A big part of the reason Nebraska is a massive underdog to Utah ahead of the Las Vegas Bowl is that it's not clear who will play quarterback for the Huskers. Dylan Raiola is definitely out, and TJ Lateef is still nursing a hamstring injury he sustained toward the end of the season.
However, earlier this week, Huskers head coach Matt Rhule said that Lateef is healing up faster than they expected. Things are still very uncertain, but with three weeks until NU has to suit up against the Utes, there is a chance Lateef could make the start.
"I thought it’d be a little bit longer, but he was out there at practice," Rhule said during a press conference earlier this week about Lateef. "… He looks way further ahead than I would have envisioned."
Nebraska football coaches want TJ Lateef looking like himself before he's given the green light
Nebraska doesn’t necessarily need Lateef to go all out yet. The Huskers are giving the team's backups most of the snaps as they gear up to the bowl game. Redshirt freshman Marcos Davila has been leading the way at quarterback and could get his first action if Lateef can't go, or can't go all the way.
Rhule said that Nebraska will be "methodical" in getting Lateef back to full health, given that a difficult Utah defense awaits in the Las Vegas Bowl.
"I want him on game day to be able to use his legs," Rhule said. "You’re facing a Utah defense that gets after it, so if he’s having to play like he did against Iowa where he couldn’t quite move and had to stay in the pocket, that would not be to his best interest."
It sounds like whether Lateef can "be himself" will determine if he starts and plays on New Year's Eve. Nebraska is already out, starting running back Emmett Johnson (he declared for the NFL earlier this month), and that could factor in as well. If the quarterback doesn't look 100%, it might not be worth risking any setbacks for an offense that's already limping to the finish line.