Picking up the pieces for Nebraska football after the Indiana loss

When you lose 56-7 like Nebraska football did last Saturday, it changes everything. Or at least, it should. No, I don't mean that head coach Matt Rhule needs to go on a firing spree. I actually think mid-season firings create more problems for players than it solves.

I mean that everything in the program should be evaluated. From what they do the night before the game to who is playing--and yes--who is calling plays on Saturday (which can be fixed without a firing!).

Rhule is famous for saying that when the going gets tough you double down on your process rather than panic and change everything. There's truth to that, but what if that process doesn't produce the desired result for the Nebraska football team? How long do you stick with it? Until you don't make a bowl game for a second straight year?

For what it's worth, I believe in the type of process Rhule has chosen as opposed to a one-year roster flip and then, by proxy, doing that every single year--which may bring wildly different results. I think that Rhule's strategy will pay off. But it's a long-term strategy that appealed to former Nebraska AD Trev Alberts, which is why Rhule got such a lengthy contract.

That said, when the long-term process hits such a jarring speedbump like it did on Saturday, you have to look yourself in the mirror and ask the hard questions. Right? I know I would.

What was the problem for Nebraska football against Indiana?

Nebraska played so poorly against Indiana that I can't honestly put my finger on one thing. We can argue about offense, defense, or special teams, and their respective coordinators all we want. At the end of the day, it was a total team loss. Every phase was bad. Every position group performed unacceptably. There wasn't one player--NOT ONE--who graded above an 80 on Pro Football Focus.

But if we get away from stats, positions, or Xs and Os, we might get closer to the issue. If you follow any of my Husker content on this website, Twitter, or anywhere else, you know that I'm typically very positive. I also do not like to question a team's effort and heart. Why? I'm not in the lockerroom.

But I'll be honest: it was hard not to question Nebraska's effort and heart on Saturday.

After the score was 14-7 Indiana, you could tell it wasn't going to be Nebraska's day. It looked like they didn't want to be there. Honestly, it looked like one of the youth teams I coach after a long day at school: just going through the motions until it's time for mom and dad to pick me up. And I didn't want to say anything. Because who wants to be the guy who questions someone's heart? That's a big accusation.

But then Jimari Butler, one of the leaders of this Nebraska football team, stepped up to the podium after the game.

"When something doesn't go our way, we get our heads down."

Wow. That just about says it, right? When your chin drops, you've already lost.

This was the exact opposite sentiment that Rhule expressed in the post-game presser when he said he wasn't embarrassed of his players. For what it's worth, I don't think Rhule would call out his players in that environment. He didn't last year after the Michigan loss. But practice the next day? That's another story and, unless another "Chasing 3" episode drops at some point after next week's game, we may never know.

Blocking, tackling, play calling, game management, personnel, and more are all problems for Nebraska. We can and should talk about all that. But those can actually be fixed.

But playing with no fire, no intensity, no pride for the "N" on your helmet? That is a much harder problem to solve.

What should we expect when Nebraska football plays at Ohio State?

Nebraska football has another game on Saturday against at #4 Ohio State. It seems most of Husker Nation is bracing for something even worse than what we saw against Indiana.

Of course, that's completely a completely reasonable take if you're a Husker fan. I get it. We should be prepared for that. But it would also be the most Nebraska football thing ever to play out of their absolute minds yet lose to Ohio State by three points. You know that's also a possibility, right?

What are the odds of Matt Rhule's team getting run out of the stadium two weeks in a row? In my opinion, not great. Indiana was a wake-up call (as if Illinois, Purdue, and Rutgers weren't). I would be very surprised if Nebraska doesn't compete and make it a game for a half.

I know people are saying that Ohio State is angry and they'll be out for blood. But anger can only last so long and after a bye week, I'm not counting on that. Still, Ohio State can't afford to lose this game if they want an inside track to the Big Ten title game. It's a must-win game for them.

It's not a must-win for Nebraska. But it is a must-show-up game. Is what we saw against Indiana the real Nebraska? I don't think so. The "real Nebraska" is somewhere in between what we saw Saturday and what we saw in the first half against Colorado. Whatever that version is, isn't enough to beat Ohio State.

But if Vanderbilt can beat Alabama, can't good things happen for Nebraska, too? Maybe. Vanderbilt knows who they are, and is committed to their process. That means a lot. Nebraska doesn't and, it seems, isn't.

After last week, Nebraska has to ask itself (coach Rhule included), "Who are we?" and "Are we committed to our own process?" If we know anything about Rhule, we know he's asking those questions. Let's hope he finds the answer.

I think Nebraska football will get there soon. Not fully this season. But I think they will get another win if not two. Just not this week. The Huskers put up a valiant effort and say close for a half. But the Buckeyes' talent will overwhelm and the better team will pull away in the third quarter.

Nebraska 17, Ohio State 41