Nebraska football tailgate talk: What's Bruin on Saturday in Lincoln?

The Nebraska football team is back home at Memorial Stadium Saturday and plays UCLA at 2:30 with the game televised on B1G Network. I've been listening to the radio during the broadcasts instead of the announcers. Yes, there's a delay but I don't care. Totally worth it. Mother Nature is brewing up a little drama too. The weather forecast is all over the place with partly sunny, rain showers in the morning, and thunderstorms in the afternoon with a high of 60 degrees. It's kind of like Husker football, you never know what you're gonna get.

How about that game in Columbus? If you want a job where you can get paid and you can continue to be completely awful at it without repercussions, be a college referee. It used be that the only job like that was a weatherman. The calls against Nebraska that day were darker than Ryan Day's beard. Soooo many no calls for Nebraska, ridiculous offensive pass interference calls against Nebraska at critical times, and a complete inability by the zebras (including ones in the booths) to tell the difference between a big O lineman (Lutovsky) and the guy who actually had the ball. I don't care that this call was later admitted by the officials to be wrong. Gee, thanks. It's inconceivable that you spot it 3 yards light an not one person along the chain of command steps in. WOW! I get it. The B1G wants Ohio State to stay undefeated. Message received.

I could add insult to injury by telling you that the targeting call on Ohio State player, Arvell Reese, which WAS targeting as defined by the league rules, was waived off on Monday so he gets to play the whole game against Penn State this weekend. Being unfairly treated is not just a Nebraska fan perspective either, there were several national personalities and even USC fans that commented on the travesty of officiating. Even HC Rhule commented on Monday at his presser, "I don't want any more apologies on Sunday. It can't happen against UCLA." If it feels like a conspiracy for this long, isn't it? Have you seen the stat about Huskers not being able to buy a holding call on the opponent since we joined the B1G Ten....

I still find it unreal and a great thing that up until the last drive of the game Big Red was in a position to win the game. Good on you Nebraska! If you want to keep focusing on the positives, how about those field goals? Way to put it in there and bring your long ball, JOHN HOHL! He tied the record of Brett Maher for the longest field goal in an away game at 54 yards. That was not on my bingo card that day. However, unfortunately, no one wins against OSU with just scoring field goals and horrific referees.

I was definitely impressed with the Blackshirts getting all those 3 and out results. Props to Malcolm Hartzog Jr. with the interception. Good pressure by the D Line all day and Tony White's crew kept OSU running backs to a combined 54 yards. Overall, they were stellar. I did expect that side of the ball to keep Big Red in the game. I didn't expect to be within 8 points at the half.

On the offensive side of things, way to go get those 38 yards with your feet, Dylan Raiola! He was also 21 of 32 attempts with 152 total yards. Sorry that Coach Satterfield didn't know you could run, as he admitted in his second presser in a row. If you're keeping count, that was presser #2 where he put his entire foot in his mouth. Not only doesn't he not know the average yards gained per play by the Huskers, he doesn't know his QB can run. Makes you wonder what else he doesn't know.

YEAH for tight end Thomas Fidone again making plays. If he had walked into Satterfield's office sooner to clue him in on the fact he can play the game Huskers might have been bowl eligible by now. Yes, Fidone had to go into his office recently to ask him to get him involved more (also admitted in a press conference). Another good improvement comes from the patchwork O-line. I didn't have "O-Line gets a push against OSU" on my bingo card either.

On to this weekend though. UCLA rolls into town with a 2-6 record but don't be fooled. They had a tough schedule and they are more improved than their W-L record shows. They are off a win last week against Rutgers (35-32) and then a bye week. It's uncanny how many teams have bye weeks before they get to play the Cornhuskers. Bruin Linebacker Carson Schwesinger leads the B1G in solo tackles. I'm not looking forward to his clogging up things for the offense.

When the blue and gold, 6' 5" tight end #88 Moliki Matavao is in motion, he's getting the ball. When he's in trips set, he's getting the ball. He's a familiar target on Saturdays. On the bright side for the Huskers, senior Captain UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers has 9 interceptions on the year in 6 games. I don't know if that's enough to qualify for an NIL meal deal at Amigo's but he likes to sling it around the yard. Joking aside, he is athletic and "can scramble with a little wiggle" is the word on the street.

UCLA throws it 35-40 times a game so I'm looking for a Blackshirt pick or two. I also look for our Husker defense to put some pressure on him to avoid the long ball. UCLA has been on the bad end of 20 sacks so far this year. Time to increase that number. Are you listening Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher and James Williams? I'm sure you are. A BIG key for the Blackshirts is to keep Garbers out of rhythm. UCLA doesn't have a good run game. After the Blackshirt performance last week, enough said.

For the Huskers to clinch a win and become bowl game eligible this weekend, the offense will have to finish drives, capitalize on UCLA's lack of run defense, and be better in the red zone. I'm hoping Dylan Raiola has a smoother delivery and better footwork like he had in September. I'm concerned that a season of hits is taking its toll. Maybe the OC not calling screen plays is the deal. I would tell Satterfield "don't overcomplicate it." If your best guy on the screen play is out with an injury, and this concept relies on group communication and perimeter blocking which your wide receivers aren't doing, stop calling so many of them, and at critical times. Opponent defenses out there playing chess and he's playing connect four. At least for now special teams has a good kicking game just in case. It would be great to have a loud, Lincoln flavored cheer for John Hohl ringing through the stadium.

After this, the Huskers get another bye week and it's always better after a win. Being bowl eligible would go a long way to exorcise some demons left in Lincoln. It also frees up one of the big pressures for the players (and the coaches but they're making bank so I don't care as much about them). A Husker win on Saturday has projections for them to play at the Rate Bowl in Phoenix against Cincinnati, or at the Duke Mayo Bowl in Charlotte against North Carolina. Don't care where, just that there is a where.

It's Halloween and probably the most bewitching jello shot request is the Apple Cider Fireball one. Even though it will be after the holiday, you can still find cider which is the key to this shot game. Heat 1 cup of Cider, mix it with orange jello and stir until dissolved. Pour in 3/4 cup of Fireball whiskey and pour into cups and chill.

Keep an eye on the weather. Cheer loudly and affect the game. Thank your Nebraska football tailgate hosts and enjoy the next to last home game of the season. Send me your gameday photos and recipes and most of all, GO BIG RED!