A new test, a different tone

By Saturday afternoon, we’ll know a lot more about who this Nebraska football team really is.

Photo courtesy Nebraska Athletics

By Saturday afternoon, we’ll know a lot more about who this Nebraska football team really is. The Huskers survived their worst offensive stretch of the season and still beat Michigan State by double digits.

But Maryland is not Michigan State.

The stakes feel heavier now, and the outcome feels uncertain to many (at least from a quick scroll through social media reactions). It’s a road game against a team with the Big Ten’s most aggressive pass rush, a freshman quarterback breaking records and a fan base desperate to prove its team can finally finish. The Terps are 4-1, smarting from a gut-punch collapse against Washington and angry about the “same old Maryland” narrative that has surfaced in some post-game reactions.

For Nebraska, this is a matchup that provides a chance to prove that growth isn’t situational and that the progress under Matt Rhule isn’t dependent on location, crowd or comfort.

Let’s dive into what we need to know on both sides of the matchup.