that has stepped up to the podium this week has had black on. Everyone is all-in and ready to go. Here are 3 keys for Nebraska to defeat USC!
Nebraska needs to keep feeding Emmett Johnson
It's been no secret who the bell-cow running back has been for Nebraska in 2025. Emmett Johnson is the 6th leading rusher in the NCAA, 2nd in the Big Ten, only behind Michigan's Justice Haynes. Emmett has rushed for 837 yards and had 9 rushing touchdowns. In Nebraska's 2 losses, Johnson was held to 65 yards rushing against Michigan and 63 yards rushing against Minnesota. Last week in Nebraska's 28-21 victory over Northwestern, Johnson was, time and time again, fed the rock. Emmett had 124 yards on 27 carries to go along with 2 receptions for 15 yards.
The formula for beating USC on the offensive side of the ball is to keep feeding Emmett. Johnson has proven over and over that he can handle the workload. Numerous coaches and players said that Emmett only gets stronger as the game goes. And the more we give Emmett the football, the less the vaunted USC offense has it. Emmett's shoulders are broad enough to carry the team. This week, though, they also feature Emmett more in the passing game. Some throws out to the flat, let him get one-on-one with a defender, and take your chances.
The Blackshirts need to come up big
This week's game has a theme, and it's all about Nebraska's defense. The University has called for a "Blackout" for the USC game. They want all fans wearing black. They've even painted parts of the field black for this game. The Trojans are, by far, the best offense that the Blackshirts will see in the regular season.
USC is #1 in all of college football in total offense, averaging 530 yards per game. The Trojans are also #1 in passing offense at 326.1 yards per game. The Trojans are led by QB Jayden Maiava, a 6'4" 230 lb Junior, from Palolo, Hawai'i. On the season Maiava has thrown for 2,180 yards on 68.1 completion percentage. That percentage drops to 61.1 percent in away games.
The main guy the Blackshirts need to worry about on the receiving end of Maiava's throws is Makai Lemon. On the season, Lemon has 48 receptions for 758 yards, a 15.6-yard per catch average, to go along with 6 TD receptions—the 5'11" 195 lb. Junior from Los Alamitos, California, has twice as many catches as the next receiver on their roster. Look for Nebraska DB Ceyair Wright to be stuck to Lemon the whole night.
Nebraska needs something 'Electric' to happen on Special Teams
ALL Husker fans would agree that the most improved part of the team in 2025 is the Special Teams unit. And in this matchup with USC, Nebraska has a distinct advantage in the kickoff and punt return game. After Kenneth Williams returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Northwestern last Saturday, Nebraska is averaging 31.6 yards per return, on 14 returns. USC, on the other hand, is averaging 18.2 yards per kickoff return on 15 returns. In the punt return game, there's an even bigger discrepancy. The Huskers have 288 total return yards on the season, whereas the Trojans only have 32. Nebraska has been so close to returning a punt to the house on many occasions this year, perhaps this is the week they finally break through!
As Heath Ledger said so eloquently in The Dark Knight...And, here, we, go! This is arguably the biggest game for Nebraska since the 2014 home game against Miami. That night, the crowd was deafening, and the Huskers fed off of that. USC is coming to Lincoln in November, with November weather. By halftime, the temperature is supposed to be in the 30s. This week in Los Angeles, it's been in the 80s during the day, and lows have been around 60. This is something that these players, for the most part, are not used to. I expect the Nebraska crowd in black to ignite the defense, and the Blackshirts will live up to their name. I'm thinking of a relatively high-scoring game. I'm going to say Nebraska will upset USC on Saturday night, 31-27, and Nebraska moves to 7-2.