A midseason analysis of Nebraska football: Amie Just

Whoaaaaaa, we’re halfway there.

Six games down, six games to go for Nebraska football.

Parts have been great. Parts have been good. Parts have been bad. Parts have been ugly. Parts have been meh. 

Where does Nebraska stand halfway through the season? Here’s a midseason analysis:

Maybe it’s recency bias, but Nebraska’s offense is statistically more impressive than you might think.

The Huskers rank in the top 25 nationwide among FBS programs in first downs offense, turnovers lost and completion percentage. 

But what about the big categories?

Nebraska’s total offense, with an average of 381.3 yards per game, is in the middle of the pack at No. 77 out of the 133 FBS programs. That’s up significantly from last year’s 312.8 yards per game.

Nebraska’s passing offense, an average of 244.7 yards per game, ranks at No. 55. Compared to last year? Leaps and bounds ahead of 2023’s figure of 135.9 yards. But, of course, that’s not exactly a fair comparison considering how drastic of a difference there is between last year’s scheme and personnel and this year’s. 

While Nebraska’s passing offense may be at No. 55 nationally, Nebraska freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola’s name is in the top 50 in six different categories.

He’s 28th in passing yards (1,358). He’s 30th in completion percentage (66.9%). He’s tied for 38th in passing touchdowns (9). He’s 46th in both completions per game (18.83) and passing efficiency (148.39). He’s 50th in yards per pass attempt (8.04). 

“Dylan’s the guy that the guys on offense look to,” coach Matt Rhule said Monday. “We can continue to help him with (an) improved run game and guys getting open. And I think he’ll get better and better and better every week.”

Not too shabby for a 19-year-old leading a Power 4 team.

As far as receivers go, Nebraska’s quarterbacks — and punter Brian Buschini — have connected with 10 different playmakers on three or more occasions. 

The leader in the clubhouse there is single-digit receiver Jahmal Banks with 21 receptions. But he’s not the leader in yardage. That’s fellow transfer wideout Isaiah Neyor with 291. Banks isn’t far behind, though, with 283 yards receiving.

True freshman Jacory Barney Jr. has been electric, too, on his 19 receptions for 149 yards. (And on his 7 carries for 104 yards rushing with two touchdowns.)

Nebraska’s rushing offense, an average of 136.7 yards per games, ranks at No. 90. Last year’s figure — aided by a running quarterback in Heinrich Haarberg — came in at 176.8 yards per game. Again, a comparison of apples and oranges but still notable nonetheless.

Nebraska, due to its stable of running backs, has yet to produce a 100-yard rusher this season. Sophomore running back Dante Dowdell, tied for 34th nationally with his five rushing touchdowns, has received the majority of Nebraska’s carries with 74, while senior running back Rahmir Johnson has 36 and sophomore running back Emmett Johnson comes in with 35.

It’s not like the run isn’t successful, either. Emmett Johnson is averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Dante Dowdell is averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Rahmir Johnson is averaging 4.1 yards per carry. 

That’ll move the chains. So, what’s the deal?

Sure, they’re hitting chunk plays. Ten yards here, 12 yards there. But the game-changers?

“Our run game offensively is not where it needs to be,” Rhule said Monday. “We’re not hitting the home-run plays.”

He continued later, “That’s a major area for us is those 12 yard runs have to start being 50 yard runs.”

Play-calling: There have been some crafty and creative play calls from offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield this season, like the Janiran Bonner touchdown or the Haarberg wrinkles — either at quarterback or receiver. There have been jumbo packages with extra offensive linemen.

Now, has everything been perfect? No, of course not. But seeing Nebraska be more creative in this area compared to last year with all the bubble screens is a sign of progress. And, as a bold prediction, I doubt we’ve seen the last of the funky plays from Nebraska.

Turnovers: Nebraska has only lost one fumble all season. One. ONE! And it was in the season opener. Not to be a jinx, but that’s an incredible metric when you think back to all the turnover commentary from last season. Nebraska’s offense, in total, has had four turnovers on the year. Three interceptions, though only one of those was a poor decision, and that lone fumble from Dowdell. That’s a great spot to be in right now.

MVP: It’s Raiola. His command of the game has been solid. He’s composed and poised. He’s efficient and hasn’t made a ton of mistakes. There have been a few, of course, like the interception on the RPO last week when he didn’t appear to see the linebacker, but if that’s the biggest gripe on him so far, that’s a job well done.

Rookies: It’s Barney and Gunnar Gottula. Barney is a game-changer with his speed and incredible change of direction. And Gottula, who came into the season as the third-string left tackle, has been playing so well that we’ve all kinda forgotten he’s out there. And that, of course, is the best compliment one can give an offensive lineman. 

The Blackshirts are once again playing out of their minds. 

The collective defense is ranked in the top 25 in the FBS in nine different categories: defensive touchdowns, scoring defense, rushing defense, sacks, red zone defense, defensive interceptions, total defense, turnovers gained and tackles for loss. And three Huskers are hanging out in the top 50 for specific stats, like Malcolm Hartzog Jr. with his two interceptions and the sack duo of Ty Robinson and James Williams for their play.

That’s pretty impressive. 

No one, and I mean no one, is breaking through in the run game against Nebraska. Not. A. Soul.

Nebraska’s opponents are only averaging 84.2 yards rushing per game. That metric ranks No. 9 nationally, among the likes of national contender defenses like Mississippi, Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan. 

Last week, for example, Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai came into the game against Nebraska running like the wind — hitting the century mark in three of his four games prior to Saturday. But he ran into a Blackshirt wall in Memorial Stadium, only gaining a net 78 yards, with 64 of that coming in the first quarter. 

Nebraska’s opponents’ ground games this season:

• UTEP: 56 yards rushing, zero rushing TDs
• Colorado: 16 yards rushing, zero rushing TDs
• Northern Iowa: 139 yards rushing, zero rushing TDs
• Illinois: 166 yards rushing, zero rushing TDs
• Purdue: 50 yards rushing, zero rushing TDs
• Rutgers: 78 yards rushing, zero rushing TDs

What’s the common denominator there? No rushing TDs. Not a single one.

What’s even more wild? Nebraska’s the only team that hasn’t allowed a single rushing score this season.

Nebraska’s pass defense ranks No. 36 nationally, as the Huskers’ opponents have thrown for an average of 188.3 yards per game. 

• UTEP: 149 yards passing, 1 passing TD
• Colorado: 244 yards passing, 1 passing TD
• Northern Iowa: 162 yards passing, zero passing TDs
• Illinois: 215 yards passing, 4 passing TDs
• Purdue: 257 yards passing, 1 passing TD
• Rutgers: 186 yards passing, 1 passing TD

Pair that with the sack breakdown (which frustratingly factors into the run game rather than the pass game in college football):

• UTEP: two sacks
  • Ty Robinson, Mason Goldman
• Colorado: six sacks
  • Nash Hutmacher, Ty Robinson, Jimari Butler, Willis McGahee, MJ Sherman, Cameron Lenhardt 0.5, Princewill Umanmielen 0.5
• Northern Iowa: one sack
• Illinois: two sacks
  • John Bullock, Ceyair Wright
• Purdue: five sacks
  • James Williams 2, MJ Sherman 1.5, Ty Robinson, Kai Wallin 0.5
• Rutgers: four sacks
  • James Williams 2, Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher

Collectively, those 20 sacks rank ninth nationally. And Robinson and Williams, with their four sacks, are tied for 48th nationally in that metric.

Pair that with all the interceptions, all seven of them for six different players, and that’s a pretty decent showing.

Flowers should be given to Ceyair Wright, who arrived on campus over the summer and is still balling out in Tommi Hill’s stead. It wasn’t that long ago that there were big questions as to who would be the backup for Hill if anything were to happen, and there hasn’t been much of a letdown there at all. 

Total defense: Nebraska’s defense is No. 14 nationally with its opponents only averaging 272.5 yards per game. Phenomenal.

DMVP: John Bullock. He hasn’t been mentioned much here, but the man is absolutely everywhere for Nebraska. He leads the team in tackles. He’s No. 2 in tackles for loss. He’s fourth in sacks. He’s one of the six with an interception. He’s third in pass breakups. He’s forced a fumble. Defensive coordinator Tony White said recently that Bullock is playing at an All-Conference level and it’s hard to disagree. 

Rookies: The defense doesn’t use as many true and redshirt freshmen as the offense does but props to both Vincent Shavers Jr. and Jeremiah Charles. Shavers, as the backup linebacker, has eight tackles for Nebraska and Charles, as the athletic-as-heck third-string cornerback, has four tackles and a pass breakup.

Special teams, by in large, have been a disaster for Nebraska. There’s a bright spot or two, but not great overall.

Nebraska is dead last nationally in blocked kicks allowed with five. Five! (For context, that’s two blocked field goals and three blocked punts.) That’s a tough pill to swallow. And really difficult to mentally come back from. 

The snaps have been wildly all over the place. Some have been perfect, but others have been too high and others have been in the dirt. Others have been far from the holder. It’s been a masterclass in inefficiency.

But John Hohl and Tristan Alvano aren’t without fault.

Hohl is 1-of-5 on his kicks, with two of his attempts being blocked. Alvano, who has been shut down recently due to his lingering groin injury, is 3-of-4 on the season with a long of 51.

Let’s start with the bad. Nebraska is dead last nationally in blocked punts allowed with three. Three! Not great, folks. Nebraska is lucky that Brian Buschini wasn’t more seriously hurt last week against Rutgers on the first blocked punt fiasco.

Buschini is the one bright spot on special teams right now.

He’s punted 18 times this season for 856 yards. That’s an average of 47.6 yards per punt with one touchback — not his fault, bad coverage — and eight that have landed inside the 20. Last week, Buschini was a game-changer with his punts. Two went for 60-plus and another pinned Rutgers inside the 5-yard line. And, of course, can’t forget about the perfectly-executed fake punt. Wonder if they’ll call it again if the situation presents itself down the line.