Nebraska Tailgate Talk: Ripping into the USC Trojans

A Black out is dialed up for Saturday night as the #23 ranked USC Trojans march into Lincoln to play football on a chilly 40-degree evening at 6:30 pm against the Nebraska football team. The game will be televised on NBC so it might be actually be worth listening to the announcers instead of switching over to the radio this week if you can't make it into the stadium.

The Bad news: Hopefully there will be better striped people working Saturday night than last week. B1G Ten refs/umpires have now supplanted weathermen for being "the most horrible at your job without out consequences." In other bad news, Jacory Barney and Dane Key continue to be on the back of milk carton (MIA) rather than on field stats, and losing Nebraska native and senior Teddy Prochazka for the season (and the end to his career most likely) was the worst of the worst last week. The game ball being delivered to him by his teammates is a poor substitute for a still having a healthy knee.

The Good news: A Husker Blackshirt defense that couldn't get off the field in the first half managed to do better in the second half. Dylan Raiola converting tough long 3rd downs to get a 4th quarter much need score was refreshing. It was also good to see OC Dana Holgorsen lean into the running talent of Emmett Johnson who has now passed Husker favorite, Rex Burkhead on the all-time running back stats. (77 receptions, 514 career receiving yards and 1000 yards from scrimmage). #21 for Big Red has been a stud so far and his YAC is impressive given his frame. Johnson's gotten better pocket awareness too and did very well last week given the fact that Northwestern puts a LOT of O linemen in the NFL.

Nebraska football looking to black out USC

2 key turnovers by the Wildcats was a huge key as well. Blackshirt linebacker, Javin Wright had it thrown right to him and linebacker Donovan Jones was in the right place at the right time. Well done, gentlemen. Of course, the Huskers wouldn't be bowl eligible already without Coach Ekeler and his tribe of absolute beasts this year. Every player putting a hat on a hat and sustaining it so walk-on-now-scholarship Kenneth Williams was able to bounce left and score a touchdown to start the second half is glorious. Thanks for bringing him into the fold, Coach Rhule.

November is a gauntlet of horrors that will really tell us even more about our beloved Cornhuskers. We know the weak spots: the leaky run defense, the absence of a money deep ball, and an O line that struggles more than a freshman in advanced calculus. USC is coming off a bye week. Great. They will be a little fresher than the banged-up Huskers. I'm hoping the chilly temperatures will help even those things out on the field as the sun will be down by kickoff.

The Bad news: The Trojans have a mobile QB Jayden Maiava (4 rushing tds) and someone who can accurately distribute it to a stable of wide receivers/tight ends. They typically score over 40 points a game quickly and lead the nation in total offense. Junior WR Makai Lemon has 48 receptions for 758 yards, and 6 touchdowns. Ja'Kobi Lane is next with 24 receptions, 424 yards and 3 TDs. He can throw a deep ball. Oh yeah, they also have a bunch of running backs who are plug and play. #2 junior running back Waymond Jordan is nicked up with a bad ankle so #30 King Miller (380 yds) and #1 Eli Sanders (264 yards) have taken up the mantle. Both have 47 attempts under their belts. USC is good on defense as well. DB Bishop Fitzgerald is a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

The Good news: QB Maiava can cost USC points. So far on the year he has 8 turnovers. The Trojan special teams averages giving up 28 yards per kickoff return (last in the B1G). Are you listening Mr. Williams and company? The USC rush defense is known to be a little shaky. I would like to believe that Emmett Johnson is their Achilles heel this week. I'm ok with him getting another 27 carries except for the fact that Nebraska is going to need at least 30 points to have a shot at winning this one and that can't be all long drives. (It took Notre Dame to score 34 points to beat USC)

I already mentioned it will be cold. I'm firing up some gumbo for the tailgate and Fireball Apple Cider jello shots will be as plentiful as USC talent. Heat 1 cup of apple cider and mix with a small box of orange jello. Stir in 3/4 cup of Fireball whiskey and let it chill up for Saturday night. Dress in layers and don't forget the hand warmers. Heck stick a couple in your socks.

If Nebraska can shut off the leaky parts of their defense. they have a shot. Big Red needs to limit USC to field goals and not touchdowns. Conversely, Raiola and company will need touchdowns instead of field goals. The Cornhuskers haven't beaten a ranked opponent since 2016 and the matchup of Blackshirt Ceyair Wright against USC's Makai Lemon will be a clinic. A couple of USC turnovers that lead to points for the Huskers are necessary. The Blackshirts need to cause some havoc plays, and Big Red must have some more special teams magic. That is the recipe for success.

Wear your lucky and best BLACK. Yell and scream your cold butts off. Make a difference in the game Husker Nation! This game is a way for Cornhusker Football to show progress is actually happening in Lincoln and wins are not just some lucky breaks. The season won't end if Nebraska comes up short. The culture is just too strong. However, whereas I feel like Nebraska beat themselves a lot in the ranked Michigan game, they will need a clean and great game to have success Saturday night but it's possible. That's why they play the games.