♪ >>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN TWO YEARS, NEBRASKA HAS A WINNING RECORD AFTER DEFEATING NORTHWESTERN 17-9 ON SATURDAY.

WHILE THE DEFENSE DOMINATED THE GAME, THE STABILITY OF THE OFFENSE WAS QUESTIONED AFTER LOSING MORE PLAYERS TO INJURY, AND STRUGGLING TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL.

WILL THIS DEFENSE BE ABLE TO HOLD UP DURING THE STRETCH?

CAN THESE YOUNG PLAYERS OPEN THE DOOR AS OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS?

WE'LL RECAP THE NORTHWESTERN GAME, AND PREVIEW HOW IT'LL IMPACT THE REST OF THE SEASON WITH OUR SPECIAL GUESTS SAM McEWAN AND FORMER HUSKER ADRIAN MARTINEZ.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL JOIN US TO UPDATE US ALL ON RECRUITING.

ALL THAT AND MORE, NEXT, ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

♪ >>> HELLO EVERYONE I AM MIKE'L SEVERE AND WELCOME TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP" ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

NEBRASKA IS 4-3 FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2019 AND THERE'S SOME NICE SCHEDULED GAMES AHEAD OF 'EM.

JOINING US NOW, JAY MOORE, DAMON BENNING.

BY THE WAY, THE LAST TIME THEY WERE 4-3 IN 2019 THEY WENT 0-5 DOWN THE STRETCH.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THIS SCHEDULE THOUGH.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE THIS SCHEDULE, THOUGH.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] THOUGHTS ON NORTHWESTERN?

>> MAN, U-G-L-Y, BUT IT'S A WIN.

>> YEAH.

>> I -- IT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE, ESPECIALLY WITH -- WITH -- THE OFFENSE, THE INJURIES OFFENSIVE LINE.

IT'S JUST GONNA HAVE TO BE THIS TYPE OF BALL GAME GOING FORWARD, WE'RE JUST GONNA BE UNCOMFORTABLE, THERE'LL BE SOME SLOPPINESS.

BUT THEY FIND A WAY TO WIN.

YOU GOTTA RELY ON THAT DEFENSE, AND THEIR WAY -- THE WAY THEY'RE ABLE TO PLAY AND ATTACK THE QUARTERBACK, AND GET TACKLES FOR LOSS, GET THE SACKS, HOPEFULLY YOU'RE ABLE TO FIND A LEAK IN THE OPPOSING DEFENSE, AND HIT THOSE BIG PLAYS THAT THEY FOUND MALACHI ON THE OPTION PASS THERE.

SO, LISTEN, FROM A -- WATCHING ON TV AND I WAS THERE, WASN'T A LOT TO REMEMBER.

BUT I REMEMBER THAT THE BIG PLAYS -- >> THAT'S TRUE.

>> -- THAT HAPPENED.

BUT IT'S -- JUST FINDING WAYS TO WIN THESE NEXT -- YOU KNOW, THESE NEXT FIVE GAMES IS GONNA BE CRUCIAL.

>> HOW MUCH DID YOU THINK THAT SLOW START WAS COMING OFF OF A BYE?

LIKE, YOU CAN GET RUSTY SOMETIMES.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT WAS SOME OF IT, WITHOUT QUESTIONS, BUT -- THEY WERE PLAYING A TEAM THAT WAS IN A SIMILAR SPOT, RIGHT?

SO, UM, IT'S KIND OF A RECIPE FOR -- FOR UGLY.

BUT I THINK FOR NEBRASKA, I THINK IT'S JUST LACK OF CONTINUITY, RIGHT?

YOU -- YOU FACTOR IN THE BYE, ALONG WITH, UM, SHUFFLING IN SO MANY NEW BODIES.

I -- IT'S AN OFFENSE THAT I THINK NEEDS A TON OF TIME TOGETHER.

IT TAKES TIME.

BUT -- I THINK THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD OFFENSIVE ORDINATOR FROM A TEMPERAMENT STANDPOINT, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T BLINK.

HE'S EXPERIENCED, HE'S USED TO SLUGGISH STARTS, IT'S NOT ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY FOR HIM.

SO HE -- HE'S NOT GONNA BAT AN EYE.

AND I THINK YOU NEED A GUY LIKE THAT AT THE HELM THAT DOESN'T CARE ABOUT STYLE POINTS, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET A TON GOING FORWARD.

>> BENHART, BEN SCOTT, AND FIDONE -- THE ONLY STARTERS LEFT FROM OPENING DAY.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN PART OF THE TEAM WITH THIS MANY INJURIES?

>> UH, I -- NO.

NO, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE, YOU KNOW, GUYS GET HURT.

BUT NOTHING TO THIS EXTENT WHERE YOU ARE LEFT WITH THREE GUYS.

AND YOU HAVE EIGHT GUYS THAT ARE OUT.

WHETHER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, OR FOR THE SEASON, THIS IS -- THIS IS WILD.

IT'S -- IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.

IT'S WHO -- YOU KNOW, IT'S -- I'M SURE THEY'RE SPENDING EXTRA TIME IN MEETINGS, AND -- AND BEFORE PRACTICE, AFTER PRACTICE, JUST IRONING OUT THE FINE DETAILS.

BUT, D.B., I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY TIME, AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T EITHER.

I MEAN, THIS IS -- THIS IS VERY -- >> NOT AT ANY LEVEL, RIGHT?

>> THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL.

>> YEAH.

>> I'VE -- I'VE YET TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT IT IS, I WANTED NEBRASKA TO KIND HAVE TO HAVE SOME GROWING PAINS, 'CAUSE I FELT LIKE WHAT AILED 'EM WAS MORE EMOTIONAL THAN PHYSICAL.

>> MM-HM.

>> SO I KIND OF WANTED 'EM TO WIN -- HAVE TO WIN UGLY EARLY, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO COME OUT OF THE BACKEND, AND I'M ABOUT OVER THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE FOR THEM TO -- TO HAVE IT COME A LITTLE BIT EASIER, BUT IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO.

BUT, I MEAN, HERE'S THE BEAUTIFUL THING -- YOU'RE GONNA PLAY PROCHAZKA.

PROCHAZKA, HE'S BEEN A STARTER BEFORE.

LUTOVSKY.

JUSTIN EVANS-JENKINS HAS A TON OF PLAYING EXPERIENCE.

I ACTUALLY THINK HE'S PLAYING PRETTY WELL.

HE COULD'VE MADE A CASE TO BE A STARTER, AND IF BEN SCOTT WOULDN'T HAVE GOT OFF TO SUCH A GOOD START, I COULD'VE SEEN JUSTIN EVANS-JENKINS POTENTIALLY WINNING THAT JOB AT THE CENTER SPOT, SO -- I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THEY UPGRADED, BUT I -- I'M NOT READY TO HIT PANIC YET.

AND IT MAY FORCE NEBRASKA INTO LESS, YOU KNOW, 10-PERSONNEL AND A LITTLE MORE 12-PERSONNEL, AND 21-PERSONNEL, THAT WOULDN'T BE ALL BAD EITHER.

>> EVANS-JENKINS COULD'VE BEEN MVP OF THAT, PLAYING BOTH GUARD AND CENTER DEPENDING ON WHO'S HURTING THAT DAY.

>> HE -- HE'S A GOOD PLAYER.

>> WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

HELP GUIDE OUR CONVERSATION AND CONNECT WITH US.

OUR CALL ROOM IS UP AND RUNNING AS ALWAYS, MANNED BY OUR SPORTS INTERN HANNAH, AND ONE MEMBER OF THE JOURNALISM DEPARTMENT AS WELL, WITH SOME VALENTINO'S PIZZA RIGHT THERE AS THEY ACCEPT YOUR CALLS.

YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS, BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG, AND EVEN SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON OUR "“BIG RED WRAP-UP"” SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN.

ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS, TONIGHT.

IN LAST WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY, WE ASKED YOU ABOUT YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF THE 100 YEARS OF MEMORIAL STADIUM/ THE CLEAR WINNER, 1978 VICTORY OVER NUMBER 1 OKLAHOMA.

NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTES FOR THAT ONE, NOT A SURPRISE.

THAT WAS A HUGE MOMENT IN HUSKER HISTORY.

IF YOU MISSED OUT ON LAST WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY, MAKE SURE YOU GO VOTE ON THE NEW ONE.

IT'S UP ON OUR WEBSITE RIGHT NOW.

IT ASKS YOU HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE.

ARE YOU WAITING TO MAKE A JUDGEMENT UNTIL THEY PLAY WISCONSIN AND IOWA?

IS IT GROWING ON YOU WITH EACH GAME?

ARE YOU ALREADY VERY IMPRESSED?

OR, ARE YOU SO BLOWN AWAY THAT YOU CAN'T STOP THROWING THE BONES?

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PUT.

THAT'S NOT -- WHAT'S WINNING RIGHT NOW IS "I'M VERY IMPRESSED SO FAR."

AND WITH THAT, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE IMPRESSIVE PLAY FROM THE 3-3- 5 DEFENSE IN THIS WEEK'S GAME HIGHLIGHTS.

IT REALLY WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

WITHOUT THE WIND, IT WAS A NICE DAY.

HUSKERS CAME OUT FIRED UP, WATCHING THEM IN THE PREGAME.

BUT TO START THE GAME, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT VERY SMOOTH.

FIRST PASS, HENRICH -- THIS IS JUST BEHIND FIDONE HERE.

>> YEAH, LOCKED IN, AND YOU CAN'T BE LATE OVER THE MIDDLE.

AND HE WAS NOT ONLY LATE, HE WAS BEHIND AS WELL, AND THAT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.

>> CONSISTENT THING THIS YEAR THOUGH, EVERY TIME NEBRASKA MAKES A MISTAKE, NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE USUALLY HELPS THEM OUT.

NOW, NORTHWESTERN HELPED OUT A LITTLE BIT BY FUMBLING THE EXCHANGE, GIVING UP A COUPLE OF SACKS RIGHT HERE, BUT LOOK -- LOOK WHO FORCED THAT SACK.

THAT WAS WILLIAMS, THE FRESHMAN.

>> YEAH, NICE LITTLE LIMP SHOULDER ON THE PASS RUSH, MOVING.

NORTHWESTERN SLOW TO HAND THE BALL OFF EARLY.

I THINK THEY'D LIKE SOME PLAY CALLS OVER.

>> THIS, AGAIN, GOING TO FIDONE.

GETS KNOCKED UP THERE.

>> YEAH, OBVIOUSLY THAT IS A GOOD TARGET TO LOOK AT AND ZONE IN ON.

BUT SOMETIMES ZONES IN TOO MUCH AND TOO HARD OF A FASTBALL THERE, COULDN'T CONTROL.

>> DEFENSE STEPS UP AGAIN, ACTUALLY MOVES NORTHWESTERN BACKWARDS.

SULLIVAN GETS SACKED FOR A NINE-YARD LOSS ON THAT PLAY.

HUTMACHER AGAIN WITH HIS SECOND SACK OF THE GAME, ENDED UP WITH TWO-AND-A-HALF AT THE END OF THE DAY.

FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT RIGHT HERE, THIS WAS WITH THE WIND AT 45 YARDS AND I THINK IT COULD'VE BEEN A LOT MORE WITH THAT WIND.

IT WAS SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE DEPENDING ON WHAT DIRECTION YOU WERE GOING.

HE NAILS THIS ONE RIGHT DOWN THE PIPE AND NORTHWESTERN GOES UP 3-0.

HEINRICH HAARBERG COMES BACK NOW, FINALLY GETS GOING.

AND THIS PLAY GOT HIM GOING A LITTLE BIT.

15-YARD PASS TO ALEX BULLOCK.

>> YEAH, THE ART OF THE IMPROV.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE CROSSED THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE BUT IT WASN'T REVIEWED.

>> THEY DIDN'T CALL IT.

>> WE TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND, HEY, GOOD ON THEM.

>> NO DOUBT.

EMMETT JOHNSON, I KNOW YOU LIKE HIM, DAMON.

MAKES HIMSELF SMALL IN THE HOLL.

>> YEAH, THAT'S KIND OF MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT HIM.

HE GETS DOWNHILL AND HE DOESN'T GIVE YOU A TON TO HIT.

>> TRISTAN ALVANO KNOWS THIS END ZONE PRETTY WELL.

KICKED THERE AT THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, THAT'S INTO THE WIND, 47-YARDS.

WHAT A CLUTCH FIELD-GOAL THERE WITH THE WAY THE WIND WAS BLOWING.

MY FAVORITE RUNNING BACK FOR THEM IS TYUS.

I KNOW HE'S A BIG GUY SO HE DOESN'T HAVE SOME OF THE FLASH BUT WHEN HE GETS IN A HOLE, HE RUNS PRETTY HARD.

>> YEAH, I REALLY LIKE WHAT NORTHWESTERN DID WITH RUN GAME WEAK-SIDE.

THEY DID A GOOD JOB WITH SOME TACKLE OVER AND I FELT LIKE THE LITTLE INTRICACIES, NEBRASKA HAD TO DO A GOOD JOB ADJUSTING.

>> OMAR BROWN SAVES SOME -- MORE OF THE POINTS THAT COULD'VE HAPPENED.

IT COULD'VE ALSO BEEN A TOUCHDOWN, THEY ENDED UP GETTING ANOTHER FIELD GOAL MAKING IT 6-3, NORTHWESTERN.

BUT HERE COMES EMMETT JOHNSON AGAIN, DAMON.

>> YEAH, NICE DOWNHILL.

YOU SEE THE CREASE?

AND HE COMES, HE ALMOST SPLITS THAT THING.

I LIKE THE DECISIVENESS WHEN HE RUNS THE FOOTBALL.

>> HEINRICH HAARBERG IMPROVISING, LOOKING GOOD OUTSIDE THE POCKET.

MAKES A NICE THROW RIGHT HERE.

NATE BOERKIRCHER FOR SEVEN YARDS, ALMOST GETTING THE 1st DOWN THERE.

THEN HE COMES BACK WITH ONE OF THE BEST RUNS OF THE DAY, WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THIS OPTION?

>> YEAH, HE'S VERY, VERY DECISIVE.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN HIM GIVE IT BUT, HEY, LISTEN, WHEN YOU MAKE THAT MANY YARDS ON THE OPTION THEY'RE IN BUSINESS HERE.

>> HE DOESN'T GIVE IT HERE.

GETS TO THE GOAL LINE.

AT FIRST I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO OVERTURN IT, BUT YOU CAN'T WHEN IT'S THAT CLOSE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I THOUGHT FOR ONCE HE WAS A LITTLE CASUAL AROUND THE GOAL LINE.

HE USUALLY LOWERS BOOM, HE LET UP A BIT THERE AND IT ALMOST COST HIM.

>> THIRD RUNNING BACK FOR NORTHWESTERN COMES INTO THE GAME, HIMON GOES FOR NINE YARDS ON THIS RUN.

>> AGAIN, WEAK-SIDE RUN GAME.

THEY FOUND SOMETHING TO THE BOUNDARY.

>> AND THEN 12 FOR 23 FOR SULLIVAN WITH THE ONE INTERCEPTION, MAKES A GOOD THROW THERE TO HIMON AGAIN.

AND THEN SULLIVAN HERE JUST MAKES A POOR DECISION.

I MEAN, IT'S END OF HALF SO HE'S JUST TRYING TO THROW THE BALL UP AND MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN BUT TOMMY HILL AND MAKES THE PLAY.

>> YEAH, HE LIKES TO GO UP AND GET IT.

ANY TIME HE GETS THE BALL UNDER HIS ARMS WITH A CHANCE TO MAKE A PLAY HE'S GONNA TRY TO GO GET IT.

>> GETS HURT THERE AND CAN'T PLAY IN THE SECOND HALF BUT IT ALLOWED SOME OF THE YOUNG PLAYERS TO COME IN AND CONTRIBUTE.

ONE OF THE LONGEST PLAYS FOR NORTHWESTERN RIGHT HERE, THROWING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD.

HENNING, PROBABLY THEIR BEST WIDE-RECEIVER HAS BEEN HURT THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND HERE'S A RUN, AGAIN, ANOTHER GREAT JOB BY THE DEFENSE.

AND THEN THERE'S A PENALTY ON THE PLAY THAT PUTS THEM BACK ANOTHER 15 YARDS AND THEN ANOTHER SACK.

NEBRASKA EIGHT SACKS ON THE DAY.

>> THIS WAS A GREAT PLAY BY GIFFORD TO TRIP HIM UP -- OR REIMER.

BECAUSE THAT CREASE WAS STARTING TO OPEN ON A BROKEN PLAY.

THAT WAS A HECK OF AN EFFORT.

>> YOU KNOW, REIMER AND GIFFORD ARE ALMOST INTERCHANGEABLE WHEN YOU WATCH THEM PLAY.

THE NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT BUT THEY MAKE THE SAME TYPE OF PLAYS.

>> YEAH, SPECTACULAR.

SOMETIMES YOU'VE JUST GOT TO MAKE PLAYS.

>> HAARBERG AGAIN GOING DOWN, COMING UP, WHAT'S THAT CALLED?

>> WE JUST CALL IT 32 OR 38 BELLY, NOW THEY ADDED A G TO IT BECAUSE IT IS CUTE.

BUT IT BOUGHT THEM SOME TIME, THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE ON THE BACK SIDE POST.

COTTERMAN COVER TWO, TOO.

THE CORNER SQUATTED.

I DON'T KNOW WHY A SAFETY WOULD LET A GUY GET OVER THE TOP BUT -- >> McGUIRE CALLED IT, THEY SAID HE WAS ON.

HE SAID THIS IS GOING TO GO FOR A TOUCHDOWN -- >> NO, IT'S NOT.

>> -- AND HE ACTUALLY DOES.

HERE'S ANOTHER GREAT PLAY.

MALCOLM HARTZOG GETS BEAT, YES, BUT HE DOES IT AND HE FINISHES THE PLAY, MAKES THE TACKLE.

THE DEFENSE ENDS UP STEPPING UP.

AND WE DON'T SEE IT HERE, BUT YOU HAD GIFFORD MAKES A GREAT PLAY ON THE 2nd DOWN OF THE SERIES.

>> HE HAD HIM BEAT ON THE RUB ROUTE HERE, RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT?

LIKE, THAT'S A FAN -- THAT SHOULD BE A TOUCHDOWN.

BUT HE COULDN'T DELIVER THE FOOTBALL.

THEY TRIED TO RUN IT AGAIN AND THEY GOT STOPPED.

THAT TIME HARTZOG GOT OUT THERE SO SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOT TO CATCH A BREAK.

>> AGAIN EIGHT SACKS, LET'S GO TO THE FINAL STATS AS NEBRASKA WINS THE GAME 17-9.

NEBRASKA RUSHING FOR 163 YARDS.

NOT BAD PASSING YARDS FOR NORTHWESTERN WITH 176, THEY THREW THE BALL A LOT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU LOOK OVER THERE, TURNOVERS.

NEBRASKA LOSE THE TURNOVER BATTLE BUT WINS THE GAME.

AGAIN, DOESN'T HAPPEN A WHOLE LOT.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE PLAYING WITH FIRE HERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE MUCH BETTER CARE OF IT THIS WEEK.

BUT THEY ONLY HAD THE THREE PENALTIES IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE GLASS TO BE A BIT HALF FULL.

TAKE A DRINK OF THAT.

>> LET'S GO TO THE PLAYERS OF THE GAME, CLEARLY THE DEFENSE RULED THE GAME SO BOTH OF OUR PLAYERS OF THE GAME COME FROM THE DEFENSIVE SIDE.

NASH HUTMACHER HAD A GREAT DAY.

TWO AND A HALF SACKS, HE ALSO HAD THOSE TACKLES AS WELL.

AND ISAAC GIFFORD, GREAT DAY, FLYING AROUND THE FIELD.

HE HAS SEVEN TACKLES AS WELL.

ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF GUYS WITH SIX OR SEVEN TACKLES.

THAT DEFENSE PLAYS WELL TOGETHER, REALLY THEY DO.

>> YEAH, BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE ISAAC GIFFORD FANS SINCE HE PLAYED A PART OF KICKING OUR TAIL IN HIGH SCHOOL AND TOLD US TO GET ON THE BUS AND GET BACK TO OMAHA.

SO I'M A BIG ISAAC GIFFORD FAN.

AND HE'S NOT ONE OF THOSE FAKE TOUGH GUYS, HE BRINGS IT.

>> WE ARE JOINED BY THE SPORTS EDITOR FOR THE OMAHA WORLD HERALD, SAM McEWAN.

SAM, HOW ARE YOU DOING, MAN?

>> I'M GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> DOING REALLY WELL.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE NORTHWESTERN GAME AND YOUR THOUGHTS.

EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT HOW UGLY IT WAS BUT AGAIN THE DEFENSE, AGAIN, PLAYED REALLY WELL.

>> EFFORT, TOUGHNESS, PLAYMAKING.

YOU KNOW?

SO THE PLAY THAT ISAAC GIFFORD MADE ON THAT SCREEN PASS IS AMAZING.

LUKE REIMER, OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T MENTION THE TRIP THAT HE HAD THERE.

THERE'S JUST -- THE THING THAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DEFENSE AND IT COMES TO SOME DEGREE FROM THE COACHES IS THE HUSTLE.

THERE'S FIVE, SIX, SEVEN GUYS AROUND EVERY PLAY AND I REALLY -- IT'S IMPRESSIVE TO WATCH.

LIKE THEY HAVE A CULTURE ON THAT SIDE OF THE BALL AND I THOUGHT THAT CULTURE SHOWED UP AGAINST NORTHWESTERN.

BECAUSE NORTHWESTERN PLAYED HARD TOO AND NEBRASKA'S OFFENSE DIDN'T PLAY VERY WELL.

AND I'LL TELL YOU, IF THEY START THAT WAY AGAINST PURDUE THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT DOWN 3-0.

THEY'RE PROBABLY DOWN 10 OR 14 SO THEY CAN'T DO THAT AGAIN, AND I THINK RHULE KNOWS THAT.

BUT AGAINST NORTHWESTERN YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT A LITTLE BIT AND I THOUGHT NEBRASKA ANSWERED THE DINNER BELL OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

I THINK THEY WERE IN NEBRASKA TERRITORY SEVEN TIMES AND THEY SCORED NINE POINTS.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

>> I THINK IT WAS BULLOCK THAT GOT HIS HANDS UP THEY RAN THE LITTLE BUNCH SET AND THE TIGHT END COMES WIDE-OPEN.

HARZOG GETS RUBBED AND THEN THEY COME BACK AND THEY TRIED TO RUN IT AGAIN AND THEY MAKE A PLAY.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN WHERE A DEFENDER MAKES THE PLAY THAT DOESN'T SHOW UP IN THE STAT SHEETS, THEY HAVE TO SNAP IT AGAIN AND IT YIELDS A POSITIVE RESULT?

IT'S LIKE, IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT.

>> IT'S ALL THE LITTLE THINGS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO, AND BULLOCK'S A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG HE IS IF YOU WERE TO PUT HIM ON A SCALE.

HE'S PROBABLY ABOUT ISAAC GIFFORD'S SIZE BUT HE PLAYS WITH JUST -- ABANDON.

HE PLAYS REALLY HARD.

GIFFORD PLAYS REALLY HARD, REIMER PLAY REALLY HARD.

JIMARI BUTLER PLAYS REALLY HARD.

>> AND BUTLER IS COMING INTO HIS OWN.

>> TY ROBINSON PLAYS REALLY HARD.

>> HUTMACHER PLAYS REALLY HARD.

>> THE EFFORT IS NOTABLE AND IT REALLY DOES SAY THAT JUST HARD WORK AND PLAYING TOUGH IS PART OF PLAYING DEFENSE.

OFFENSE IS I THINK A LITTLE TRICKIER.

YOU CAN'T JUST WANT IT, YOU GOT TO DO OTHER THINGS.

BUT I THINK ON DEFENSE THAT WANT-TO IS SHOWING UP AND THAT'S WHY THEY'VE WON FOUR GAMES.

>> AND THE NICE THING ABOUT IT IS TOO IS IF YOU PUT THE EFFORT AND WANT-TO IN PRACTICE ON SCOUT TEAM, YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR SHOT ON SATURDAYS TOO.

>> OH, YEAH.

JAMES WILLIAMS.

>> YEAH, SO THAT JUST GIVES CREDIBILITY SO THOSE YOUNG PLAYERS ARE LIKE, MAN, I WANNA PLAY.

IT'S LIKE, OKAY, YOU HAVE YOUR SHOT.

GO BEAT UP ON THE ONE OFFENSE ALL DAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HE -- AND BY HE I MEAN THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, TONY WHITE.

IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S JUST STEADY.

AND YOU CAN TELL THAT THE PLAYERS LIKE HIM AND THEY RESPECT HIM AND THAT HE PROBABLY HAS THINGS FOR THE PLAYERS THAT HE DOESN'T GIVE TO THE MEDIA.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING HE DOES BEST IS SHOW THAT HE'LL PLAY A GUY.

WHETHER IT'S ON THE SCOUT TEAM OR -- HE WILL PLAY 17 GUYS AND THAT IS SOMETHING A PLAYER CAN RESPECT.

IT'S NOT JUST WORDS, IT'S ACTIONS.

AND THEY'RE WILLING TO PLAY PLAYERS ON THE FIELD AND GIVE THEM -- EVEN NINE SNAPS THAN NO SNAPS AND I THINK THAT'S EARNED HIM A LOT OF RESPECT WITH HIS PLAYERS.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WERE PEOPLE DOUBTING THE HIRING OF SOME OF THE ASSISTANTS BECAUSE THEY HADN'T HEARD THEIR NAMES, RIGHT?

KNIGHTON, WHAT HE'S DONE WITH THE DEFENSIVE LINE.

TY ROBINSON'S BETTER, HUTMACHER'S BETTER, ALL OF THESE YOUNG GUYS ARE PLAYING.

LINEBACKERS ARE FLYING AROUND.

AND THE SECONDARY, DESPITE INJURIES, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS ON THE FIELD AND THEY ARE ALL MAKING PLAYS, RIGHT?

YOU'VE GOTTA TALK ABOUT WHAT THESE ASSISTANTS ARE DOING.

>> I THINK THE DEFENSE ASSISTANTS HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

I THINK ROB DVORACEK IS NOT TALKED ABOUT A LOT.

HE PROBABLY HAS DONE A GOOD OF A JOB AS ANYBODY.

I THINK KNIGHTON GOT SOME PRETTY GOOD CLAY TO WORK WITH.

NOT THAT DVORACEK DIDN'T, BUT SOME OF THOSE GUYS ARE UNDERSIZED AND BANGED UP AND HE'S HAD TO MOVE JACK LINEBACKERS AND MOVE AROUND PLAYERS.

I THINK EVAN COOPER, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS EVAN COOPER IS THE ONE THAT CAME UP WITH THE WRINKLE FOR THE FIVE-MAN DEFENSIVE LINE AND TONY WHITE HEARD IT.

SO COOPER IS OBVIOUSLY A COORDINATOR IN MAKING, HE MAKES COORDINATOR MONEY.

SO HE HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ROLE WITHIN THE STAFF, I THINK.

SO THEY RESPECT HIS DEFENSIVE MIND ON TOP OF HIS TEACHING POINTS.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, YOU HEARD COACH RHULE IN, LIKE, WEEK TWO SAY HEY, LISTEN, THE OFFENSE WAS STYMIED A LITTLE BECAUSE OUR DEFENSE, WE TURNED THEM LOOSE IN PRACTICE.

SITUATIONALLY THEY DIDN'T SCRIPT A TON.

YOU THINK AT THIS POINT, IS IT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS BECAUSE IT WAS GOOD FOR THE DEFENSE OR MORE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE BECAUSE THE OFFENSE STILL HAS YET TO COME INTO ITS OWN?

>> IT'S HARD TO TELL BECAUSE SO MANY PLAYERS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BALL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STAY -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CONTINUITY.

I DO FEEL LIKE I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE SAYING AND WHAT RHULE'S SAID ABOUT HOW THE OFFENSE KIND OF SAW ONE STYLE AND NORTHWESTERN DIDN'T DO A LOT OF THAT.

I MEAN, A COUPLE OF TIMES NORTHWESTERN RUSHED TWO.

SO I THINK GOING FORWARD -- AND WE'LL SEE BECAUSE PURDUE'S GONNA IN THEORY COME AFTER THEM.

I WOULDN'T.

I WOULD SIT BACK AND LET HAARBERG KIND OF TRY TO PICK YOU APART, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT HE WILL.

BUT I THINK PURDUE'S GONNA PRESSURE HIM AND TRY TO OVERWHELM HIM AND WE'LL SEE.

THAT PLAYS INTO NEBRASKA'S HANDS IN THEORY BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN PRESSURE ALL THE WAY THROUGH CAMP AND DURING THE SEASON.

BUT I THOUGHT THE STRATEGY WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD.

THEY MADE HAARBERG KIND OF THINK A LITTLE BIT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET TWO PICKS EARLY.

AND THOUGH SHOULD HAVE TURNED INTO TEN POINTS BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT GAME.

IT'S A DIFFERENT GAME.

>> SAM, STICKING WITH OFFENSE OFFENSE.

OBVIOUSLY WITH INJURIES TO CORCORAN, ETHAN PIPER, BILLY KEMP, NOUILI.

KNOWING THIS OFFENSE HAS STRUGGLED ALREADY THROUGH SEVEN GAMES, WHAT IS A REALISTIC EXPECTATION GOING INTO PURDUE AND FINISHING THE REST OF THIS SEASON FOR THIS OFFENSE WITH -- I MEAN, IT HAS JUST BEEN A CATASTROPHE OF INJURIES.

>> I THINK THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN.

YOU KNOW, OFFENSIVE LINE, AND DAMON SAID IT, I THINK THE GUYS GOING IN THERE COULD ACTUALLY BE PRETTY GOOD.

JUSTIN EVANS-JENKINS, I THINK, IS A PRETTY GOOD PLAYER.

HENRY LUTOVSKY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S MAYBE HAD AS GOOD OF AS YEAR AS MAYBE THEY'VE HOPED BUT HENRY HAS A LOT OF ABILITY.

AND THEN TEDDY PROCHAZKA I THINK THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO BRING HIM ALONG THOUGHTFULLY.

BUT ULTIMATELY HE'S THE GUY I THINK WE ALL THOUGHT WOULD BE THE STARTING LEFT TACKLE.

AT RECEIVER IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

I MEAN BILLY KEMP IS A RUN AFTER THE CATCH GUY.

THEY DIDN'T GET IT TO HIM ENOUGH I DON'T THINK.

BUT THEY DON'T HAVE HIM NOW.

THEY PUT BONNER IN THE GAME AT ONE POINT.

FLEEKS WAS IN THERE, MAYBE HE CAN DO A LITTLE BIT.

BONNER PROBABLY REMEMBERS SOME OF THE STUFF AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PATCH IT TOGETHER.

I KNOW THAT MARCUS SATTERFIELD HAS GOTTEN SOME HEAT FROM SOME CORNERS, ESPECIALLY ON TWITTER.

I THINK HE'S ACTUALLY DOING OKAY.

HE DIALED UP SOME PLAYS IN THAT NORTHWESTERN GAME WHERE IF THEY EXECUTE THEM THEY HIT AND THEY GET SOME REALLY GOOD PLAYS.

THE FACT THAT MATT RHULE SAID ON MONDAY WE LEFT A LOT OUT ON THE FIELD.

HE WOULDN'T SAY THAT IF IT WASN'T THERE, AND I THINK THEY DID.

NOW AGAINST PURDUE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL BE THERE AS OFTEN.

I THINK PURDUE HAS GOT MORE ATHLETES AND THEY GOT A, IN MY OPINION, A BETTER OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR IN RYAN WALTERS OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL WHAT HE DOES NOW AS THE HEAD COACH.

SO IT COULD BE TOUGHER SLEDDING, WE'LL FIND OUT.

>> DO YOU THINK NEXT YEAR WE SEE A FEW CHANGES LIKE MOVING THE SIDE FROM NEBRASKA OVER TO THE EAST SIDE AND MAYBE EVENTUALLY EVEN GETTING A GRASS FIELD.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU HEAR MENTIONED A LOT.

I KNOW RHULE LIKES A GRASS FIELD.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF INJURIES.

I'M NOT SAYING THEY'RE ALL BECAUSE OF TURF BUT YOU THINK MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE?

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SURPRISED THEY WEREN'T ON THE OTHER SIDE.

>> THE SUN?

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE THE SUN.

ON THE GRASS FIELD, IT'S INTERESTING.

WHEN THEY PUT THE FIELD TURF IN, WHATEVER THE LATEST ITERATION WAS A FEW YEARS AGO, I ASKED SOMEONE AFFILIATED WITH NEBRASKA, DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT A GRASS FIELD?

AND THE LOOK THAT I GOT BACK WAS NO.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH, AND IT'S INTERESTING.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A SURPRISING RESPONSE.

PURDUE HAS A GRASS FIELD, IOWA STATE HAS A GRASS FIELD, NORTHWESTERN HAS A GRASS FIELD, PENN STATE HAS A GRASS FIELD.

>> PROBABLY THE BEST GRASS FIELD IN THE NATION.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AND THESE ARE CLIMATES THAT ARE TOUGHER THAN THIS ONE AND SO I AM A LITTLE SURPRISED THEY HAVE NEVER REALLY CONSIDERED IT.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE MIGHT BE PEOPLE WITH MORE INSIGHT THAN ME AS TO WHY THEY DECIDED.

I KNOW BACK IN THE DAY, WHEN THEY RAN THE OPTION THEY WANTED TO GO DOWN THE TINY CROWN.

IT WASN'T OKLAHOMA'S CROWN, BUT IT WAS A TINY CROWN.

BUT NOW I THINK A GRASS FIELD IS REAL.

AND I THINK THEY SHOULD PUT ONE IN.

ON THE SIDELINE THING I'VE NEVER QUITE UNDERSTOOD WHY THEY WERE ONE THE OTHER SIDELINE.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

ALLUDING TO THE SUN AND LEARNING THE NUANCES.

HE'S USUALLY PRETTY INTENTIONAL WITH WHAT HE SAYS.

DO YOU CONSIDER THAT FORESHADOWING?

>> I SURE DO.

MALACHI COLEMAN MADE A GOOD PLAY.

WHEN HE RAN, THE SUN WAS RIGHT THERE.

ANYONE REMEMBER THE 2010 AGAINST TEXAS WHEN REX LOOKED BACK?

>> YEP.

>> AND HE COULDN'T SEE THE BALL.

IT KIND OF COST HIM THE GAME.

IT WAS BASICALLY ABOUT FIVE YARDS AWAY FROM WHERE MALACHI WAS.

HE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.

YES.

I THINK RHULE IS A FORESHADOWER AND I THINK A GRASS FIELD IS COMING.

NOW THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT UNDERTAKING.

AND YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A TURF MANAGEMENT AND ALL THAT.

BUT THE SIDELINES SEEM LIKE A NO BRAINER, THEY COULD DO THAT NEXT WEEK.

>> THERE'S PROBABLY SOME SEASON TICKET HOLDERS THAT PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO BE BEHIND THE BENCH.

MAYBE THEY HAVE TO GET MOVED.

EVENTUALLY MAYBE YOU MOVE THE BAND.

ALTHOUGH I THINK THE BAND SHOULD STAY BEHIND THE OPPONENTS' BENCH.

MAKE AS MUCH NOISE AS POSSIBLE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THE STUDENTS AS WELL.

THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO, BUT I THINK THAT'S A POSSIBILITY TO EVENTUALLY TO HAPPEN.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU.

IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTED ME THAT THEY'VE BEEN ON THAT SIDELINE, BECAUSE I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE ON THE OTHER.

ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS.

>> YEAH.

LET'S LOOK AHEAD.

SO NEBRASKA'S IS SITTING AT 4-3 FIRST TIME SINCE 2019.

FIVE GAMES REMAINING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL I THINK THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THE THINGS, THAT I THINK BEFORE THE SEASON, WE ALL KIND OF THOUGHT THEY GOT A CHANCE TO DO.

AND THAT IS TO GO TO BOWL GAME.

AND I KNOW RHULE DOESN'T LIKE LOOK AHEAD.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PURDUE AND MICHIGAN STATE AND MARYLAND AND WISCONSIN, IOWA.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE LASER FOCUSED ON PURDUE.

>> ALL TEAMS WITH PROBLEMS.

>> ALL TEAMS WITH PROBLEMS.

>> SO DOES NEBRASKA.

>> YEP.

AND BY THE TIME THEY PLAY MARYLAND, MARYLAND WILL BE BEAT UP.

>> YES.

>> SO THEY'LL BE A DIFFERENT TEAM THAN THEY WERE A WEEK AND HALF OR TWO WEEKS AGO.

SO I THINK THEY'VE GOT A CHANCE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE ALL KIND OF TALKED ABOUT.

THEY JUST -- THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WIN UGLY.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ALVANO KEEP HITTING 47 YARD FIELD GOALS.

BUSCHINI'S GOT TO CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD PUNTER.

AND I THINK THEIR DEFENSE HAS TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.

THE OFFENSE HAS TO DO WHAT IT CAN.

AND I THINK SATTERFIELD WILL TRY DIALING UP BIG PLAYS.

IF THEY CAN HIT THEM, THEN I THINK THEY CAN GO ON THE WAY OUT HERE AND WIN TWO MORE AND MAYBE THREE MORE GAMES.

BECAUSE I LOOK AT THAT MARYLAND GAME AND THE IOWA GAME -- ONE OF THE TWO.

I MEAN IOWA'S A WEIRD TEAM.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH.

>> AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT -- IOWA COULD LOSE YOU KNOW 3-2, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

SO THOSE ARE THE GAMES I WOULD LOOK AT AS MAYBE THAT EXTRA GAME THAT NEBRASKA MIGHT WIN.

>> BUT THE TOUGHEST ONE REMAINING IS WISCONSIN STILL?

>> I THINK SO.

>> EVERYBODY AGREE?

OKAY.

>> I THINK SO, I THOUGHT THEY -- >> HECK OF A COMEBACK.

>> I THINK THEY'VE GOT BEST PLAYERS.

>> YEAH.

>> OF ALL THE TEAMS THAT ARE REMAINING ON NEBRASKA'S SCHEDULE.

THEY'VE GOT THE RUNNING BACK.

THEY'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD ONE.

THEY'VE GOT A GOOD DEFENSE TOO.

>> MATT RHULE HAS SAID A LOT OF GREAT THINGS I THINK IN THE PRESS CONFERENCES.

BUT TALKING ABOUT HOW WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM GOING OUT AND RECRUITING.

WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM -- I THOUGHT HE WAS REALLY SPEAKING TO THE PLAYERS THAT ALREADY RECRUITED, AND THE FUTURE ONE THEY'RE GOING TO RECRUIT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH, I THINK NEBRASKA -- I THINK MATT RHULE WANTS TO BUILD A PROGRAM THAT'S AROUND NOT THE 17 DAYS IN DECEMBER WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET PORTAL GUYS.

NOW SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO DO IT.

>> SURE.

>> AND THERE ARE AREAS WHERE NEBRASKA, I AM SURE WILL GO INTO THE PORTAL, HERE IN DECEMBER.

BUT I THINK HE WANTS TO BUILD.

YOU KNOW -- AND WHEN YOU BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH A RECRUIT, IT'S NOT A FOUR YEAR RELATIONSHIP, IT'S MORE LIKE A SEVEN YEAR RELATIONSHIP.

SO I THINK HE WANTS TO BUILD SEVEN YEAR RELATIONSHIPS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A KID AT MILLARD SOUTH WHO'S GOING TO GET AN OFFER.

I AM SURE OF THE RECEIVER, AND THAT'S GOOD.

HE'S A 2026 KID, YOU'RE BUILDING A SEVEN YEAR RELATIONSHIP.

>> SURE.

>> YOU KNOW, RECRUITING HIM FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

AND NOW WITH THE PORTAL AREA, YOU RECRUIT THEM EVERY SINGLE YEAR THEY COME TO NEBRASKA.

SO EXAMPLES LIKE THAT, I THINK THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS LONG TERM.

THEN DEVELOP PLAYERS EVEN BEFORE THEY GET TO NEBRASKA.

ONCE THEY COMMIT.

THAT'S WHY THEY'VE GOT SO MANY 2025 KIDS ALREADY IN.

TERRY AND BOOTH.

>> SAM WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SAM, ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE HIM IN.

BEFORE WE GO THOUGH, ENJOY SOME PHOTOS FOR SATURDAY'S VICTORY COURTESY OF HURRDAT SPORTS.

♪ ♪ .

♪ >> ALL RIGHT WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP" LET'S TAKE A COUPLE PLAYS HERE IN HUDL, THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLAY OF THE GAME.

I KNOW THAT TOUCHDOWN PASS TO MALACHI COLEMAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FAVORITE.

WE'LL SEE THAT NEXT.

BUT THIS PLAY BY LUKE GIFFORD ON THIS THIRD AND EIGHT SCENARIO, WHILE NEBRASKA BRING ZERO PRESSURE.

THEY'RE BRINGING EVERYONE.

AS YOU SEE HERE, LUKE GOES, BUT DROPS IN THE SITUATION.

YOU'VE GOT EVERYONE COMING.

THEY RAN A GREAT -- IT WAS A GREAT CALL BY THE NORTHWESTERN OC.

A LITTLE SCREEN PASS UNDER THE BOUNDARY.

I MEAN THIS IS WIDE OPEN.

THIS IS A 30-40 MAYBE A SCORE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE NEWSOM HERE IN ZERO COVERAGE.

I MEAN MAN TO MAN, HIS BACK'S TURNED.

GIFFORD'S AMONGST TWO GUYS OVER HERE.

YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE YELLOW DOT THERE ON THE LEFT.

HE HAS ALL THIS SPACE.

LUKE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB -- I SAID LUKE.

ISAAC.

ISAAC GIFFORD DEFEATING THESE TWO GUYS.

REFUSING TO BE BLOCKED.

GOING OVER HERE, GETTING OFF.

GETTING HIM DOWN.

FORCING HIM BACK TO THE INSIDE, GETTING HIS HELP.

THEN NEBRASKA DEFENSE ABLE TO GET OFF THE FIELD ON THIRD DOWN AGAIN.

A SPECTACULAR PLAY BY ISAAC GIFFORD.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT THIS TOUCHDOWN PASS MALACHI COLEMAN -- UP HERE INTO THE BOUNDARY.

LIKE D.B.

SAID, A COVERED TWO SCENARIOS.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS CORNER COME DOWN AND THE SAFETY GO OVER TOP.

NEBRASKA GETS THE BELLY G OPTION PASS HERE.

GETS GOOD PROTECTION.

EVERYONE GETS KIND OF SUCKED UP IN.

AGAIN MALACHI GETS OVER TOP THE SAFETY.

IN ONE OF THE BEST PASSES FROM HAARBERG WE'VE SEEN ALL YEAR.

JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

A BEAUTIFUL PLAY BY THE OFFENSE TO GET SOME POINTS ON THE BOARD AND TO REALLY SEAL THAT BALL GAME FOR THE OFFENSE AND THE BIG RED.

♪ ♪ >> EVERY TIME YOU RUN ONE OF THOSE PLAYS, IT BRINGS UP THE SAFETY AND BRINGS IT UP AND EVENTUALLY YOU HIT IT LIKE YOU GUYS DID SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS IN THE '‘90S.

>> THE KEY IS RUNNING THAT OVER ROUTE REALLY, REALLY HARD.

THAT BACKSIDE SAFETY HOLDS AND THAT'S ALL YOU REALLY NEED.

I MEAN THAT'S A FIVE SECOND ROUTE.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO DEVELOP.

SO EVERYTHING HAS TO KIND OF BE RIGHT.

IT WAS WELL DONE.

BUT REAL TIME, EVEN DURING THE BROADCAST, I THOUGHT GIFFORD'S PLAY WAS PLAY OF THE GAME.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE FROM UP ABOVE.

HE SHOULD HAVE SCORED.

>> WHEN I SAW THAT PLAY, I'M LIKE THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

>> THEY BROUGHT FIELD PRESSURE.

THEY RAN A SCREEN OF THE BOUNDARY AND IT WAS A THREE YARD GAME.

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

>> WE APPRECIATE JAY FOR THE BREAKDOWN.

BEFORE WE WELCOME IN OUR SECOND GUEST OF THE NIGHT, FORMER HUSKER, ADRIAN MARTINEZ, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE COACHES AND PLAYERS HAD TO SAY FOLLOWING THE NORTHWESTERN GAME.

♪ >> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS WE HAVE A STANDARD AND IT WAS NOT THE STANDARD ON OFFENSE LAST SATURDAY.

PUTTING THE BALL ON THE GROUND THAT MANY TIMES.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SCORE, AS I'VE TOLD YOU GUYS.

BUT I DO CARE ABOUT YOU KNOW, THE EXECUTION.

I TOLD THE TEAM, THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST WINS I'VE BEEN A PART OF, BUT THAT WAS CERTAINLY NOT THE BEST PERFORMANCE I'VE BEEN A PART OF.

>> JUST LITTLE THINGS I NEED TO FIX.

THE OFFENSE, AS A WHOLE WE NEED TO FIX.

JUST LITTLE STUFF THAT IN PAST MADE US LOSE GAMES.

LUCKILY THAT STUFF DIDN'T MAKE US LOSE THIS ONE.

>> IT'S TERRIBLE, THE BALL SECURITY AND THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THE BALL IS ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW.

LIKE IT'S UNSATISFACTORY.

IT'S EMBARRASSING.

SO I, WE HAVE TO FIX IT.

>> WHEN WE WALK OUT ONTO THE FIELD THIS COMING SATURDAY, ALL BUT TWO GUYS WILL BE UNDERCLASSMEN ON THE OFFENSE.

SO, THOSE GUYS ARE LEARNING BY FIRE.

>> A LOT OF FUN TO GO OUT THERE AND WORK WITH THESE GUYS.

THEY'RE HUNGRY, THEY'VE GOT OPPORTUNITY.

WE LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AS WE'RE MISSING PEOPLE.

WE LOOK AT IS AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE KIDS -- FOR THESE YOUNG MEN, EXCUSE ME.

TO SHOW WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEM.

>> THE DEFENSE WILL HAVE TO DO IT MORE THIS WEEK, WITH THE AMOUNT OF INJURIES ON OFFENSE.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS WILL HAVE TO DO IT MORE THIS WEEK, SO WE CAN'T START TO GO LIKE THIS -- WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO LIKE THIS, AND SAY WE'RE PLAYING AS THE HUSKERS.

>> NO MATTER WHERE THE OPPOSING TEAM GETS THE BALL, IT'S LIKE WHEN WE GO OUT OF THE FIELD, WE'RE LIKE OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO STOP THEM.

YOU KNOW WE'RE JUST READY TO STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGE.

>> WHEN WE'RE ON POINT WE CAN GO OUT THERE AND DO IT.

WE CAN PLAY WITH ANYBODY, BUT UNTIL THE SEASON IS OVER, UNTIL WE CELEBRATE HOWEVER THAT LAST GAME, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, AND THEN WE TURN BACK AND SAY, HEY THESE WERE THE NUMBERS, THIS IS WHERE IT IS.

THEN WE'LL STOP AND CELEBRATE, BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS TEAM WILL COME IN HERE AND THEY'LL RUSH FOR 200 IF YOU AIN'T ACTING RIGHT.

SO I MEAN WE BETTER ACT RIGHT.

>> NOW WE WELCOME A NEW GUEST TO THE SHOW, FORMER HUSKER QUARTERBACK ADRIAN MARTINEZ.

ADRIAN, WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> CRAZY TIME FOR YOU NOW?

I MEAN YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY DOING SOME STUFF WITH THE UNIVERSITY.

DOING SOME -- TRYING TO GET IN THE NFL.

WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE?

>> WELL, LIKE YOU PUT IT, IT'S BEEN CRAZY.

NOTHING SHORT OF IT.

AND REALLY RIGHT NOW THIS TIME IS ALL ABOUT MAXIMIZING IT.

I WANT TO MAXIMIZE MY TIME.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP ON MY DREAM OF PLAYING IN THE NFL.

I FEEL LIKE I AM RIGHT ON THE FRINGE.

I WORKED OUT FOR FOUR DIFFERENT TEAMS TO THIS POINT, SINCE BEING LET GO BY THE LIONS.

WHILE DOING THAT, I'VE BEEN DOING AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, AND TRYING TO FINISH MY MBA.

SO A LOT GOING ON, BUT GLAD TO BE BACK IN NEBRASKA.

>> SUPER MATURE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

HOW'D YOU LEARN TO SET BOUNDARIES.

RIGHT?

JAY AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WELL LIKED.

[ LAUGHTER ] MAYBE MIKE'L DOES.

>> SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.

>> YOU GET PULLED IN A TON OF DIRECTIONS.

YOU KNOW YOU DON'T BURN BRIDGES, YOU'RE WELL RECEIVED.

HOW DO YOU SET BOUNDARIES?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

I'D HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO MY PARENTS.

GROWING UP THAT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WAS PREACHED TO ME.

TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND TREAT EVERYONE THE SAME WAY.

IN DOING THAT, I THINK NO MATTER IF I WAS KANSAS STATE OR NEBRASKA, IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN PAID FORWARD, PAID BACK TO ME.

YOU KNOW, I THINK NEBRASKA'S VERY WELCOMING IN GENERAL.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT BE THE SAME WAY MAYBE EVERYWHERE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SURE.

>> FOR SURE HERE AND I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT WAY.

>> YEAH I WAS LOOKING BACK, I WAS LOOKING FOR YOUR PHONE NUMBER, I WAS LOOKING BACK AT A TEXT, FROM WAY BACK IN 2018.

ASKING YOU TO COME ONTO THE SHOW, YOU WERE MATURE BACK THEN.

I LOST MY DAD WHEN I WAS 10.

IT MAKES YOU GROW WHEN YOU LOSE A PARENT WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG.

DO YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY?

THAT KIND OF JUST HELPED YOU MATURE A LITTLE FASTER WHEN YOU LOSE A PARENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OBVIOUSLY A VERY TOUGH THING TO GO THROUGH.

AND I HAD AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT SYSTEM.

STILL DO.

AND MY DAD OBVIOUSLY STEPPING UP AND BEING AN INCREDIBLE ROLE MODEL FOR ME GROWING UP.

LIKE YOU PUT IT, HAVING TO GROW UP AT A YOUNG AGE.

YOU KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.

BUT THAT SORT OF TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED, THAT UNFOLDED, IT'S LED ME TO BEING ABLE TO PASS THAT ONTO OTHER PEOPLE IN A WAY.

BECAUSE IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHETHER IT'S 10 YEARS OLD OR 30 OR 50, EVERYONE GOES THROUGH SOMETHING THAT IS TRAGEDY OR ADVERSITY.

IT'S PREPARED ME TO BE IN THIS MOMENT.

AND I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP GIVING.

>> ADRIAN, YOU'VE SPOKEN TO THE MATURITY AND JUST YOUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS, AND THAT IS SUCH A POWERFUL ASPECT OF FOOTBALL, RIGHT?

AND BEING A QUARTERBACK.

BEING THE QUARTERBACK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA IS TOUGH.

YOU NEED TO BE MATURE, YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO SHUT THE NOISES OFF.

JUST TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT, BEING THE QUARTERBACK AT NEBRASKA.

AND DEALING WITH THE NAYSAYERS AND ALSO JUST TRYING TO COMMUNICATE MATURITY AND MENTAL TOUGHNESS TO YOUR TEAMMATES DURING TOUGH TIMES.

WELL I'D COMPARE IT TO BEING AN NFL QUARTERBACK.

I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY DISSIMILAR.

I THINK THAT THAT ATMOSPHERE KIND OF THE BUBBLE -- >> THE SPOTLIGHT.

>> THE SPOTLIGHT, ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT'S FUNNY I MET TAYLOR MARTINEZ FOR THE FIRST TIME A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND THAT WAS THE FIRST THING WE TALKED ABOUT.

HE WAS ALMOST LIKE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DEALT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

BECAUSE THAT WASN'T AS MUCH OF A FACTOR FOR HIM.

AND IT'S A WHOLE NEW DILEMMA FOR THESE CURRENT PLAYERS.

IT'S UNAVOIDABLE.

YOU KNOW WHEN YOU PAIR THAT WITH NIL, AND TRYING TO PROMOTE YOUR BRAND AND DO THINGS TO MAKE MONEY, BUT ALSO STAY OUT OF THE MEDIA.

DON'T SEE THINGS WRITTEN ABOUT YOU.

IT'S A HARD THING TO JUGGLE.

IT'S A HARD THING TO JUGGLE.

BUT THAT'S I REALLY LIKE ABOUT WHAT COACH RHULE IS DOING.

IT SEEMS LIKE THOSE GUYS ARE REALLY BOUGHT INTO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THERE AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CONTINUITY, RIGHT.

WITHIN AN OFFENSE.

YOU HAD TO BATTLE SOME INJURIES IN YOUR OWN RIGHT.

YOU WANT GOOD RHYTHM.

THEY SHUFFLE IN PERSONNEL IN AND OUT.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT PRACTICING WITH THE SAME GUYS, AT THE SAME KIND OF TEMPO, DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY NOT EASY.

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT EASY.

ESPECIALLY AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITION.

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT FALL CAMP, THAT IS WHAT SPRING BALL IS FOR.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ESTABLISH TRUST WITH THOSE GUYS.

AND MOST OF THE TIME AS --IF YOU'RE THE STARTER, I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A COMPETITION FOR A WHILE NOW.

BUT YOU GET REPS WITH THE SAME GUYS, THE SAME GUYS, AND THE TWOS GET REPS WITH THE TWOS AND THE THREES GET REPS WITH THE THREES.

SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, AND GUYS GO DOWN, YOU HAVE TO KIND OF BUILD THAT UP QUICKLY, AND IT'S -- IT'S TOUGH.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT GUY, NOT JUST IN PRACTICE TO MAKE THE THROW, BUT WHEN IT'S 3rd AND 10, AND HE'S OPEN BY A COUPLE INCHES.

AND, "MAN, I BELIEVE HE'S GONNA RUN THAT ROUTE THE RIGHT WAY," AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY.

>> IT WASN'T -- YOU DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE WHEN YOU LEFT TO GO TO KANSAS STATE.

BUT YOU HAD A KIND OF A SALE IN PAPILLION WITH A BUNCH OF YOUR STUFF.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO HAVE ALL THE HUSKER FANS COME THROUGH THERE AND TALK TO --?

AND I KNOW, I WAS WATCHING FROM AFAR WITH A CAMERA, YOU WERE DOING -- YOU SPOKE WITH EACH ONE OF 'EM, YOU SPENT TIME, WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> IT WAS GREAT.

IT WAS GREAT.

I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE AS BIG AS IT WAS, AND I GUESS THAT WAS -- >> THAT WAS A HECK OF A LINE.

>> WELL, I SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED MORE, YOU KNOW?

PEOPLE WERE THERE AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING.

WE HAD A PATROL CAR COMING THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE ALL RIGHT AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE THOUGH.

AND TO BE ABLE TO -- TO SPEAK TO FANS.

NOT NECESSARILY COLLECTORS, BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS COLLECTORS OUT THERE THAT LIKE TO GET THE MEMORABILIA, BUT JUST TO GET BACK TO PEOPLE AND HEAR THEIR EXPERIENCES, AND KINDA -- IT HELPED ME TOO, BECAUSE I WAS GIVING AWAY THINGS, LIKE, "OH, THIS WAS FROM 2019 WHEN WE PLAYED WHOEVER."

OR "THIS WAS FROM MY FRESHMAN YEAR."

AND TO BE ABLE TO TELL SOME OF THOSE STORIES WAS -- IT WAS A COOL OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.

>> YEAH.

IT'S FUNNY WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PERSONALITY TRAITS, AND YOU REFERENCED COACH RHULE.

TWO WORDS -- ONE WORD THAT I WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE BOTH OF YOU IS -- IS PRETTY AUTHENTIC.

RIGHT?

LIKE, YOU -- WHAT YOU HEAR IS PRETTY MUCH WHO YOU ARE.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU -- HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT ABOUT COACH RHULE?

IT -- HE'S SO AUTHENTIC.

HE DOESN'T HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT HE SAYS TO ANYBODY 'CAUSE IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST WHO HE IS, RIGHT?

IT JUST SEEMS TO COME NATURAL.

DO YOU -- ARE YOU VIBING KIND OF WITH THAT DELIVERY?

>> UH, YEAH.

I LIKE THAT COMPARISON TOO.

I APPRECIATE IT.

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S A -- HIGH PRAISE FOR ME, YOU KNOW?

UM, NO, BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT THAT, I BELIEVE, IS THAT THE PLAYERS SEE HIM AS THE SAME GUY IN THE PRESS AS HE IS IN THE LOCKER ROOM.

>> 100%.

>> AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL, AND I THINK IT'S JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO BUILD TRUST IN THAT PROGRAM THAT -- THAT'S NEEDED.

>> ADRIAN, I THINK IT'S FUNNY WITH NEBRASKA YOU HAD -- YOU HAD JEFF SIMS START OFF THE SEASON.

YOU HAVE SOME -- HE HAD INJURIES BUT STRUGGLED.

HEINRICH HAARBERG HAS COME IN, STRUGGLED EARLY AGAINST NORTHWESTERN, AND PEOPLE ARE IMMEDIATELY SAYING, "HEY, WE NEEDS SIMS TO COME IN," RIGHT?

BUT HAVING THAT MINDSET, RIGHT?

WELL -- HAVING THAT COMMUNICATION, WHAT IS THE MINDSET OF A STARTER KNOWING THAT, IF YOU MESS UP, YOU COULD GET PULLED QUICK?

OR IS IT A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC TO WHERE THIS COACH HAS FULL TRUST IN YOU, RIGHT?

LIKE, IF YOU DO MAKE SOME MISTAKES, HEY, WE KNOW, WE'RE GONNA LET YOU LEARN, YOUR LEASH IS LONG.

JUST KIND OF EXPLAIN THAT DYNAMIC, AND THE MENTAL FORTITUDE HAS TO GO WITH, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA MAKE MAKE MISTAKES.

AND YOU KNOW THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR YOU TO GET PULLED, BUT JUST KIND OF BATTLING THROUGH THAT AND JUST TRYING TO GET BETTER EVERY PLAY, EVERY REP DURING A GAME OR PRACTICE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, I'VE LIVED THROUGH BOTH SCENARIOS.

>> YEAH.

>> I REALLY HAVE.

AND I'D SAY IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE ON THE FIELD AND NOT BE AFRAID TO MAKE A MISTAKE.

WHEN YOU GO PLAY AFRAID, IT'S WHEN MISTAKES HAPPEN.

I MEAN, IT -- YOU PLAY TENTATIVE, YOU CAN'T EXCEL THAT WAY.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MISTAKES AND HAVE THAT CONFIDENCE.

AND WHEN A COACH PUTS THAT CONFIDENCE IN YOU, IT REALLY ENABLES A PLAYER TO GROW AND TO PERFORM THE WAY THEY SHOULD.

AND I THINK HEINRICH, AS A YOUNG GUY, A NEBRASKA GUY, OBVIOUSLY I -- HE WAS THERE WHEN MY LAST SEASON -- >> RIGHT.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY POWERFUL FOR HIM.

YOU KNOW, HE CAN MAKE MISTAKES, HE CAN GROW AND STILL FIND WAYS TO WIN.

HE'S -- HE'S DOING THESE THINGS, BUT WINNING, WHICH I THINK IS -- IS A BIG DEAL.

>> YEAH.

I GUESS THIS IS A PRETTY OBVIOUS ANSWER -- ARE YOU -- WERE YOU SURPRISED IT DIDN'T WORK?

I MEAN, YOU COME IN, OBVIOUSLY FROSH FIRST YEAR, YOU GUYS COME IN TOGETHER, YOU START OFF, IT LOOKS GREAT.

THE GAME AGAINST COLORADO I KNOW YOU GET BANGED UP.

BUT ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT IT DIDN'T WORK?

'CAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE YOU -- YOU WERE ON THE SAME PAGE, AT LEAST TO START OFF.

WERE YOU SURPRISED IT DIDN'T WORK WITH YOU AND SCOTT FROST?

>> YEAH, OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE COME TO NEBRASKA OR COMMITTED AND PUT MY FAITH IN THE PROGRAM, IN THE COACHES, IN EVERYTHING, IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN IT.

DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS GONNA WORK.

AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY TOO OFTEN WE WERE JUST -- CAME UP SHORT.

WE HAD TOO MANY EXCUSES, EVERYONE INVOLVED, AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

BUT THAT WAS NOT THE EXPECTATION, OR YOU KNOW, WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, EVEN UNTIL THE VERY END, YOU KNOW, MY SENIOR YEAR.

>> AND THE INJURIES -- PLAYING THROUGH THEM SHOWS YOUR TOUGHNESS, OBVIOUSLY.

WAS THE -- THE JAW THE HARDEST ONE?

WAS IT THE LEG?

WHAT WAS THE HARDEST ONE TO HAVE TO PLAY THROUGH, FOR YOU?

>> YEAH, YEAH, WHICH ONE, YOU KNOW?

I'D SAY THE JAW, FOR SURE.

FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.

ONE -- >> YOU'RE A QUARTERBACK, YOU GET HIT.

THAT'S ONE.

>> YOU GET HIT AND I LIKE TO RUN, YOU KNOW.

SO IT ALTERS YOUR GAME A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN ALSO THE SECRECY BEHIND IT.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS KEEPING IT ALL IN-HOUSE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MADE US TIGHT AS A GROUP, BUT IT WASN'T EASY TO HANDLE.

AND THEN LOSING, ON TOP OF THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE FELT LIKE WE HAD SUCH A GOOD TEAM, MADE IT TOUGH.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE WAY IT WAS RELEASED AND, UH, SOMEWHAT DISMISSED, IT WAS TOUGH, YOU KNOW, TOUGH IN THAT MOMENT.

>> I'M -- I'M CURIOUS, JUST 'CAUSE I KNOW A LITTLE BIT BEHIND-THE-SCENES.

THE OFFENSE HAD TO EVOLVE AND CHANGE AND YOU TINKERED WITH IT.

IF YOU HAD IT TO DO OVER AGAIN, AND YOU GOT TO SIT DOWN AND THEY SAID, "OKAY, A.M., WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO OFFENSIVELY?"

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE SAID, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW?

>> DID YOU WATCH CASE STATE LAST YEAR?

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW -- >> YOU'RE PRETTY EFFICIENT.

>> I WOULD -- I WOULD SAY THAT OFFENSE.

NOW IT HELPED HAVING DEUCE VAUGHN, AND -- AND COMPANY.

AND ENTIRE OFFENSIVE LINE THAT'S NOMINATED FOR THE OUTLAND TROPHY, LIKE, THEY'RE REALLY -- I CAN'T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T THE CASE 8 SHOW.

>> ARE YOU A 6-8 DESIGN RUN GUY?

A 4-7?

LIKE -- >> NOW, YEAH, THIS IS -- THIS MIGHT UPSET A FEW PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION -- I BELIEVE YOUR RUNNING BACK HAS TO BE YOUR LEADING RUSHER.

>> YEP.

>> HAS TO BE.

FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS.

NOW -- FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW, UM, I BELIEVE IN THAT.

NOW, YOU -- YOU FIND WAYS TO WIN, AND THAT'S -- THAT'S ALL GOOD.

BUT FOR SUSTAINED SUCCESS.

SO 6-8, MAYBE ITS 10-12, MAYBE ONE GAME ITS 15, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE GAME PLAN DEMANDS.

BUT, UM, TO HAVE RUN GAME FIRST, IDEALLY WITH THE RUNNING BACK, QUARTERBACK AS A COMPLIMENT, AND TIE IN PLAY ACTION TO THAT OFFENSE, BECAUSE PLAY ACTION IS THE BEST PASS GAME.

>> LAST THING, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN BUSY, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU THOUGHT ON THE SEASON SO FAR?

>> YEAH, WELL, I'M PROUD OF THOSE GUYS.

I'M PORUD OF 'EM FOR BATTLING, BECAUSE IT'S -- THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ADVERSITY.

THERE'S NO DOUBT.

AND WE -- WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE.

FIRST YEAR HEAD COACH, THOSE GUYS FIGURING IT OUT, YOUNG PLAYERS I KNEW WHEN I WAS THERE, THEY'RE THE LEADERS NOW.

AND I THINK THEY GOT A SPECIAL GROUP, I DO.

NOW, WHETHER THAT PANS OUT THIS YEAR, OR THE NEXT YEAR, OR THE YEAR AFTER THAT, I -- I DO BELIEVE THE RESULTS WILL BE COMING IN, AND THEY'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY FROM EVERYTHING I CAN TELL.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE AS A NEBRASKA PLAYER, AND THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> ADRIAN MARTINEZ, WE APPRECIATE HIM.

WE HAVE A NEW WINNER IN THIS WEEK'S GAMEDAY PHOTO CONTEST.

TOM EMAILED THIS PICTURE OF HIS GRANDSON.

THE FIRST TIME HIS GRANDSON'S EVER BEEN TO A HUSKER GAME.

ENJOYING A HOTDOG THAT HE CAUGHT FROM THE WEINER SLINGER.

THANKS TO TOM FOR SHARING.

DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SEND YOUR GAMEDAY PHOTO IN AS WELL.

WE WANT TO GET 'EM IN NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

IF YOU'RE AT THE GAME, MAYBE YOU'RE IN YOUR GARAGE, OR YOU'RE AT A TAILGATE.

EITHER WAY, JUST DO THAT.

SEND YOUR PICTURES IN AND YOU CAN WIN SOME REALLY COOL STUFF AS WELL, AS WATCH THE GAME.

>> I AM JOINED NOW AND I AM JOINED NOW BY OUR SPORTS INTERN, HANNAH, TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT'D YOU SEE THIS WEEKEND?

WAS IT ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, WHERE'D YOU FIND IT?

>> WE FOUND IT ON TWITTER -- >> X, OR WHATEVER.

>> YEAH.

SO, THE FIRST ONE WE GOT HERE IS "WE'RE ALL HAVING FUN HERE.

SO MUCH FUN.

WE LOVE NEBRASKA FOOTBALL."

>> YEAH.

>> "WE'RE DOING TOTALLY FINE."

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S THIS PHOTO OF UNFORTUNATE SERIES OF EVENTS HAPPENING EARLY ON IN THE GAME, SO THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE AND SARCASM IN THERE.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH, IT DIDN'T START OF GREAT, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE?

>> AND THEN OUR NEXT ONE IS "NEBRASKA FOOTBALL AND VOLLEYBALL BOTH WIN ON THE SAME DAY."

WE'VE GOT THIS CLIP, "I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH MY HANDS."

I THINK WE SHOULD CLAP.

>> YES.

>> CHEER.

GO HUSKERS!

>> INCREDIBLE DAY FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AT NEBRASKA -- >> YES.

>> -- ON THAT SATURDAY.

HANNAH, WE APPRECIATE IT, WE'LL CATCH UP MORE NEXT WEEK.

WE LOVE SEEING WHAT SHE SHARES ON SOCIAL MEDIA EACH WEEK.

WE HAVE TO STEP AWAY FOR ONE MORE BREAK.

BUT FIRST, MORE PHOTOS FROM THE WIN AGAINST NORTHWESTERN, COURTESY OF HURRDAT SPORTS.

♪ ABOUT NORTHWESTERN.

♪ >>> WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

IT'S TIME TO CHECK IN ON THIS WEEK'S SIDELINE SURVEY.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE 3-3-5 DEFENSE SO FAR?"

64% SAY "I'M VERY IMPRESSED SO FAR."

I PERSONALLY HAVE CRAMPS THROWING THE BONES BECAUSE OF HOW WEEL THE DEFENSE HAS PLAYED THIS SEASON.

WE'RE JOINED BY SEAN CALLAHAN TALKING RECRUITING.

CALEB BENNING, WE KIND OF KNOW HIS DAD A LITTLE BIT.

HE IS A LEGACY AND ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE STATE COMMITS.

>> YEAH, NICE SURPRISE GOING INTO THE WEEKEND FOR NEBRASKA ON FRIDAY.

HE ANNOUNCED HIS COMMITMENT TO NEBRASKA.

>> LOWKEY TOO, BY THE WAY.

>> JUST -- HOW HIS WHOLE RECRUITING PROCESS HAS BEEN.

OBVIOUSLY HE DOESN'T WANT THE ATTENTION, WANT THE SPOTLIGHT.

IT'S ALL ABOUT HIS TEAM AND WHAT THE WARRIORS ARE DOING, BUT GIVES NEBRASKA COMMIT NUMBER 26.

THE 8th IN-STATE RECRUIT NOW HERE IN THE CLASS OF 2024.

YOU KNOW, THEY DID THAT AGAIN LAST YEAR, EIGHT LAST YEAR, SO WE'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN A RUN LIKE THEY'VE BEEN ON, AS FAR AS IN-STATE BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK TYPE NUMBERS.

AND WE'RE ON KIND OF A RECORD RUN OF TALENT IN NEBRASKA, AND CALEB BENNING ADDS TO THIS GREAT GROUP OF IN-STATE PLAYERS THAT WILL JOIN MATT RHULE IN 2024.

>> ANOTHER GUY IN A SECONDARY, AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, YOU HAVE CALLEN BARTA DECOMMITTING, WHO WAS ALSO A SAFETY.

ARE THEY CONNECTED AT ALL?

>> UM, I DON'T THINK SO.

>> HE JUST DECIDED TO GO TO KANSAS.

>> YOU KNOW, CALEN BARTA'S FROM TOPEKA.

>> YEAH.

>> WHICH IS RIGHT BY MANHATTAN, AND HE'S GOT FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO KANSAS STATE.

AND KANSAS STATE MADE AN OFFER TO HIM.

HE VISITED THIS PAST WEEKEND, COMMITTED TO THE WILDCATS.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD FIT FOR HIM, YOU KNOW, WITH HIS FAMILY SITUATION -- >> RIGHT.

>> AND BEING, YOU KNOW, 45 MINUTES OR SO FROM HIS HOMETOWN.

SO, ALMOST A SIMILAR TYPE OF THING, BUT TALENTED ATHLETE, HAVING A GREAT SEASON DOWN THERE IN TOPEKA AS A DEFENSIVE BACK WIDE RECEIVER.

NOT 280 POUNDS, BY THE WAY.

>> OH, NO, THAT -- HE WOULDN'T BE PLAYING SAFETY, THEN.

BUT IT'S GOOD TO GET CALEB IN THERE, KIND OF FILLS THAT SPOT.

>> YEAH, IT DOES.

AND THEY'VE ADDED A LOT OF SOLID, BIG, DEFENSIVE BACK BODIES.

VERSATILE BODIES IN THIS CLASS, CAN PLAY A LOT OF POSITIONS, AND I THINK ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT MATT RHULE IS THEY WILL MOVE GUYS AROUND.

I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT DEAD SET ON "YOU ARE COMING HERE AS A SAFETY, YOU'RE COMING HERE AS A CORNER."

THEY WILL MOVE GUYS TO OFFENSE, DEFENSE, WE'VE SEEN THAT A LOT, AS MUCH REALLY AS ANY COACH IN NEBRASKA.

>> AND NEBRASKA'S GONE TO BATTLE CREEK IN THE PAST TO GET SOME PLAYERS.

TRENT UHLIR IS GOING TO BE JOINING THE TEAM AS WELL.

>> YEAH, TRENT UHLIR, ANOTHER LEGACY, IS COMING AS A WALK-ON FULLBACK LINEBACKER.

HE'S ALSO THE TOP-RANKED SHOT PUTTER IN THE STATE.

>> OH, WOW.

>> HE THROWS IT OVER 60 FEET.

YOU KNOW, HE LIVED RIGHT OUTSIDE NORFOLK THERE IN THE BATTLE CREEK AREA.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HAVING A GREAT SEASON.

I THINK THEIR LONE LOSS IS TO NORFOLK CATHOLIC, AND IT WAS A REALLY PHYSICAL GAME.

I MEAN, HE LAID A PHYSICAL HIT IN THAT GAME THAT KIND OF WENT VIRAL ON YOUTUBE.

SO THEY'RE GETTING A REALLY EXPLOSIVE, STRONG PLAYER HERE, THAT CAN COME IN AS A LINEBACKER OR FULLBACK.

BOTH HIS DAD AND HIS UNCLE WERE FORMER HUSKER PLAYERS AS WELL AS WALK-ONS.

>> THE SHOT GUYS, THEY'VE GOT THAT EXPLOSION, TOO, SO YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT, OF COURSE, YOU WANT GUYS LIKE THAT.

SEAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS MIKE'L.

>> THANKS SEAN CALLAHAN FOR JOINING US.

LET'S CHECK OUT THE BIG WEST NOW, AND BIG TEN WEST AND SEE HOW THEY DID.

GAMES THAT NEBRASKA OF COURSE CAN BE PLAYING, AND TEAMS THEY'LL BE PLAYING COMING UP.

WISCONSIN RALLIES, SCORING 18 POINTS, UNANSWERED POINTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, COMING BACK 25-12.

IOWA FALLS TO MINNESOTA, 12-10, AFTER THAT VERY STRANGE PUNT RETURN THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

AND THEN MICHIGAN SHUTS OUT MICHIGAN STATE.

I BELIEVE HARBAUGH IS TAKING IT ON EVERYBODY THEY PLAY AT THIS POINT.

49-0 AND DID NOT PULL BACK, BY THE WAY.

THEY SCORED AGAIN LATE, LIKE THEY'VE BEEN DOING ALL SEASON LONG.

MICHIGAN IS PLAYING PRETTY WELL, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT PURDUE.

WE MENTIONED THIS EARLIER.

MAYBE -- THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GREAT RECORD, BUT THEY HAVE SOME TALENT ON THE OFFENSE.

THEY HAVE WON THE FIFTH BEST WIDE RECEIVER IN TERMS OF YARDS, FIFTH BEST RUNNING BACK IN TERMS OF YARDS, AND A PRETTY GREAT QUARTERBACK.

>> YEAH, I THINK HUDSON CARD'S PROBABLY THE BEST QUARTERBACK NEBRASKA WILL SEE.

I THINK HE'S BETTER THAN ILLINOIS' AND NORTHWESTERN'S.

SO HAS A GREAT ABILITY TO THROW IT AND RUN IT.

I WOULDN'T SAY HE'S NECESSARILY A DUAL THREAT GUY, BUT HE CAN -- YOU GOTTA BE -- YOU GOTTA PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT HE DOES.

I KIND OF FORSEE THE GAMEPLAN DEFENSIVELY WITH HIM, KIND OF SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID AGAINST ILLINOIS.

WE KIND OF HAD BULLOCK AND THOSE GUYS, MAYBE REIMER AS A -- YOU'RE BRINGING PRESSURE.

SEE, HE WILL TUCK IT AND -- AND TAKE OFF.

SO I WONDER IF THAT WOULD BE A SIMILAR GAME PLAN WITH HIM, BUT AGAIN, SIMILAR -- PURDUE'S OFFENSE, SIMILAR TO NEBRASKA, HAS TURNED THE BALL OVER PLENTY.

AND IT'S BEEN SLOPPY SO WE'LL SEE IF THE DEFENSE CAN CONTINUE THAT, CREATE SOME TURNOVERS.

>> I KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE AT RUNNING BACK, OKAY?

MOCKABEE DOES EVERYTHING -- NOT LIKE -- HIS LEGS ARE GOING DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

HE'S KIND OF OFF-BALANCE.

BUT, HE'S PRODUCTIVE.

>> THAT IS -- I THINK DURING A BROADCAST LAST YEAR I DROPPED AN ELROY HIRSCH.

>> YEAH.

CRAZY LEGS.

>> HE'S UNBELIEVABLE.

HE'S ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND HE'S A LOT MORE FIT THIS YEAR TOO.

THEY GOT TWO GOOD RUNNING BACKS, AND I -- I THINK SCHEMATICALLY, THEY'LL CHALLENGE NEBRASKA.

NOW, WE'LL SEE HOW HEALTHY PURDUE IS UPFRONT, ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT OFFENSIVE LINE, BUT THEY'LL PRESENT SOME CHALLENGES.

I LIKE THE WAY THAT THEY CUT THE BALL BACK.

I LIKE THEIR WEAK SIDE RUN GAME.

AND THEY'VE HAD A CHANCE TO PREPARE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IMITATION IS THE BEST FORM OF FLATTERY, I THINK.

NORTHWESTERN FELT LIKE THEY HAD SOME SUCCESS WITH THE LITTLE TACKLE OVER, AND THE WEAK SIDE RUN GAME.

WE'LL SEE IF PURDUE WILL TRY TO MIMIC THAT, BUT COACH WHITE AND COMPANY, THAT D-LINE IS DEEP.

AND THEY CAN PLAY A LOT OF FELLAS.

IT SHOULD BE VERY, VERY PHYSICAL, AND THE WEATHER WILL HELP.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VISITORS WISE?

>> RECRUITING?

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, IT'S STILL COMING TOGETHER, AND I THINK THESE 2:30 GAMES HAVE REALLY HELPED THEM, BUT, UM, IN TERMS OF THE DEPTH OF THE WEEKENDS THEY'RE BRINGING IN, I MEAN, IT'S NIGHT AND DAY FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN YEARS PAST.

I MEAN, THERE -- THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DEAD WEIGHT ON THESE VISITOR LISTS.

I MEAN, I WOULD SAY LAST WEEK THERE WERE 30 GUYS ON THAT LIST THAT WERE OFFER-LEVEL GUYS FOR NEBRASKA, WHICH THAT IS AN OUTSTANDING NUMBER.

THEY ARE GETTING THERE COMMITS HERE TOO, WHICH I THINK IS IMPRESSIVE.

GUYS FROM OUT OF STATE ARE COMING IN EVERY WEEK, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME OUT OF STATE GUYS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AGAIN, AS THINGS GET FINALIZED THIS WEEK.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM FACEBOOK, SCOTT BUTLER.

DO YOU THINK SATTERFIELD NEED TO SOLIDIFY THE OFFENSE FOR THE YOUNG GUYS?

>> SO, THERE'S SOME GIVE-AND-TAKE THERE.

THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES.

BUT I DON'T THINK HE CAN BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY WOULDN'T MOVE THE BALL.

YOU KNOW, SCHEMATICALLY THEY'VE GOT SOME CHALLENGES AND I'M TELLING YOU, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT FROM A SEQUENTIAL PLAY-CALLING STANDPOINT OR HIS CREATIVITY LIKE IF HE'S NORM CHOW, EVERYBODY.

BUT HE IS THE PERFECT GUY TO WEATHER AN UGLY STORM BECAUSE HE COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT STYLE POINTS.

HE IS GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO STACK W'S AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED.

AND HE'S THE PERFECT GUY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE'S GOT THE TEMPERAMENT.

>> JANE'S GIVING US A LITTLE BIT OF GRIEF BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT VOLLEYBALL BEING THE NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE NATION IN THE WIN OVER WISCONSIN.

IT REALLY WAS AN AMAZING SATURDAY NIGHT.

>> IT WAS, I WAS.

YEAH, I WAS AT THE GAME, WENT TO A LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT TO WATCH THE VOLLEYBALL GAME, IT WAS FANTASTIC.

I MEAN, THE PLACE WAS PACKED, THE CROWD WAS GOING CRAZY.

IT ENDS ON THE FIFTH SET, IT WAS AWESOME, 1-2.

I JUST HOPE THAT THEY JUST DON'T GET ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE BRACKET, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO -- >> GET A REMATCH.

>> YOU WANT A REMATCH IN THE FINALS.

>> IN THE FINALS, YEAH.

>> YEAH, I THINK WHEN YOU WATCH WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL AND IT'S PLAYED AT A HIGH LEVEL, IT IS AS AESTHETICALLY PLEASING AS ANY SPORT THERE IS.

I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME GIFTED, BIG, STRONG EXPLOSIVE ATHLETES.

I MEAN, YOU SEE 6'9" MOVING AROUND LIKE -- I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE LIKE YOU WOULD.

I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR YOU AGAIN, JAY, BUT -- I MEAN, JUST GRACEFUL.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT NEBRASKA VOLLEYBALL HAS?

IT'S A WORD THAT YOU LOVE.

>> WHAT'S THAT?

>> WHEREWITHAL.

>> OH, 100%.

>> DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE DOWN IN THE 4th, DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE DOWN 12-10 IN THE 5th.

>> DON'T BLINK, THEY COULDN'T CARE LESS.

>> YEAH, IT'S JUST NEXT POINT.

>> DID YOU GUYS SEE THAT THE RATING FOR THE VOLLEYBALL MATCH -- >> BIGGEST EVER.

>> -- HIGHER.

HIGHER THAN THE FOOTBALL GAME.

>> NOT SURPRISING.

>> SO, I MEAN, '‘CAUSE NORTHWESTERN DOESN'T HAVE A BIG FANBASE.

568,000 TO 600 AND SOME THOUSAND FOR VOLLEYBALL WHICH -- >> YEAH, PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT THAT THING.

I WAS OUT AT SEACREST FOR A BAND COMPETITION AND IT'S ALL PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

EVERYONE HAD THEIR PHONES OUT.

WHAT'S THE SCORE?

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MATCH?

IT WAS REALLY TRULY THE BIGGEST EVENT IN THE DAY IN LINCOLN THE SAME DAY AS A NEBRASKA FOOTBALL GAME.

>> UNREAL.

>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.

I WAS WONDERING, WHAT DID THE -- YOU GO TO THE MESSAGE BOARD, WHAT DID THE FANS THINK ABOUT THE UNIFORMS?

>> YOU KNOW, THEY WERE -- YOU DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE IT THAT MUCH.

>> OKAY.

>> I THINK IN THE PICTURE YOU GET LIKE, OH!

>> LOOKS LIKE LOUISIANA TECH TO ME AROUND THERE.

THAT LITTLE BLUE AROUND THE NUMBER, LOOKS A LITTLE LIKE THAT.

>> WHAT'S THAT MOVIE, "“THE REPLACEMENTS"” WHERE -- >> YEAH!

THAT'S A GOOD CALL.

>> WHERE THE GUY HAD THE LITTLE BLUE LACING BUT IT WAS SUCH A MINOR ALTERATION THAT YOU DIDN'T REALLY EVEN NOTICE IT TOO BAD.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME BAD ALTERNATE UNIFORMS OVER THE YEARS.

FOR GUYS LIKE DAMON TRYING TO CALL THE GAME, IMPOSSIBLE TO PICK OUT NUMBERS.

>> NOT BE ABLE TO SEE.

>> AND THIS QUESTION GETS ASKED EVERY WEEK AND IT'S THREE OR FOUR TIMES ON HERE NOW.

BUT CAN YOU PLAY JEFF SIMS AT A DIFFERENT POSITION TO GET HIM ON THE FIELD?

>> NO.

>> NO.

I DON'T THINK SO EITHER.

>> NO, YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT.

>> HE'S BEEN PLAYING QUARTERBACK HIS WHOLE LIFE.

IT'S WHAT HE DOES.

>> WHERE ARE YOU GONNA PUT HIM AT?

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA -- >> IS HE GONNA PLAY TIGHT END?

>> NO.

>> IT'S NOT LIKE HE'S GOING TO RUN CHOICE ROUTES.

>> SURE.

>> YOU KNOW SOME SKINNY POSTS OR ANYTHING.

NO, I THINK WHEN THEY NEED HIM TO PLAY QUARTERBACK AGAIN, HE WILL BE AVAILABLE.

>> HOW DID, OR WHAT HAPPENED -- >> OR IF -- >> -- DO YOU THINK TO MAKE TY ROBINSON AND NASH HUTMACHER PLAY AS WELL AS THEY HAVE THIS SEASON?

IS IT ABOUT COACHING?

ABOUT BEING IN BETTER SHAPE?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

TERRANCE KNIGHTON'S HELPED A LOT BUT I ALSO THINK JUST THE WAY THIS DEFENSE OPERATES AS A UNIT, YOU GET A LOT OF ONE-ON-ONE SITUATIONS.

>> YEAH, CAMPBELL HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN THE STRENGTH ROOM, TOO BECAUSE THOSE GUYS CAN NOW PLAY AT 45'S RIGHT?

>> AND NASH CAN MOVE, HE WASN'T ABLE TO MOVE.

>> YEAH, HIS LATERAL QUICKNESS IS NIGHT AND DAY.

>> WE KNEW HE WAS A GOOD WRESTLER BUT THAT DOESN'T TO EQUATE TO BEING A REALLY GOOD -- YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ABLE TO OPERATE IN CLOSE QUARTERS AND BE EXPLOSIVE.

BUT THE WAY HE'S ABLE TO MOVE AND GET SACKS, CREATING PRESSURE.

USUALLY YOU DON'T SEE 300-PLUS POUND GUYS GETTING PRESSURE.

>> THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, SEAN.

I'M JOKING HERE BUT MARK FROM GRAND ISLAND, YOU THINK THAT BENNING KID WILL PLAY OFFENSE OR DEFENSE?

HE IS A SAFETY, RIGHT?

>> OH, HE'S A DEFENSIVE GUY.

>> DEFINITELY A DEFENSIVE GUY.

>> I MEAN, WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'LL TRY TO DO.

>> THAT BENNING KID.

>> IS HE MORE OF A HYBRID GUY OR A TRUE SAFETY?

>> HE IS, I THINK HE'S A FIELD SAFETY AND HE CAN PLAY THE ROVER SPOT.

HE'S STILL GROWING, LIKE, WHENEVER HE ENDS UP LOOKING LIKE AFTER BASKETBALL IS WHEN I'LL HAVE A BETTER ANSWER.

>> HE HASN'T DROPPED THE BALL EITHER.

>> HE CROSS TRAINS THOSE GUYS.

THEY PLAY THEM ALL.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S GO TO BURNING QUESTIONS.

>> MY BURNING QUESTION IS WHAT KIND OF OFFENSIVE GAME PLAN CAN YOU CREATE FOR THIS UNIT TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

AND I THINK THAT'S THE CHALLENGE MARCUS SATTERFIELD HAS THIS WEEK.

>> CAN THEY PLAY A FORCED HAND?

SEE, WITH A LIMITED NUMBER OF WIDE RECEIVERS THAT BRINGS TIGHT ENDS AND FULLBACKS INTO PLAY.

HOW DO YOU PLAY HAVING TO BE DEALT A FORCED HAND?

I'M CURIOUS TO SEE BECAUSE I THINK THEY'LL GET A LOT OF SMASH MOUTH ON A NASTY DAY.

>> TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL, CAN THEY DO IT?

CLEAN.

CAN WE SEE IT?

YOU KNOW, NORTHERN ILLINOIS IS PROBABLY THE ONLY GAME SO FAR THIS YEAR.

BUT TAKE CARE OF THE FOOTBALL FOR ONE GAME AND JUST SEE HOW THIS OFFENSE CAN OPERATE IF THEY DO THAT.

>> CAN NEBRASKA DO SOMETHING WE HAVE DONE SINCE 2016 -- WIN THREE GAMES IN A ROW?

CAN THEY DO IT?

>> JINX.

>> DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO THE WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE AND CLICK ON THE PREDICTION.

JAY, DAMON, AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT ON SATURDAY.

NEBRASKA'S BACK AT HOME, THEY TAKE ON THE PURDUE BOILERMAKERS.

KICKOFF OF THAT GAME IS AT 2:30 PM CENTRAL ON FS1.

THEN WE'LL BE BACK HERE NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE SEASON SO FAR WITH NEBRASKA ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AND DAMON'S FORMER TEAMMATE TREV ALBERTS AND 10/11 SPORTS DIRECTOR KEVIN SJUTS.

OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SAM McEWAN, ADRIAN MARTINEZ, OUR STUDENT VOLUNTEER IN OUR CALL CENTER FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

FOR JAY MOORE, DAMON BENNING, AND SEAN CALLAHAN, I AM MIKE'L SEVERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON "“BIG RED WRAP-UP.

"” XT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON BIG RED WRAPUP.