Nebraska's gameplan for TJ Lateef vs. Penn State is the right call

New starting Nebraska quarterback TJ Lateef could not have done better with his start against UCLA before the Cornhuskers' bye week. Now, after a week of extra work, Lateef will have potentially a tougher opponent on hand with Penn State on the docket in Happy Valley.

While Penn State has certainly struggled immensely this season, they still almost beat Indiana and just got their first Big Ten win of the season against Michigan State. Lateef is heading into his second start of the season after starting QB Dylan Raiola's leg injury against USC.

Lateef looked good against UCLA, and now, with a full game under his belt, head coach Matt Rhule knows that he can't afford to hold his young quarterback back at all.

Matt Rhule knows that Lateef can't hold back in order to get the win vs. Penn State

The Nebraska Cornhuskers, at this point, are playing to get the best bowl game they can, as with three losses this season and not a single win over a ranked opponent, the College Football Playoff is well out of reach.

Head coach Matt Rhule may really want the win against Penn State, especially with it being his Alma Mater and being connected to the head coaching position for quite some time. Since signing his extension, the Cornhuskers have lost their starting quarterback and two games to put them out of reach with the CFP.

Going against Penn State, Rhule knows Lateef or the rest of the team can't play it safe; they have to go out there and put it all out on the field.

"This is a great opportunity for TJ. I don't want him to play it close to the vest, I don't want our coaches to play it close to the vest," Rhule said in his weekly press conference. "We've got to go play and see what happens."

Lateef has the ability to go out there and take over the game, and Rhule wants exactly that from his young quarterback.