NEBRASKA (6-3 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) at UCLA (3-5, 3-2)
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Rose Bowl
TV/radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/790 AM
Line: UCLA by 1.5
NOTABLE INJURIES
UCLA: OUT: DL Nico Davillier (personal reasons), DL Robert James III (undisclosed, season-ending), DL Tyler Partlow (undisclosed, season-ending), WR Jonah Smith (undisclosed, season-ending), QB Pierce Clarkson (indefinitely suspended) WR Karson Gordon (undisclosed), OL Jaylen Jeffers (undisclosed, season-ending), OL K.D. Arnold (undisclosed, season-ending); QUESTIONABLE: WR Jadyn Marshall (undisclosed), LB Ben Perry (undisclosed), DB Croix Stewart (undisclosed), WR Jaedon Wilson WR, RB Anthony Woods (undisclosed), OL Eugene Brooks (undisclosed), DB Jamier Johnson (undisclosed), LB Ty Lee (undisclosed), DL Ashton Sanders (undisclosed), OL Michael Sultemeier (undisclosed) DL/TE Grant Buckey (undisclosed).
Nebraska: OUT: QB Dylan Raiola (fractured fibula, season ending), WR Janiron Bonner (undisclosed, season ending), DB Blye Hill (undisclosed, season ending), RB Trent Uhlir (undisclosed, season ending), LB Gage Stenger (undisclosed, season ending), DL Malcolm Simpson (undisclosed, season ending), OL Nolan Fennessy (undisclosed, season ending), OL Gibson Pyle (undisclosed, season ending), TE Mac Markway (undisclosed, season ending), OL/DT Conor Connealy (undisclosed, season ending), Teddy Prochazka (undisclosed, season ending); QUESTIONABLE: RB Kwinston Ives (undisclosed), LB Dawson Merritt (undisclosed), DB Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (undisclosed), WR Demitrius Bell (undisclosed), RB Jamarion Parker (undisclosed), OL Julian Marks (undisclosed), DL Tyson Terry (undisclosed), OL Gunnar Gottula (undisclosed).
What’s at stake? If the Bruins want to go bowling, they must win Saturday. Ahead on the schedule – in winnable games – remain USC and Washington, which have flaws that interim coach Tim Skipper and Co. have proved in the past that they can expose. Matt Rhule, Nebraska’s head coach, warded off potential interest in Penn State – after the Nittany Lions fired James Franklin – by quickly signing an extension to stay a Husker coach. However, if back-to-back losses to USC and UCLA do occur and create a losing conference record, fans could sour on Rhule – creating an awkward atmosphere for the months ahead in Lincoln.
Who’s better? Dylan Raiola – despite his flaws – is one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten, leading Nebraska to the 41st-best passing offense in the nation. And when the sophomore went down last week against the Trojans, reportedly fracturing his fibula, the injury put a true hamper on Nebraska’s hopes beyond bowl eligibility, which the Huskers had already secured. With true freshman TJ Lateef now under center, there are plenty more question marks about where Nebraska stands against UCLA. Huskers running back Emmett Johnson has already eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards and could be the make-or-break answer Saturday. Senior defensive analyst Kevin Coyle, the Bruins’ defensive play-caller, has proved he can coach up his players to pull off an upset. UCLA will have to punch above its talent weight.
UCLA wins if: Forgetting the disaster two weeks ago disaster against No. 2 Indiana is a reality. The Bruins – from Skipper to linebacker Jalen Woods to offensive lineman Garret DiGiorgio and others – have preached putting aside the offensive slump and defensive leak that occurred in Bloomington. But on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, responding will need to be the top priority instead. Can quarterback Nico Iamaleava turn a corner against a top-15 defense? Can his offensive line hold up against such a stout edge rush? Those questions – along with Johnson’s rushing against the Bruins’ own defense – can turn losses into wins if the answer is “yes.”
Prediction: Nebraska 31, UCLA 17. For a game in which the Bruins are favored, this has a trap game written all over it. Against a backup quarterback – something UCLA had historically struggled with handling – Nebraska will trust Johnson’s running abilities, along with Lateef’s dual-threat tendencies, to expose the Bruins’ early-season struggles stopping the run.