Nebraska Football Tailgate Talk: We'll see a new OC for USC

Nebraska Football travels to the Coliseum to play USC on Saturday. The game is at 3:00 CDT on Fox. The weather in Los Angeles will be 64 degrees and party cloudy. For the thousands of Husker fans traveling to sunny California, the weather won't disappoint in November.

The bigger question is whether the game will disappoint? Which team needs this win more to become bowl eligible? USC is 4-5 coming off a bye week (shocker) having lost to Washington 26-21. USC has UCLA and Notre Dame next up after Big Red. The Huskers will come home and play Wisconsin, then Iowa. USC head coach Lincoln Riley's chair is hotter than toaster strudel jam right now but there has been a tension convention in North Stadium since the Indiana game.

This season, a lot of Husker fans have been lamenting the play calling from OC Marcus Satterfield. Merry Christmas early! You get your wish. There is a new sheriff in town and the guy pulling the trigger is Dana Holgerson. If you want a good read on him, click here. He comes from the Mike Leach coaching tree, as does Lincoln Riley. How much of an impact he will be able make with only 2 weeks to get to know the players and the team?

Not really a good question because I suspect he's far more familiar with Nebraska than the timing suggests. Dana was courted by Rhule in January but that play didn't work out. Read nothing into the hire of Glenn Thomas after that and Satterfield putting his house on the market in February.

Nebraska Football preps for brave new world

The timing of the mid-season switch tells me that HC Rhule knew there were serious issues with Satterfield even last year. The fact Rhule recognized it last year makes me feel better. I'm also proud of Rhule doubling down now. Clearly, he gets the urgency with this program. On Saturday I expect to see better efficiency in the red zone, a quicker tempo, and in game adjustments from Holgerson.

The most encouraging words I've read about him are that he plays well with the cards (players) he's dealt rather than trying to make his system fit with the wrong pieces. I'm ok with this gamble so far.

More questions... which Husker team will show up in LA? The disappointing lackluster team from the UCLA game or the big dawgs that almost upset Ohio State? What will the new QB for USC look like?The Trojans have put Miller Moss on the bench and are starting Jayden Maiava. He's a transfer from UNLV who passes first but can run for yardage as well. Husker defenses haven't done well in those situations.

Which QB will start for the Huskers? For the first time on Monday, Coach Rhule made it seem like Dylan Raiola may be more banged up than originally thought after the big hit to his back during the UCLA game. I hope Dylan is ok. If it's a broken rib, that is going to linger but a flack jacket is the key to still playing. (This brings back memories of Adrian Matinez wiring his jaw up to play on Saturdays.) If Dylan is held out, what can Holgerson do with Heinrich Haarberg and his ability to run? Again, this is playing poker with a 10-deck shoe. Who knows what's next?

And more questions... Will Tony White's defense be able to handle the Trojan RPO game and mobile QB? When the Blackshirts are truly blackshirting (forgive the liberal use of a verb tense, Mom) it goes well for Nebraska. When they are in their feels, the team can't get out of their own way and off the field on 3rd down. Inconsistency frustrates Coach Rhule along with the rest of Nebraska.

This isn't all about coaching. The players have to -- need to take some responsibility. if I were in charge and you don't play well (effort and preparedness), you don't get your NIL check this week. You want to be the grown-ups and get paid, then there are consequences.

This week's game is a huge question mark when Nebraska needs a sure thing. It feels like a blind date set up by your mother's best friend. It could be great, or t could be a painful and long three to four hours. The whole game is a gamble and not with house money unfortunately. This week is all about matchups. Can Nebraska DBs keep pace with the receivers for USC? Can the linebackers slow down the USC run game of Trojan Woody Marks who averages around 5 yards per carry?

Who will be under center for Nebraska? Can new OC Holgerson get the run game moving enough to allow the QB (another ??) time to make good throws? Will the wide receivers ever make blocks? Will they get open?Wide receivers will end up benefitting the most from the new OC I think. I'm also hopeful that the new OC brings in an experienced WR coach but that's an after the season decision.

Nebraska comes in a -9 underdog. That's fair. This offense can't seem to score and if Dylan Raiola is out, who knows what's going to happen. I can't even say I know we can always count on our defense. By the way, I'm not worried about defensive consultant Phil Snow who was brought in to help Tony White. Snow was with Rhule at Temple. Baylor and the Panthers. Coach White's seat is safe. I see this more as a red herring distraction to lessen the impact of bringing in Holgerson that bye week. Plus, it can't hurt to have an extra guy on defense to light a fire under some butts and keep things on track.

The cocktail I've chosen for this week is a spin on The Gambler. This whole week feels like a Vegas special: the cards stacked against you, no real idea how it will all play out, and just hoping good luck is in your favor. This cocktail was originally made with Aftershock (an alcohol no longer available much like Satterfield's play calling). Use a highball class and fill it with ice. Add in 1 shot Jack Daniels, 3 shots Southern Comfort, 1 shot peach schnapps, 1 shot grenadine and fill with lemonade. If you're feeling lucky swap out Jack for Fireball.

It's unreal to think we know less in week 11 than in week 1 about this Nebraska football team but here we are. I'd love to tell you Huskers are going to win. I just want them to be healthy and bowl eligible. Mom always said it's good to want. One thing that is always certain for Big Red fans is that you definitely need to buckle up every week. Send me your photos from LA. You can hit me up on the X at @KELIAN_NE. As always, GO BIG RED!