With the final Big Ten availability report ahead of Nebraska's massive showdown with Indiana, Husker fans got the news they hoped they wouldn't receive.
Defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel was moved from questionable to "out" on Saturday afternoon. That means the NU team, which struggled to stop the run last week against a team that abandoned it in the second half, will be without a run stopper against the Hoosiers.
Nebraska football loses Riley Van Poppel after expanded Big Ten role
The defensive lineman missing the Indiana game isn't just bad because it means a defensive lineman is out of the rotation. Nebraska defensive coordinator Rob Aurich has never been bigger than it has been since Nebraska started Big Ten play.
Against Ohio, he saw just 30 snaps. Against Bowling Green, he had 18 snaps, and against North Dakota, he had 18 snaps. However, he tallied 46 snaps against Michigan State and 44 against Maryland.
Van Poppel's absence means that the Huskers will need to find a way to slow down Indiana's one-two punch at running back. The Hoosiers rank No. 9 in the country in rushing, averaging 252.6 yards per game. That rushing attack has helped IU average over 40 points per game.
Starting running back Turbo Richard has missed time with an injury, but when he's healthy, he's been electric. Richard has run for 587 yards and 5 touchdowns while averaging over 9 yards per carry. When he needs a breather, Lee Beebe Jr. comes in. He's run for 520 yards and 4 touchdowns while averaging over 5 yards a carry.
Nebraska's defense has been one of the best in the country so far this year, but much of that ranking comes from the weaker opponents it's faced in its first five games. Last week, the Maryland Terrapins were the first team to show serious reasons to be concerned about stopping the run against a much better Indiana team.
Nebraska is currently the No. 16 defense in the sport, but as it was last year, its run defense is its weakest and easiest to attack. The Huskers are ranked No. 31 against the run.
Another problem with Riley Van Poppel's absence for Nebraska is that when Indiana gets stuffed on the ground, it still has plenty of weapons in its passing game. The defending national champion has plenty of ways to hurt opponents. The Huskers will need to find answers quickly if they want to make a statement on Saturday.
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