Northern Iowa presents unique challenge for Nebraska

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule expected his team to beat Colorado in part because of the matchup between NU’s burly physicality — especially on defense — with CU’s finesse approach.

Styles, as they say, make fights. And the style of the Huskers’ next opponent, Northern Iowa, is quite different from the Buffaloes or Nebraska’s season-opening foe, UTEP.

UNI (2-0) is not a spread passing team.

The Panthers, ranked No. 21 in this week’s FCS poll, average 42 carries for 298 yards per game. Their top running back, Tye Edwards, is 6-foot-3, 240 pounds and averaging 10.5 yards per tote. The second back is 6-0, 225 pounds.

“I like their backs — they have two backs who have gone over 100 yards, and I like the way they play,” Rhule said of UNI’s approach, which tends to include the use of two tight ends in most formations. “Run the ball, play action, take shots, be physical up front.”

NU wanted Colorado to run the ball, Rhule said. A run was a win because it got the ball out of CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ hands.

“This week, it’ll be like a war of attrition,” Rhule said of playing the Panthers. So the coach wants NU’s starters and backups to compete like they’re fighting for reps.

“We played two spread teams, and now it changes,” Rhule said. “And how do we match up against teams that run the ball the way we want to run the ball? How are we going to match up against teams that play physical defense and play special teams?”

Photos: Nebraska football hosts Colorado — Sept. 7

Nebraska assistant linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek (from left), analyst Jack Potenza, and defensive coordinator Tony White use hand signals to communicate with the players on the filed on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Memorial Stadium.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star