All-red, all-Big Red. As the Nebraska donned red jerseys, red pants at home, a depature from the norm, the Huskers turned in a performance that’s becoming more routine: a 59-7 throttling of Houston Christian to close non-conference play. The Cornhuskers went 3-0 through non-conference play for the second straight year heading into an important matchup with No. 24 Michigan next Saturday. The dominant showing Saturday comes on the heels of the Huskers’ 68-0 shutout of Akron a week ago.
In their final tune-up before Big Ten play, Nebraska fired on all cylinders, leading 17-0 through one quarter, 38-0 at half and 52-7 through three quarters. Quarterback Dylan Raiola efficiently piled up 222 yards through the air while completing 15-of-21 passes in a half of football. Emmett Johnson ran 13 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns, with his workday done by intermission. And wide receiver Dane Key snared four passes for 104 yards and a touchdown, all before halftime, in his first 100-receiving yard game at NU. Even the defense scored a touchdown in the first half, as Riley Van Poppel sacked Huskies quarterback Jake Weir, causing a fumble. Williams Nwaneri picked up the loose ball and ran it for a 29-yard touchdown.
Like last Saturday, a parade of backups made it into the game. 101 players participated in the game. 29 players made a tackle. 11 players had a catch. 8 players had a rushing attempt. And, despite Nebraska digging deep into its bench, they were productive, outgaining HCU 554-160. The Huskers scored on eight of their first 10 drives, including touchdowns on seven of those possessions. The Huskies were three-and-out on their first three drives, fumbled the ball resulting in Nwaneri’s touchdown on the fourth, then punted three more times before their lone bright spot of the day: a Xai’Shaun Edwards 45-yard touchdown run where he was running right, hit in the back and spun around, then broke to his left and ran in for a touchdown.
Otherwise, it was all Nebraska. It came from big plays: Key’s 39-yard touchdown catch late in the first period, T.J. Lateef to Cortez Mills, Jr., for 69-yards to close the scoring. It came from steady drives: a nine-play, 70-yard possession and a 10-play, 75-yard drive, both ending in Emmett Johnson touchdown runs. It was a second straight dominant performance when those sort of showings have been in short supply, even against seemingly overmatched foes.
Next week’s opponent will be far different, even if they’re wounded. No. 24 Michigan (2-1) will come to Memorial Stadium without their head coach, Sherrone Moore, suspended for his role in the Connor Stallions cheating scandal. The Wolverines lost to Oklahoma last week, and have a true freshman, Bryce Underwood, triggering the offense. Still, Michigan will be a much greater challenge than one of the worst FBS squads in the NCAA in Akron, and a struggling FCS outfit in Houston Christian.
But on this day, Nebraska took care of the business at hand, and raised hopes that the Huskers could grab a victory against a fellow football power.