Nebraska Tailgate Talk: HCU Huskies, Huskers, kegs & eggs

The Nebraska football team takes on the Houston Christian Huskies (formerly known as Houston Baptist) Saturday morning at 11:00 am in Lincoln, Nebraska. The game will be televised on FS1. Temperatures Saturday will creep out of the lower 70's to set up those early tailgates with a kickoff temperature of 87, and up to 94 degrees by the end of the game. Pack the sunscreen.

How about that game last week?! Yes, it was a great game, and yes, I know it was just Akron. However, what should have happened, actually happened. That's a good sign. The Blackshirts kept a shutout which hasn't been done since 2009. There were also some new faces that emerged (WR - Quinn Clark, LB Kade Pietrzak), another good sign. We still don't know who will be the RB2 but there's another week to work on that piece of the puzzle. QB1 Dylan Raiola was 24/31 with 364 total yards, and a passing rate of 77%. Most of all, he's still healthy. QB2 TJ Lateef dazzled quite a bit too in his time behind center. These are the good things that happen when the O-Line can sustain blocks. I like it.

It also seems like Nebraska football Special Teams Coach Mike Ekeler also may have found an actual return game. Jacory Barney ended the day with a total of 87 yards off of 4 carries. I love this new thing called a return game. Doesn't seem like we had one since De'Mornay Pierson-El ran them back for touchdowns. There is a new focus to this group of players. A blocked kick was just icing on the cake.

Is Nebraska football cooking up something special for Houston Christian?

An early morning kickoff in Lincoln is definitely a switch up after two electric night games. This Huskies team under Head Coach Jason Bachtel has a mess of transfers and some better players than last year. Make no mistake, this isn't the Akron team from last week. Their new QB Jake Weir was at Mississippi State for 4 seasons without any game time but he can throw it although most of his throws are short. His favorite receiver so far seems to be Tamarcus Gray Jr. with 10 receptions for 80 yards. I have confidence in the Husker secondary (probably the best group for Big Red so far) to keep the passes limited.

Knowing the Cornhuskers are going to get everyone's best shot this year, there are a couple of experienced Houston Christian running backs to consider as well. They love to run the ball. This should be a nice warm-up for the Husker run defense. Senior running back Darryle Evans and Xai'Shaun Edwards will try to move the ball for the Huskies on the ground. Evans is the 2-year "veteran," but Edwards had 4 touchdowns in their opener. The other tips for the game are that the Huskers are bigger up front than Akron, and they have good safeties.

The keys for the Huskers on Saturday are to keep and protect the ball on offense. I'm looking for a clean execution of assignments with the entire team. I love OC Dana Holgorsen's influence this year to keep the gas pedal down in all 4 quarters on offense. I've missed that part of the game for Big Red. I want to see other players get their shot like WR Quinn Clark who flashed his father's "32" after he scored a touchdown last week. Freshman Linebacker Kade Pietrzak's motor is a high and DC John Butler intimated he has "that look" of an NFL type of player. You will see more of him this week. Who else is next to shine?

The tailgates will be a slower start than last week but are still an important part of the Nebraska Cornhusker culture. This week I'll be putting together a mimosa bar with lots of mixer options and some champagne. Grab that breakfast pizza, some donuts, fresh fruit and some cinnamon rolls to keep the conversations lively. The jello shot this week is inspired by breakfast "fruits." Orange jello with 1 cup of Cranberry Raspberry juice, mixed in with 3/4 cup of Peach Schnapps.

The players I'll keep an eye on Saturday are Nebraska football linebackers Dawson Merrit and Javin Wright. I want to see more getting after the QB by the Blackshirts and hopefully this week that happens. Most of all I want everyone healthy after the game is over. In the meantime, get up early and get to the tailgates and stadium. Send me any photos on X @Kelian_NE Most of all GO BIG RED!