Fresh off Ethan Garbers’ signature BIG-10 Offensive Player of the Week performance and a rejuvenating bye week, the 2-5 UCLA Bruins enter the Lions’ den in Lincoln, Nebraska to play in one of college football’s toughest environments. The Nebraska Cornhuskers’ momentum is arguably even more palpable as Nebraska is coming off a near upset of #4 Ohio State in Columbus while nursing a three-point lead midway through the 4th quarter against a national title favorite. Here are three key matchups that will most likely decide Saturday afternoon’s showdown:
UCLA Bruins Offensive Line Versus Cornhuskers’ Front
Nebraska is ranked 11th nationally in total defense at 302 yards allowed per game, while being even stouter in rush defense at 5th in the country, giving up only 92 yards per contest. The Cornhuskers held the potent Chip Kelly-led Buckeyes offense to only 285 total yards, the lowest output Ohio State has had at home since 2015 while limiting OSU to a paltry 64 yards on the ground.
That physical “Blackshirts” front seven, which has also generated 23 sacks on the season will be matched up against an anemic Bruins running game along with a work-in-progress offensive line. The Bruins’ ability to manufacture time for Garbers to get the ball out quickly to his playmakers will serve as the paramount pendulum swing. Even if the Bruins’ offensive line can get close to a draw with the Cornhuskers front, it will be an advantage for UCLA on the back end.
A very big “if” indeed.
Dylan Raiola Versus UCLA Bruins Pass Rush
The UCLA quartet of Carson Schwesinger, Kain Medrano, Jay Toia, and Femi Oladejo should swarm the Cornhuskers’ running game led by running back Dante Dowdell, whose team-leading 410 yards averages out to only 51 yards per game on a rather modest 4.3 yards per carry. Thus, many Nebraska possessions should come down to key 3rd & long situations. True freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, who drew early season comparisons to Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes given his play and mannerisms, has come back to Earth after a sweltering start to the season. How Raiola stays poised and makes the requisite read to keep the chains moving, will be a critical barometer.
Will he be the Raiola who carved up Illinois for nearly 300 yards passing and three passing touchdowns or the one who looked overwhelmed in route to four turnovers in Nebraska’s 56-7 collapse to Indiana? UCLA’s pass rush will ultimately decide which one shows up.
Ethan Garbers Versus Nebraska’s 12th Man
UCLA has already played in some vaunted venues this year, most notably the “two valleys” – Death Valley versus LSU and Happy Valley against Penn State. Garbers looked fabulous in the first two quarters against the Tigers but seemed to let the moment get too big for him in the second half while sitting out the matchup against the Nittany Lions. LSU’s defense was struggling to find itself in that first half – enabling Garbers to find that requisite rhythm, something he can’t assume to be the case against Nebraska. How Garbers holds his nerve, poise, and precision over four quarters in the face of a relentlessly daunting crowd will be a Bruin legacy-defining moment.
A win over the Cornhuskers and UCLA will be gaining steam on the road to a bowl bid. A loss and they will need to win out to get a sniff of the postseason. Fours Up.