The Nebraska Cornhuskers have dropped to 5-3 this season after suffering a difficult loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus.
The Cornhuskers battled hard and delivered one of the best Big Ten Conference clashes so far this season. Nebraska took a dramatic lead late and it seemed like the Cornhuskers could pull-off the massive upset over a ranked opponent. However, the Buckeyes went on to score and then secure what would be a rather costly interception for the Cornhuskers.
True freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola started the season with plenty of flair, and delivered some mature performances for the team. However, since entering conference play, Raiola has been a different quarterback recording just four touchdowns in five Big Ten Conference games. Three of those touchdowns came against the Illinois Fighting Illini in an overtime loss to the team.
Since the win over the Purdue Boilermakers, Raiola has truly struggled as his offensive line has begun to crumble. The Fighting Illini recorded six sacks during the loss for the Cornhuskers, which seemingly opened the flood gates. Before the loss, the team had only allowed one sack through three games against UTEP, Colorado, and UNI.
While the competition was not that great, the offensive line has allowed ten sacks in four games since the overtime loss to Illinois. Raiola was sacked three times by the Ohio State Buckeyes defense and struggled to truly open up the offense. The quarterback finished with a rating of 99.3, which is far below his average of 140 this season.
Can the Nebraska Cornhuskers Turn Around the 2024 Season?
While things certainly do not look great for the Nebraska Cornhuskers currently, there is still time left for the team to turn things around.
The Cornhuskers will face UCLA, USC, Wisconsin, and Iowa to finish off the 2024 season before entering post-season play. Nebraska needs just one win out of the four to solidify a bowl position, but likely the team can secure multiple wins.
UCLA has been an interesting team this season, with big potential on offense but a rather terrible defense. The Bruins should be a win for the Cornhuskers as the Bruins have struggled to consistently develop pressure on defense this season. Without pressure in the face of Raiola, the quarterback can delivered solid throws and scan the field intelligently.
USC, Wisconsin, and Iowa are all very similar teams as they had high expectations to begin the season, but have not fully hit stride. USC and Iowa have been in downward spirals, and could become vulnerable targets for the Nebraska Cornhuskers moving forward. Iowa has an excellent defense, however, and could be particularly difficult for the Cornhuskers to beat.
Wisconsin had amazing expectations for the team heading into the season, but a few key injuries have changed things for the Badgers. With the team seemingly building up steam ahead of the clash, the Cornhuskers will have to expect a tough passing defense. However, the Badgers struggle to pressure the quarterback quickly, and often only secure coverage sacks.
If the Nebraska Cornhuskers can block intelligently and get rid of the ball quickly moving forward, the team could end the season with eight wins.
Get More NFL and College Football Content
For more news and trends in the college football world, follow me on Twitter @JarrettGuerrera