The time is now. Nebraska football has completed its non-conference slate at a perfect 3-0. First up are the Michigan Wolverines, where you can watch the game on Saturday at 2:30 pm on CBS.
Husker fans are hoping that the team rises up and finally beats a ranked opponent for the first time since 2016. Besides the season opener against Cincinnati, no other game has been on Husker fans minds more than September 20th, against Michigan. Coach Matt Rhule had a lot to say on Monday. Here are 3 things that stood out.
Rhule isn't happy with everything, despite the 3-0 start to the season
Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule took to the podium on Monday. After starting the season 3-0, the Huskers now look to Big Ten play, where the stakes get much higher. Even though Nebraska has begun the season perfectly, record-wise, he is still not entirely happy with everything the team is doing.
"Our kickoffs, we can't keep kicking the ball out of bounds. That has to improve. Our goal-to-go offense inside the 10, you know, we're 69% red zone touchdowns, our goal is 70, we think 70 is a CFP number, yet inside the 5 we're 6 of our last 9, with 3 of them we haven't scored, so the number should be through the roof right now." Defensively, Rhule said Michigan was very multiple and their QB was a very good runner. "Now it begins, Big Ten season begins...and we're excited for it!
Is Nebraska football 'ready' for Michigan & the Big Ten?
Rhule was asked if the first 3 games of the season had adequately prepared his team for the challenge this week! "I don't know if I know how to answer that, to be quite honest with you." Rhule thought that Cincinnati has proven to be a pretty good team, saying that the Bearcats have put up close to 600 yards passing in the 2 games after Nebraska. Cincinnati only passed for 69 yards against Nebraska's secondary in the season opener.
"I think we can play pretty good pass defense, you know, so I think we've had a chance to see some of those things." Rhule then explained how he thought that the preparation for each week was what he liked most. "To me, it's the work leading up to it that makes your team better. And I think our guys have worked hard the last 3 weeks to prepare." Rhule went on to say, "I don't know if the games, themselves, say much. I mean, you're not playing Big Ten teams, this is a whole other animal."
Rhule knows Michigan's coaches are 'elite'
Rhule was asked about Michigan's Defensive Coordinator, Wink Martindale. Specifically, if there was anything that defines him? Rhule said, "Wink's elite, pressure, He's one of my favorite coaches when I was in the NFL, got a lot of respect for him. He's a tough guy, his guys are going to play unbelievably hard.." Rhule said that Martindale can get pressure on the QB "multiple ways." Rhule also went on to say that Michigan's defense will show you a picture before the snap. "You have a pre-snap clue, but it has to be confirmed by a post-snap cue." So Rhule says that Dylan needs to be prepared for all the different pictures he's going to see.
On the offensive side of the ball for Michigan, Rhule seems to think that the Wolverines will try to run it a little bit. "We're facing a team that's...I believe their rushing offense is 15th, and they have a mobile quarterback...who can run, obviously, that showed up in the first game. They will use tempo, they will use sugar huddle. So, those are things that showed up in the first game, we haven't seen in the last 2, but we'll have to be prepared for that. So, a lot for us to work on, I love the way the guys have approached it."
A couple of tidbits Rhule said on Monday. One was that the 1995 team was going to be recognized this week at the Michigan game. "It's an honor to have the 95 team there. We'll certainly do our best to play football that they can be proud of." Rhule also had praise for Omaha, Nebraska's own Terrence Crawford, who defeated Canelo Alvarez Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada, for Alvarez's title belts in the Super Middleweight Division.
Crawford became the first fighter ever to become an undisputed champion in 3 different weight divisions. "His brand is cool, and we are grateful, grateful that Terrence would represent his home state the way that he does. And obviously, just a historic night." Finally, on the injury front, LB Javin Wright, DB Malcolm Hartzog, defensive linemen, Gabe Moore and Elijah Jeudy are expected to be ready to play for the Nebraska football team takes on Michigan.