Recruiting never stops and it’s easy to miss the top stories day-to-day. Recruiting analyst Greg Smith recaps all things Nebraska recruiting news, analysis and more so you never miss a thing.
A late season game between Nebraska—who sits at 2-4—and Minnesota—who is 2-3—shouldn’t have that much at stake. It would typically be a sleepy 11 a.m. matchup that features a late-arriving crowd that goes through the motions. This game will obviously feature a smaller crowd due to COVID-19 restrictions but the competition itself should not be sleepy.
There is actually a lot at stake for Nebraska in this game. There is a bit of momentum starting to build. Since the Illinois game, things feel different. The game against Iowa did not result in a win but better habits were formed that week. Those habits continued during Purdue week, resulting in a win for the Huskers. The team also landed a commitment last weekend when defensive lineman Ru’Quan Buckley announced that he is ‘N.’
Then all attention turned to this week’s game against the Gophers. Fans were nervous about the game being played. Minnesota had to miss its last two games due to rising COVID-19 cases. It’s late in the week so it appears that the game is all systems go. The chance for Nebraska to start a winning streak is in play. Since Scott Frost took over the program, the Huskers have only won two games in a row three times. The team has not won three in a row under Frost.
To get to three, Nebraska needs to get the one this weekend first. It would be a bit sweeter to win this weekend after last year’s game against Minnesota. That game in Minneapolis brought up a lot of questions about toughness in Nebraska’s program. Those questions have not been part of the conversation this season.
Also on the table in this strange year is a chance for a bowl bid. Ten teams currently have two wins in the Big Ten. Another victory bolsters the Huskers’ case to play in a bowl game. They’d also get extra practice time which the coaching staff covets. It’s also Senior Day on Saturday. While the players can all opt to come back just who will is up in the air.
Frost wasn’t prepared to go there just yet.
“I love all these seniors,” he said. “It’s a great bunch of kids who have stuck it out through a lot. But I don’t want to start talking about next year. We have a big game this weekend. We’ll have all those discussions after the season.”
Put all those things I laid out together. The Huskers have a nice opportunity to head into the early signing period with momentum. it would make a lot of people feel better about the direction of the program. Next Wednesday will be an even happier day if the Huskers are riding a wave on the field too.
I could not be more excited to sign my NLI to the University of Nebraska. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again From the day Nebraksa started talking to me I knew that UNL was home. I committed in April and never looked back. I have not had a single regret or doubt. #daybyday pic.twitter.com/73DpZ5Lcz3
— Branson Yager (@BransonYager) December 10, 2020
Recruit Watch
>> The Huskers made the final three for Vegas defensive lineman Tia Savea on Wednesday night.
Top 3 pic.twitter.com/oPvKuurD9w
— Tiaoalii A. Savea † (@TiaoaliiS) December 9, 2020
>> Big-time 2022 tight end Micah Riley out of Bellevue West released his junior season highlights featuring lots of pancakes.
>> Offensive line commit Teddy Prochazka is excited to sign with Nebraska next week.
I know I am https://t.co/uTYQcoaI2X
— Teddy Prochazka I ⁶⁴ (@TeddyProchazka) December 10, 2020
ICYMI
>> The shorthanded Gophers are ready to take on the Huskers this weekend even without star wideout Rashod Bateman.
>> The I-80 Preview podcast looks at the potential for great green gobs of yards on the ground this weekend.
>> Nebraska basketball splintered during the game-clinching run by Georgia Tech on Wednesday night but the Huskers are looking to bounce back against an in-state opponent.
>> Scott Frost spoke about false-positives, responding to a win and more ahead of the clash with Minnesota.
>> Tom’s Time is back to look at the nearest of misses in the ’94 Orange Bowl.
>> Check out the updated game day forecast for the Nebraska versus Minnesota matchup this weekend.