A run-heavy team loses two running backs. What now?

Nebraska entered 2023 hoping to grind out games on the ground. That probably won't change despite a pair of injuries at running back.

Courtesy Nebraska Athletics

Say this for Matt Rhule after three games at Nebraska—a quarter of the way through his first season, it looks like he said it would look. The vision, cast over many offseason press conferences and interviews, was prototypically Big Ten. The Huskers were setting out to control games with a run-first offense while playing great defense. Nebraska, entering its 13th season in the conference, had a coach not just willing but eager to meet the Big Ten on its terms for (I would argue) the first time.

With 25% of the season in the books, things have looked the way Rhule said they would look. Don’t let the 1-2 record overshadow the value in that. The foundation of Nebraska football in the future may not be finished yet, but whatever portion has been laid has been built to spec.

I was initially planning a quarterly report for today so we could look at how the Huskers have changed from the three-game mark (also 1-2) a year ago. How is the offense different?¹ What about the defense?²

That idea was yanked from the on-deck circle following Monday’s news that the Huskers’ top two running backs will miss the rest of the season. Leading rusher Gabe Ervin Jr. (38 carries, 196 yards) suffered a dislocated hip, requiring surgery. Second-string back Rahmir Johnson (12 carries, 65 yards) dislocated his shoulder, also requiring surgery.³

Through three games, Nebraska was running the ball on 62% of its plays. That was the eighth-highest nationally, though the three service academies ranked one, two, three. In the non-option category, the Huskers were top five in rush rate.

What does an offense like that do without its top two backs going forward?