At a Crossroads

Nine games in, Nebraska feels less “mysterious contender” in the college football world of it all and more like a “choose-your-path.”

Nine games in, Nebraska feels less “mysterious contender” in the college football world of it all and more like a “choose-your-path.”

Saturday night’s blackout matchup against USC had all the makings of a major lift for the Huskers. Instead, it didn’t quite pan out in the end.

Now the Huskers sit at 6-3 with a true freshman at quarterback, a bruised depth chart and a road flight to the Rose Bowl before a much-needed bye.

“We’re sitting at a crossroads right now as a team,” head coach Matt Rhule said Monday. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity for us. These next three games are some of the most important times for our team and for our program moving forward.”

Rhule didn’t sound like someone trying to salvage a narrative. Instead, it sounded like a coach calling on his team to choose one. He invoked “plant trees that you’ll never see” and “leave places better than you found them” when discussing what’s next for this team.

The blackout night proved something about the place. What happens next has to prove something about the program.