Nebraska’s offensive game plan vs Michigan draws sharp postgame criticism

While Nebraska showed it belonged on the same field as a Top 25 team on Saturday - something it hasn't done that often the last few years - there were obvious weaknesses in the Huskers' approach against Michigan.

Indeed, the run defense was a problem. Michigan had three long touchdown runs that handed them the win, let alone kept them in the game. Had a Husker defender stopped even one of those runs at the line of scrimmage - and there was an opportunity on each one - who knows what happens on Saturday. However, it was NU's offensive line that one analyst wanted to talk about after the 30-27 contest.

Nebraska football's offensive line approach vs Michigan draws criticism

In the postgame studio show after Nebraska's loss, Rick Neuheisel talked most about how surprised he was by the game plan to handle Michigan's pass rush. In particular, he was stunned the Huskers didn't adjust to keep a few more extra blockers at home when it became clear the tackles couldn't handle the pass rush.

"You go 30-for-40 when you're being harassed like that, there's something about you," Neuheisel said, first heaping praise on quarterback Dylan Raiola's day. "There's no question they have a bonafide player."

The analyst then explained how confused he was by the approach for the Nebraska front.

"I couldn't believe they kept leaving them (the offensive tackles) on islands. There's ways to get tight ends in there, they did some chip help on the running backs but seven sacks ... hard to win a game."

The Nebraska football team's coaches will now have a bye week to figure out what to do about an offensive line that struggled all game. They next take on Michigan State on October 4.