Game Day Guide: What you need to know for Nebraska-Wisconsin
Another week, another opportunity to become bowl eligible. And this one’s important for both Nebraska and Wisconsin, because each team is seeking that coveted sixth win to secure bowl eligibility.
Another week, another opportunity to become bowl eligible. And this one’s important for both Nebraska and Wisconsin, because each team is seeking that coveted sixth win to secure bowl eligibility. For Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, he wants that sixth win for the seniors more than anything.
“I would certainly love to end their career, not just with a win, but with them being the ones to break through,” Rhule said on Monday. “There’s a big difference. Not getting a win, but going to get the plays. We absolutely could’ve won the game last week. The shoulda, coulda, woulda gets you nowhere. You gotta go do it. I want them to be able to walk off the field with their heads held high, knowing they got it done.”
Wanting that sixth win isn’t the only similarity between the two programs. The Huskers and Badgers are both working without the offensive coordinator they started the season with. In Nebraska’s case, Rhule promoted Dana Holgorsen in the role while Marcus Satterfield remains on staff coaching tight ends. On the Wisconsin side of things, coach Luke Fickell fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Phil Longo on Sunday following the Badgers’ 16-13 loss to No. 1 Oregon. Wisconsin averaged a season-low 3.6 yards per play in that game.
So, here we are. Senior Day with five wins and an opportunity to break through after seven bowl-less years.
Is this the week? As we said in the last game day guide, see you this afternoon.
Everything you need to know for Nebraska-Wisconsin:
TV Channel: BTN (Jeff Levering, Jake Butt, Brooke Fletcher)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Live Stream: FoxSports.com (with TV provider)
Radio: Huskers Radio Network
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Weather: Partly cloudy skies. High of 58 degrees. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
Line: Nebraska -1.5
Over/Under: 42.5
Notable quotes:
Matt Rhule on Wisconsin firing its offensive coordinator:
“I thought last year, Phil Longo had the best gameplan against our defense of anyone that we faced. Sometimes we refer to it as the Wisconsin game plan when people use elements of things they did last year. With him being gone, you don’t know exactly what you’re going to see. Obviously, Coach (Luke) Fickell is a great head coach. They’re going to play great defense. They want to run the football and take shots down the field. We have a general idea of who they are and what they do, but you have a whole other element that you have to prepare for. Best thing we can do is just focus on ourselves and try to fix some of the issues we had last week that prevented us from winning.”
Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen on Nebraska’s wide receivers and perimeter blocking:
“I said you guys are fairly big kids. I know 17 isn’t a big kid, but he’s a tough kid. But there are some good sized kids out there. You know, 16, 18, 4, 29, I mean these guys are big bodies. I’m like, why are you not blocking worth a crap on the perimeter? It’s embarrassing. Being a receiver, they are like, ‘I want touches, throw me the ball.’ The first thing I said to them was if you don’t start blocking out there then you aren’t going to get the ball thrown to you.”
Quarterback Dylan Raiola on Wisconsin:
“They play really physical. They play really sound and they play together. So normally when you have those three things you get a good defense and so we’ll be expecting anything and everything. It’s the last home game, so our last chance for the young guys to go out there and play for these seniors and show our love for them and their dedication they put into this program. We are going to prepare our tails off and make it a special night for the seniors and for everyone involved.”
Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell on who will call plays this week:
“Why does it matter, right? The offense will be run and the guys will do a lot collaboratively. I don’t think it’s important to know who is calling it. I guess it gives you the ability to point a finger at somebody if that’s the case. It’s not one of those things I think is that important. Sometimes I think it’s overrated in some ways.”
Other games we’re watching this week:
(All games in CT)
Erin
Iowa at Maryland, 11 a.m., Big Ten Network
If you’re somehow not watching Indiana and Ohio State, I guess you should watch Iowa and Maryland face off solely because Nebraska plays the Hawkeyes next. There are members of the Iowa beat predicting a Maryland win, so it’s truly one to keep an eye on. And if you’ve somehow kept up with the drama around the status of Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara, he confirmed on Friday that he’s still part of the team.
No. 23 Missouri at Mississippi State, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network
I guess I’m surprised Missouri is still ranked, but this one should be the one the Tigers can use to get back on track. Away games aren’t always the easiest, of course. What to watch? How quickly these teams score. Missouri is eighth in the SEC with 21.2 first downs per game, and the Bulldogs have 14 touchdowns in under two minutes and 13 scoring drives of five plays or fewer.
USC at UCLA, 9:30 p.m., NBC
You know what I love? A good ol’ late night Big Ten matchup. Nothing like it. And that’s it. I’m watching this game because what once was Pac-12 After Dark is now Big Ten After Dark, and conference realignment is weird.
Brandon
No. 5 Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State, 11 a.m., FOX
The game everyone will be watching, particularly those in South who have been diligently laying the track down which the Indiana "ain't played nobody" train will rumble. Just need the Buckeyes (-10.5) to win by three touchdowns or so. Not sure I'd sign up for that, though Ohio State is a deserving favorite. Expect the Hoosiers to play well. I've never had a problem with impartiality as a journalist, but I'll admit I'm rooting hard for IU here. Or maybe I'm just rooting for the disruption of flimsy arguments and selective reasoning.
No. 4 Penn State at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m., CBS
The Huskers, of course, require a full screen, so I thought about taking advantage of early Black Friday deals to get another TV because this week's afternoon slot is so loaded. While it doesn't deserve top billing, keep an eye on the Nittany Lions' trip to Minnesota. The Gophers (+12) could have a real shot to shake up the Playoff race.
No. 19 Army vs. No. 6 Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m., NBC
Have you ever watched a massive Army game that didn't involve Navy (or, maybe, Air Force)? I don't know that I have, but this is that. The Black Knights (+14) have a chance to bolster their own Playoff chances while probably destroying Notre Dame's. And the whole thing is happening at Yankee Stadium like it's the 1940s again. This may win the award for Pregame Narrative of the Year in college football. Now let's hope we get an actual Game of the Year candidate. If you’re reading this, I require you to watch it. Punishment for non-compliance is no pie on Thanksgiving.
Both of your other games write-ups are 💯.
"I'm rooting hard for IU here. Or maybe I'm just rooting for the disruption of flimsy arguments and selective reasoning." The SEC (with ESPN help) is tryna convince everyone that they are special because they said so. I think that's called a self-fulfilling fallacy but I haven't been in college in a long time. And it's going to be really weird watching USC UCLA as a b1g game. Really weird.
I can't comment on the Huskers Badgers game. There is too much riding on it within my household. The trash talk yesterday and this morning already is unutterable.
A perfect weekend: nebrasketball wins, volleyball beats Wisconsin again, and we break the dreaded 10-game curse against the badgers.
Additional win is Sam Hoiberg dunking on Jayskers on X. GBR!