S S >> NO TREATS THIS YEAR FOR HUSKER FANS ON HALLOWEEN, AS NEBRASKA FELL TO THE PURDUE BOILERMAKERS 28-23.

IT WAS A SCARY NIGHT ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD FROM A TEAM THAT WAS COMING OFF THE BYE.

HOW COULD THINGS GET BETTER IN A FINAL THREE-GAME STRETCH OF THE SEASON?

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE'LL DO THAT WITH OUR SPECIAL GUEST, KETV SPORTS DIRECTOR, ANDY KENDEIGH.

SEAN CALLAHAN WILL ALSO JOIN US FOR SOME RECRUITING UPDATES FROM THE WEEKEND.

ALL THAT AND MORE NEXT ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

S S >> HI, EVERYONE.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE AND WELCOME TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP" ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

IT WAS AGAIN THE TALE OF TWO HALVES -- THIS TIME, THE SECOND HALF IT WAS NEBRASKA THAT WENT THROUGH THE NIGHTMARE THE DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN.

WE'RE JOINED TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT, TWO FORMER HUSKERS, JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU SAW THAT SECOND HALF COMING.

NOT THE WAY THEY RAN THE BALL AND PLAYED IN THE FIRST HALF.

AT LEAST I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.

>> NO, I DIDN'T FORESEE IT EITHER.

I MEAN, IF TOURE HAD GOT THAT CATCH, YOU KNOW, AND YOU'RE UP BY, YOU KNOW, TWO SCORES THERE BUT OBVIOUSLY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, AND THEN THEY COME OUT AND LAY AN EGG, AND THEY DIDN'T PRODUCE AND THAT'S TWO SECOND HALVES IN A ROW - ONE AGAINST MINNESOTA AND ONE AGAINST PURDUE, IN THAT THEY DON'T PRODUCE IN THE SECOND HALF OFFENSIVELY.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT SELL ME THE EXCUSE THAT ADRIAN WAS ALL DINGED UP AGAINST MINNESOTA.

I CAN LISTEN TO THAT A LITTLE BIT BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU COME OFF A BYE WEEK AND, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMED LIKE GUYS ARE RESTED, ADRIAN APPEARED TO BE 100%, THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD IN THE PRESS CONFERENCES, AND IF HE'S PLAYING, YOU THINK HE'S 100% AND YOU RUN THE FOOTBALL WELL IN THE SECOND HALF, YOU KNOW, STICK TO THAT -- THAT GAME PLAN.

A LOT OF THREE AND OUTS, YOU KEEP YOUR DEFENSE ON THE FIELD A LOT OF TIMES, THEY'RE TIRED, THEY'VE PLAYED A LOT OF SNAPS THIS YEAR AND YOU DON'T PRODUCE.

AND -- AND, YOU LOSE, AND YOU LOSE TO A -- AN AVERAGE-AT-BEST PURDUE TEAM THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEAT, THAT YOU WERE A 7-1/2 POINT FAVORITE COMING INTO THIS GAME, AND YOU DON'T PLAY WELL COMING OFF -- YOU KNOW, A BYE WEEK.

AGAIN, THIS -- I MEAN, THEY HAVEN'T DONE THIS WELL HISTORICALLY WITH FROST, PLAYING WELL AFTER BYE WEEKS AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S INEXCUSABLE.

IT'S 100% INEXCUSABLE TO ME AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR BREAD CRUMBS LEADING US TO THAT TRAIL TO WHAT THE ISSUE IS, WHO'S THE PROBLEM?

AND, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE IN-DEPTH WITH THAT, BUT IT'S STILL PUZZLING TO ME THAT THIS TEAM CANNOT BEAT THE TEAMS THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BEAT AND THEY JUST CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT OUT.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DO PLAY A LITTLE BIT DOWN TO THEIR COMPETITION, AND UP TO THEIR COMPETITION, AS WELL.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF THE PROBLEM.

WHEN YOU LOSE SIGHT OF BECOMING YOUR OWN BENCHMARK AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF BEING THE BEST VERSIONS OF YOURSELF, THEN YOU SUCCUMB TO BEING WEEK-TO-WEEK.

AND, FOR THIS FOOTBALL TEAM IN PARTICULAR, THE LACK OF FOCUS AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS -- IS VERY INTERESTING.

IT'S A LOT OF UP AND DOWN FOR THIS TEAM EMOTIONALLY, BUT I THINK KIND OF AS THE LEADERSHIP GOES, SO GOES THEIR MANNERISMS, RIGHT?

THE MORE STEADY AND EVEN-KEELED THE MODEL BEHAVIOR IS, I THINK THE MORE STEADY AND EVEN-KEELED THIS TEAM WILL BE.

WE KIND OF HEAR IT A LITTLE BIT -- A LITTLE BIT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCES AND KIND OF WHAT'S SAID, IT'S IN BITS AND PIECES AND IT'S NOT A LOT OF EBB AND FLOW TO KIND OF WHAT'S BEING SAID AND SO SOMETIMES I THINK THE PLAYERS ARE A LITTLE LOST THEMSELVES, RIGHT?

YOU ALWAYS NEED TO KIND OF CALM YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM.

THIS TEAM, IT SEEMS TO ESCALATE, RIGHT, AND, JUST THE MISCOMMUNICATION WAS -- DID THE BALL NEED TO BE CAUGHT?

WAS THE SUN REALLY IN MY EYES, WELL, HE SAID THIS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST DISJOINTED.

AND, IT'S NOT REALLY A UNIFIED MESSAGE, AND SO I THINK TRULY THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, BUT IT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN BIG WAYS ON SATURDAYS.

>> AND, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT REGARDING THE TEAM AND WHERE THINGS ARE HEADED.

WE'RE HERE TO TAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TONIGHT.

OUR INTERN, ALEK, IS THERE ALL BY HIMSELF WITH ALL THE PIZZA, ENJOYING VALENTINO'S PIZZA TONIGHT.

YOU CAN REACH US BY EMAILING OR TEXTING TO BIGRED@NEBRASKAPUBLICMEDIA.ORG.

CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, AS WELL, AND WE'LL GET YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ON THE AIR.

WE'LL GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN TONIGHT.

HERE'S YOUR THIS WEEK'S ALL NEW "SIDELINE SURVEY."

"HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ADRIAN MARTINEZ?"

APPARENTLY, PEOPLE AREN'T COMPLETELY HAPPY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION.

"DOES A LOT GOOD," "THERE'S TOO MUCH WRONG," "BOTH A AND B," AND "SHOW ME LOGAN SMOTHERS."

36% OF THE PEOPLE SAYING "SHOW ME LOGAN SMOTHERS."

HEAD TO THE WEBSITE SO YOU CAN VOTE, AS WELL -- HEAD BACK EACH WEEK FOR A BRAND NEW SURVEY.

>> WE'RE CLOSE.

YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTEP HERE BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE REST OF THIS YEAR.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT NEXT YEAR.

YOU KNOW, I HOPE WE GET IT.

I THINK WE SHOULD.

AND, LIKE I SAID, WITH THE YOUNG GUYS WE'VE GOT COMING BACK AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND GET A FEW MORE PIECES TO ADD TO THAT, I THINK THIS THING COULD BE REALLY GOOD.

I'VE REALLY THOUGHT THIS YEAR IT WOULD POP AND WE'VE BEEN SO CLOSE.

WHEN YOU'RE SO CLOSE AND YOU DON'T GET IT DONE, YOU KNOW, THAT UNFORTUNATELY YOU -- YOU HAVE A MINDSET WHEN WE GOT HERE THAT WE'D BEEN BEAT A LOT AND WINNING'S A HABIT, LOSING'S A HABIT -- TRYING TO BREAK THAT CYCLE JUST TAKES A FEW WINS IN A ROW AND SOME MOMENTUM, AND A LITTLE MORE BELIEF.

THE KIDS BELIEVE BUT YOU REALLY BELIEVE WHEN -- WHEN IT HAPPENS AND, GOSH, WE'VE BEEN SO CLOSE I JUST WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN FOR THESE GUYS.

>> YEARS AGO, BILL CLINTON ASKED US THE DEFINITION OF WHAT "IT" IS.

WHAT IS "IT" WHEN HE SAYS I HOPE WE GET IT?

ANOTHER YEAR?

IS THAT WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO YOU?

>> SOUNDS LIKE IT TO ME.

THAT'S PRETTY -- IT WAS PRETTY - IT'S CLEAR AS -- I MEAN, IT MIGHT BE CLEAR AS MUD BUT IT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME.

>> THEY ASKED HIM A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION AND HE SAID HE MEANT "WINS," BUT IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE IN THAT THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT A FIFTH YEAR.

>> YEAH, THAT'S KIND OF -- THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO WHERE THE MESSAGE -- WHAT WAS REALLY SAID, RIGHT?

INITIALLY, IT CAME ACROSS THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR, RIGHT?

SOUNDED LIKE A GUY THAT MAYBE HAD JUST HAD A TALK WITH HIS BOSS -- MAYBE NOT, BUT TO COME BACK AND SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT DOESN'T REALLY VIBE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW -- I TRIED TO -- LISTEN, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS -- I WANT PEOPLE TO SUCCEED - AND TRY TO LOOK AT IT, "OKAY, IF HE MEANT 'WINS,' WHAT WAS THE CONTEXT?"

I HOPE WE GET "IT."

I WOULD HAVE EITHER SAID "THEM," OR I WOULDN'T HAVE TALKED ABOUT "HOPING," BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS, WHEN THE MESSAGE IS CHOPPY AND YOU GO BACK AND YOU HAVE TO CLEAN IT UP, IT MAKES WHAT'S BEING -- YOU START TO QUESTION WHAT YOU'RE REALLY BEING TOLD WHEN YOU'RE LISTENING AND IT'S KIND OF WHAT I -- I KIND OF RESORT TO IS, LIKE, THE EGG EXPERIMENT, RIGHT, WHATEVER'S IN YOU AND YOU GET SQUEEZED, IS WHAT'S COME OUT.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY PREVALENT BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S PRESSURE THAT'S WHEN LEADERSHIP REALLY MANIFESTS ITSELF IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS, AND IT SOUNDED TO ME LIKE HE WAS MAYBE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A BIG DEAL, REALLY.

MAYBE HE'S LETTING US KNOW THAT HE'S ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT IT AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

A LITTLE HUMANITY AND A LITTLE HUMILITY -- I'M OKAY WITH THAT, RIGHT?

MAKING YOURSELF VULNERABLE TO LET US KNOW THAT IT ACTUALLY MATTERS -- I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

>> ALL WE WANT IS CONSISTENCY, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY ASKED FOR.

THE ONE THING THIS TEAM HAS DONE WELL ALL SEASON WAS COME OUT IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND PLAY WELL.

THEY WERE OUTSCORING THEIR OPPONENTS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OVER THIS SEASON.

THEY CAME OUT IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT LOST.

TAKE US INTO THE LOCKER ROOM GOING IN -- ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE AND THEN THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL.

YOU GUYS LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID WELL IN THE FIRST HALF AND BRING THAT OVER TO SECOND HALF?

IS IT A SEPARATE GAME PLAN?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> IT JUST DEPEND -- I MEAN, DEFENSIVELY IF WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS GOING WELL IN THE FIRST HALF, HEY, THERE'S NOT MUCH TO CHANGE.

HEY, MAYBE IT'S LITTLE TWEAKS.

"HEY, LOOK FOR THIS FORMATION" "HEY, THEY'RE ON 21, 22, 10, 11" "HEY FORMATION TO THE BOUNDARY."

WHATEVER IT MAY BE, LOOK FOR THIS - LOOK FOR TO BE A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE, SHOCK PLAYS.

>> FOR SOME INDICATOR --.

>> YEAH, LOOK FOR SOMETHING, BUT HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING OUR BASE CALLS -- THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND -- OR -- OR, IF YOU KNOW -- I'VE BEEN IN ALSO GAMES WHERE YOU HAD, LIKE, A MORE SPECIFIC GAME PLAN AND IT HASN'T QUITE WORKED -- THEY MIGHT HAVE GASSED YOU, HEY, BOOM -- THAT BLITZ IS OUT.

WE'RE KEEPING IT SIMPLE.

IF YOU TO CARE TO CHECK, IF WE'RE IN THIS LOOK WE'RE GOING TO CHECK AND THEY'RE -- WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THIS.

THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING AND YOU JUST - YOU SIMPLIFY IT.

BECAUSE YOU GO BACK TO WHAT YOU TRAINED, AND TRAINED, AND TRAINED IN SPRING BALL, AND IN FALL CAMP, AND YOU - YOU SIMPLIFY IT.

YOU DON'T TRY TO OVERTHINK IT AND A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S WHAT WORKS BEST IN THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS.

SO, YOU ADJUST -- IF IT'S WORKING WELL, THERE'S REALLY NO ADJUSTMENT.

JUST SAY, "HEY, LOOK FOR THIS.

HERE'S WHAT THE - HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN THEIR ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE WE KICKED THEIR TAIL IN THE FIRST HALF."

AND, IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT, HEY," BOOM, HERE'S OUR TWEAKS.

WE'RE GOING TO SIMPLIFY IT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT WE DO REALLY, REALLY WELL, AND WE'RE GOING TO SAY, "HEY, BEAT US WITH WHAT WE DO REALLY WELL," AND THEN SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND MAYBE IT MAY CHANGE SOME THINGS ON THE RUN -- THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE REFERRING TO NEBRASKA WAS RUNNING THE FOOTBALL PRETTY WELL IN THAT FIRST HALF.

>> WELL, YEAH, RAHMIR JOHNSON LOOKED GREAT IN THE FIRST HALF.

>> AND - AND, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY DON'T RUN THE FOOTBALL IN THE SECOND HALF.

>> YEAH, IT WAS INTERESTING, RIGHT?

I MEAN, THEY HAD THE BIG SECOND QUARTER.

HE HAD 19 CARRIES IN THE FIRST HALF -- HE HAD 10 IN THE REST OF THE GAME AND THEN IN THE SECOND QUARTER ALONE, I THINK HE HAD 10 CARRIES FOR 79 YARDS, OR 11 CARRIES FOR 79 YARDS, AND YOU RUN THE BALL THE FIRST PLAY IN THE SECOND HALF FOR NINE -- >> YEP.

>> A A A BASICALLY SAYING TWO THINGS: "HEY, LISTEN, SOMEBODY'S HOPEFULLY CHARTING PLAYS SO YOU HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S WORKED WELL.

LISTEN, POWER HERE HAS BEEN NICE, OUR VEER TO THE OP --", WHATEVER IT IS, YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS.

YOU MAYBE SPECULATE ON WHAT THEY WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS HAVE A "WHAT-IF" TO YOUR SEQUENCE PLAYS, RIGHT?

"HEY, IF THEY TRY TO STOP POWER LIKE THIS, WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE THIS.

MAYBE WE INSERT WITH AN H-BACK AND WE DON'T KICK OUT," OR, "WE LEAD THAT GUY," OR WHATEVER THE DIALOGUE IS BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT YOU TYPICALLY STAY WITH WHAT WORKS UNTIL SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENS -- >> IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT, RIGHT?

>> ESPECIALLY ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN PLAYS PUT UP ON THE DRY-ERASE BOARD AND THEY'LL TALK ABOUT PLAYS YOU'VE HAD GOOD SUCCESS WITH AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD GOOD SUCCESS, YOU KIND OF -- YOU EITHER TALK ABOUT WHY OR YOU SCRAP THOSE PLAYS KIND OF LIKE IF YOU HAVE AN INEFFECTIVE BLITZ, OR, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN AN UNDER-FRONT, MAYBE YOU GO SOME OVER-FRONT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN GETTING GASHED, YOU KNOW, TO THE WEAK SIDE, OR WHATEVER IT IS.

AND SO, I THINK FOR NEBRASKA TO COME OUT AND DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, AGAIN, THE CONSISTENCY, I THINK -- >> DO YOU ANTICIPATE THEIR ADJUSTMENTS, OR DO YOU DON'T WANT TO GET THAT DEEP INTO IT?

>> WELL, SO, I THINK YOU ALWAYS HAVE -- YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CONTINGENCY.

LIKE, LET'S SAY I'M -- IF I'M A TRAP TEAM, RIGHT, I'M A PEN-AND-PULL AND LET'S SAY, "OKAY, NOW LET'S LOOK FOR THEM TO SQUEEZE THIS PLAY."

WELL, IF THEY SQUEEZE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING THEM KIND OF WIN THE YARD OR GETTING UP-FIELD, MAYBE YOU ANTICIPATE A LITTLE SCHEME.

HEY, IF THIS GUY SQUEEZES, SOMEBODY HAS TO BE FITTING D-GAP NOW.

FOR THIS D-GAP GUY, THIS IS HOW WE WANT TO INSERT.

>> SMALL ADJUSTMENT.

>> YOU DO THOSE LITTLE SMALL ADJUSTMENTS BUT IT'S STILL REALLY WITHIN THE CONFINES OF HOW YOU MOVE THE FOOTBALL.

>> HERE IS THE PLAY OF THE GAME FROM SATURDAY.

IT'S AN ALMOST-TOUCHDOWN IN THE FINAL MOMENTS OF THE FIRST HALF -- A MOMENT THAT COULD HAVE PROPELLED NEBRASKA TO THE LOCKER ROOM WITH A TOUCHDOWN, BUT IT WAS ANOTHER MISSED OPPORTUNITY FROM THE HUSKERS.

WE HAD A DEBATE ON THE DAY - A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.

YOU GO FROM THE DARK TO THE LIGHT -- MAYBE SAMORI TOURE COULD HAVE LAID IT OUT.

MAYBE ADRIAN MARTINEZ COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB.

IN THE END, THIS SHOULD BE A COMPLETION.

THIS SHOULD BE A TOUCHDOWN.

>> I DON'T -- >> EMBLEMATIC OF THE WHOLE SEASON.

SAMORI TOURE SAYS HE LOST IT IN THE SUN.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THE RECEIVER AT HIS WORD.

HIS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR SAID, "LISTEN, IT DOESN'T MATTER, YOU HAVE TO CATCH THAT BALL."

SO, THERE'S NO -- THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IF IT GOES OFF YOUR FINGERTIPS, YOU DON'T EVEN NEED A FULL LAYOUT, SO I'M ASSUMING HE LOST IT, RIGHT?

BECAUSE, A BALL THAT CLOSE YOU TYPICALLY WOULD LEAVE YOUR FEET FORWARD.

WE'VE SEEN GUYS DIVE FOR -- FOR MUCH LESS.

I THINK HE LOST IT.

THAT'S -- THAT'S MY -- >> BUT - LOOK, HE SHORT-ARMED IT A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, ALLIGATOR-ARMED IT A LITTLE BIT.

IT WAS A GREAT -- I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD THROW.

I MEAN -- >> YEAH -- I, SO -- >> I MEAN, A LONG PASS, AND YOU WERE TRYING TO EYE MARTINEZ A LITTLE BIT.

>> I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT, EITHER.

DID YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH -- >> NO.

>> IN THE PRESS BOX, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A TOUCHDOWN BECAUSE HE'S LITERALLY SAID "TOUCHDOWN."

>> HE'S THROWING TO WHERE ONLY HIS GUY CAN CATCH IT.

HE'S LEADING HIM TO LITERALLY CATCH IT ON THE RUN AND -- >> I'M WITH YOU.

I MEAN, IT WAS -- IT WAS -- IT'S EASY TO KIND OF CHASTISE WHEN YOU'RE KIND OF VILIFYING A GUY, BUT ON THAT PARTICULAR PLAY THE THROW WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR A COMPLETION.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS A COLOR COMMENTATOR WHO WAS TRYING TO MAKE A POINT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME, ALL THE WAY THROUGH, AND HE TOOK ANOTHER ADVANTAGE TO TAKE A SHOT AT A KID - A GUY.

>> YEAH, KELLY STOUFFER -- >> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT KELLY STOUFFER DID.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS OFFENSIVE IDENTITY?

BECAUSE, IT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THE OFF-SEASON - WERE THEY GOING TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE COULD IDENTIFY THEIR IDENTITY?

HAVE WE REACHED THAT?

DO WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE OR ARE WE STILL ASKING QUESTIONS?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN'T -- I MEAN DB MIGHT HAVE A BETTER IDEA BECAUSE HE'S MORE OF AN OFFENSIVE GUY, BUT I LOOK AT THIS AND IF THERE'S ANY IDENTITY IT'S THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ONE.

>> LIKE, ADRIAN MARTINEZ DO IT ALL?

KIND OF IS THE -- >> OH, IT'S EXTREMELY QUARTERBACK-CENTRIC.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

>> RIGHT, AND I MEAN -- >> YEAH, WITHOUT A AOUBT.

BUT, LIKE, I JUST -- I LOOKED AT -- ARE THEY A PHYSICAL DOWNHILL RUNNING TEAM?

NO.

ARE THEY A BETTER COUNTER-POWER, GET-OFFENSIVE-LINEMEN MOVING TIGHT END?

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, A LITTLE BIT.

>> A LITTLE.

A LITTLE.

>> A LITTLE, YOU KNOW.

>> I'VE SEEN THEM - MAYBE THEY'RE A TEAM THAT IF, YOU NOW - I THINK THEY DO LIKE TO PUT THOSE ADJUSTERS, THOSE HANGERS, THOSE FLAT DEFENDERS IN CONFLICT -- KIND OF AN RPO-ISH, AND IF THEY DON'T DO RPO, THEY DO OPTION YOU OUT ON THE PERIMETER SOME BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, IT'S NOT REAL RHYTHMIC IN TERMS OF THE SCHEME BECAUSE, EVEN WITH THE FLASH MOTION OR THE OVERT MOTION, AND THEN KIND OF THE RUN-FAKES AND THE QB OPTION GAME, IT'S ONLY IN SPRINKLES, RIGHT?

A FOUR- OR FIVE-PLAY SEQUENCE, AND THEN IT'S SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU HAVE A VEER OR A DIVE COMPONENT OFF OF THAT, SOME MORE TWO-BACK DOWNHILL-RUN GAME TO HELP COMPLEMENT IT, BUT IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE IT'S WINDOW-DRESSING -- NOT REALLY A STAPLE.

HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE NEXT PHASE TO MAKE IT A STAPLE, AS OPPOSED TO A SPRINKLE.

>> REMEMBER, THEY WERE SPREAD PACED WHEN THEY CAME HERE, RIGHT?

THAT WAS THE IDEA, YOU SPREAD 'EM OUT, WE'LL GO ON PACE, WE'RE GOING FAST, WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE BALL ABOUT 58% OF THE TIME -- THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ENDED UP WITH.

>> NO.

>> YEAH -- >> I KNOW HALLOWEEN'S OVER BUT I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE.

WE HAVE SOME SCARES FOR YOU - IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT PACKAGE FROM SATURDAY.

MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE OUT OF THE ROOM.

THIS IS -- THIS COULD BE A LITTLE VIOLENT.

ADRIAN MARTINEZ, THOUGH, CAME OUT LOOKING PRETTY GOOD EARLY IN THE GAME AND ZAVIER BETTS, WHO WE TALK A LOT ABOUT GETTING THE BALL TO HIM - LOOK, DAMON, THEY GOT THE BALL TO ZAVIER BETTS.

>> YEAH.

THEY DID.

>> ONE TIME THE WHOLE GAME.

>> ALMOST WAS SO SURPRISED THAT HE CAME FREE.

A LITTLE SQUARE-IN ROUTE, A LITTLE CHOICE ROUTE, STUCK IT IN THERE -- OFF TO A GOOD START.

>> AND WE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, RAHMIR JOHNSON RAN IN THE GAME.

AND, HE MAY HAVE LOOKED AS GOOD AS HE'S LOOKED THE WHOLE SEASON.

WEEK OFF -- PROBABLY DID WELL FOR RAHMIR JOHNSON YOU SEE THERE.

AND THEN, OMAR MANNING, WITH ONE OF THE BETTER PLAYS HE'S HAD OF HIS CAREER SO FAR.

>> YEAH, THIS CATCH -- MAKE A GUY MISS, AND JUST FINISH.

THAT WAS -- I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT YOU ASK THE GUY TO DO AND IN A LITTLE OUT ROUTE THERE, GET UP FIELD, FINISH.

>> 7-0 NEBRASKA.

SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS PLAY, THIS AUSTIN ALLEN COMING OPEN.

THIS IS A STAPLE OF THEIR OFFENSE.

AUSTIN ALLEN HAS BECOME A STAPLE.

>> YEAH, HE'S A SUNDAY GUY, ONE OF THEIR MORE CONSISTENT, BETTER PLAYERS, ACTUAL LEADER ON THAT FOOTBALL TEAM.

THIS IS THE GUY YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE FOOTBALL TO.

>> HATE TO LOOK FOR BLAMES, BUT IS THIS A BLAME?

OR, IS THIS A GREAT PLAY BY THE DEFENSE?

IS THERE A BALANCE?

>> HE'S JUST SITTIN' -- HE'S AN UNDERNEATH GUY.

I MEAN, I DON'T -- HE WAS SITTING RIGHT THERE.

>> I REALLY DON'T LIKE THE BRINGING OF THE ROUTE INSIDE.

I'D LIKE HIM TO SIT DOWN AND -- >> YEAH.

>> THROW THE BALL OUT -- YOU BRING HIM INTO TRAFFIC.

>> JAQUEZ YANT HAD A BIG FIRST HALF WITH THIS LONG RUN HERE -- 33 YARDS, AND THEN COMING RIGHT BACK TO IT -- JUST BARELY GOES OUT OF BOUNDS AT THE ONE-YARD LINE AND THEN NEBRASKA GETS UNDER CENTER AND THERE'S A FUMBLE, AND THEN ADRIAN MARTINEZ DOES WHAT HE'S BEST -- GREAT PLAY-FAKE HERE.

HE FAKED OUT THE ANNOUNCERS OF TV AND RADIO.

>> YEAH, IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HIM GO UNDER CENTER.

I THINK THEY GOT A SNEAK EARLIER IN THE GAME FOR A FIRST DOWN.

>> THEY DID.

>> BUT THEY DID FUMBLE THIS ONE BUT, HEY, I'M A FAN OF GOING UNDER CENTER.

>> A LOT OF DEPTH FOR PURDUE.

THIS IS A FRESHMAN WIDE RECEIVER, THOMPSON -- TWO CATCHES FOR 21 YARDS.

O'CONNELL COMES BACK TO DAVID BELL, WHO HAD A VERY GOOD GAME ALTHOUGH CAM TAYLOR-BRITT, I THOUGHT, HELD HIS OWN.

>> YEAH, HE DID.

IT WAS A REALLY GOOD MATCH IF YOU GO OUTSIDE -- THE NUMBERS OF TWO GUYS THAT -- OR HAVE ASPIRATIONS TO PLAY ON SUNDAYS.

>> PURDUE GOT LUCKY HERE AS ZANDER HORVATH COMES BACK AFTER SIX WEEKS OF HAVING SURGERY, GETS BACK ON THE FIELD, HAD A GOOD DAY, GETS THE TOUCHDOWN RIGHT THERE.

WE'RE SITTING THERE AT 14-14, AND THEN ADRIAN MARTINEZ, MOVING HIS FEET, MAKING THIS THROW -- AND LOOK, FALCK GOES AND GETS IT!

THERE'S A GREAT EXAMPLE.

HE GOES OUT AND GETS THE BALL.

MAYBE IF HE TRIES STANDING UP HE DOESN'T CATCH THIS, BUT THIS MAY BE WHAT TOURE SHOULD HAVE DONE.

>> IT'S ALMOST A BETTER BALL TO TOURE THAN IT WAS TO LEVI.

>> IT WAS, YEAH.

>> NO DOUBT.

WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> VERY SIMILAR.

>> YEP.

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS THIRD-DOWN CALL.

I JUST DIDN'T.

HE RAN IT INTO THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

THEY GET THE FIELD GOAL.

HEY, CHASE CONTRERAZ WITH A FIELD GOAL.

LOOKS GREAT, 17-14 -- HE WON THE KICKOFF, APPARENTLY, AND HE GETS TO GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A PLAY.

THERE'S FROST, GETTING HIS WATER BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO GET DEHYDRATED AND THEN, WE COME BACK WITH ANOTHER TURNOVER AND THIS WAS KIND OF THE THEME.

I BLAME THIS, DAMON -- AND I CONTINUE TO BLAME IT ON ONE GUY AND ONE GUY ONLY: PATRICK MAHOMES.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE PATRICK MAHOMES.

YOU CAN'T BE PATRICK MAHOMES.

>> YEAH, THE CURRENT PLAYMAKER, TRYING TO MAKE A PLAY.

AT THE TIME, VOKOLEK LOOKS LIKE HE'S THERE -- ANOTHER ATHLETIC PLAY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND, MY GUY'S JUST BETTER THAN YOURS.

>> HERE'S A CLUTCH ROUTE RIGHT HERE, AS WELL AS CAM TAYLOR-BRITT PLAYED, THIS IS DAVID BELL JUST MAKING A PLAY AND GETTING A CATCH.

AND THEN O'CONNELL, WHO HAD A REALLY GOOD GAME OVERALL, GETS THE BALL TO JACKSON ANTHROP.

>> YEAH, THOSE FLOOD ROUTES REALLY PUT NEBRASKA IN A BIND.

MAN, THOSE LITTLE SPRINT-OUT.

>> IT'S TIMING, TOO.

>> FLOOD PATH THROUGH, MAN, IT'S JUST - THEY ATTACKED THE WEAKNESS OF THE DEFENSE, YOU KNOW?

THEY'RE NOT - THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU GET OVER THE TOP OF YOU - THEY'LL GET YOU SOME UNDERNEATH AND THEY ATTACK THOSE AREAS.

>> GAME OF INCHES THERE.

MILTON WRIGHT GETS THE TOUCHDOWN, BUT LUKE REIMER ALMOST GOT HIS HANDS ON THE BALL AND KNOCK IT DOWN.

MORE AIDEN O'CONNELL, WHO AVOIDS LUKE REIMER RIGHT THERE TO MAKE A PLAY -- PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A THIRD AND TEN, THIRD AND 12 -- THEY GOT THE SACK INSTEAD.

IT'S A FIRST DOWN.

>> A BACK-BREAKER, TOO, WHEN YOU NEED A STOP TO GET OFF THE FIELD.

>> JACKSON ANTHROP, I'M PRETTY SURE HAS BEEN THERE NINE YEARS.

>> YEAH, I TELL YOU WHAT, PURDUE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THEIR CROSSING ROUTES AND THEIR UNDERNEATH COVERAGE.

NEBRASKA HAD A HARD TIME PLAYING UNDERNEATH.

>> AND A TEAM THAT COULDN'T RUN THE BALL, USED THREE GUYS TO RUN THE BALL AT NEBRASKA.

FOR 3.7 A CLIP, BUT STUCK WITH IT.

>> YEAH, AND JUST WITH THE RUNNING BACKS -- 41 CARRIES FOR 2.8 PER, WHICH IS VERY WORKMAN-LIKE.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER INTERCEPTION.

THIS IS REALLY WHEN THE FANS STARTED LEAVING AFTER THAT OVERTHROW.

SAMORI TOURE WAS WIDE OPEN -- FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT FLOATED ON ADRIAN MARTINEZ THERE.

>> YEAH, A LOW ELBOW.

BALL WILL SAIL.

THE LOWER THE ELBOW, THE HIGHER THE BALL.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT YOUR LOWER BODY AND YOUR UPPER BODY WORKING TOGETHER.

AND THEN, HERE'S A VERY GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAY.

THAT ACTUALLY FORCED A FIELD GOAL THAT WAS A MISS, SO IT GAVE NEBRASKA STILL A CHANCE BUT THEN, ANOTHER INTERCEPTION.

>> YEAH, TOUGH BREAK HERE, TRYING TO THREAD THE NEEDLE.

>> YOU NOTICE IT'S TIPPED, SO MAYBE THAT HURT TRYING TO PUT IT AWAY FOR AUSTIN ALLEN, BUT IT'S A GOOD DEFENSIVE PLAY.

>> YEAH.

THERE WERE TWO OF 'EM WHERE GUYS WERE BEING REALLY ATHLETIC -- OPPORTUNISTIC.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER TIME WHERE NEBRASKA GETS THE BALL LATE.

SOME PLACES CALL THIS A GARBAGE TOUCHDOWN.

IT PUT NEBRASKA AGAIN INTO A ONE-SCORE GAME.

A COUPLE OF NICE THROWS.

NICE PLAY AGAIN BY OMAR MANNING, MAKING GUYS MISS AND GETTING SOME EXTRA YARDS HERE.

>> YEAH, REALLY KNOWING WHERE HE IS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, UNDERSTANDING SPATIAL AWARENESS.

>> NOW, RAHMIR JOHNSON'S COME SO FAR.

WATCH HOW HE CATCHES THIS BALL AND GETS UP FIELD -- MAKES A GUY MISS AND GETS IN THE END ZONE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD JOB OF SEEING AND BEING THE CREASE.

JUST BEING DECISIVE.

>> AND THE RIGHT TACKLE ON THIS PLAY, THE TWO-POINT CONVERSION, GETS BEAT -- BALL GETS KNOCKED AWAY.

NO TWO-POINT CONVERSION.

NEBRASKA STAYS DOWN FIVE, GOES TO THE ONSIDE KICK -- NEBRASKA HAD A REAL CHANCE HERE.

>> YEAH, IT'S A COUPLE ONSIDE KICKS IN A ROW AND THEY HAD THE CHANCE TO RECOVER IT.

I KNOW THEY THOUGHT THEY DID.

JUST GOT TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE PLAYS WHEN IT'S CRUNCH TIME.

>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE - SO MANY PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE STADIUM IF THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT ONSIDE KICK.

HERE ARE YOUR FINAL STATS: NEBRASKA HAD A REALLY GOOD DAY, BUT MOST OF IT WAS IN THE FIRST HALF.

THE BIG THING IS AND HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW THERE - FOUR TURNOVERS FOR NEBRASKA, ZERO FOR PURDUE, AND LOOK AT THE TIME OF POSSESSION - 38 MINUTES TO 22 MINUTES, ESSENTIALLY, AND A LOT OF PLAY DIFFERENCE, AS WELL, WEARING DOWN THE DEFENSE.

>> YEAH, NO QUESTION.

>> LET'S GET IN "THE HUDL" AND BREAK DOWN MORE PLAYS OF THE PURDUE GAME WITH JAY MOORE.

( WHOOSH ) >> ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER ON YOU GUYS WITH THESE COUPLE PLAY BREAKDOWNS -- SOME MORE POSITIVITY.

I KNOW YOU -- WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF -- A LOT OF BAD STUFF, A LOT OF HORROR, TO KEEP THE HALLOWEEN THEME GOING, BUT I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON THIS FOURTH-AND-ONE PLAY.

AS A DEFENSE, FOURTH AND ONE, LATE IN SECOND QUARTER -- WHEN YOU SHUT DOWN AN OFFENSE LIKE THIS IT'S -- WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE THREE GUYS REALLY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT GARRETT NELSON, DEONTRE THOMAS, JOJO DOMANN.

AS THEY PLAY HERE, I LOVE HOW THESE THREE GUYS -- HE IS COMING UP FIELD, GETTING OFF A GUY -- FORCING HIM BACK INSIDE -- DEONTRE THOMAS KIND OF RUNS WHAT WE CALL A "PIRATE STUNT," WHERE IT GOES FROM B TO A HERE -- GETS UP FIELD, SQUEEZES THE GAP, AND YOU SEE HERE, THEN, WHAT I REALLY LIKE HERE IS JOJO DOMANN -- I COULDN'T QUITE GET THE PAUSE ON HERE ENOUGH, BUT HE REALLY GOOD INSIDE HAND PLACEMENT -- GETS RID OF THE TIGHT END, AND GOES AND MAKES A PLAY.

SOMETIMES, YOU JUST HAVE TO GO AND MAKE A PLAY IN FOOTBALL.

SO, YOU LOOK HERE, BOOM -- HE HAS TO BOUNCE 'EM BACK - THESE TWO GUYS DO A GREAT JOB.

ALMOST GET HIM BACK HERE, BUT JOJO, COMING CLEAN, BEATS 87 -- BAM, YOU'RE OFF THE FIELD.

BALL BACK TO THE OFFENSE - WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF TOURE COULD HAVE GOT THE TOUCHDOWN THERE, BUT DIDN'T HAPPEN -- BUT, OVERALL, A GREAT PLAY.

NOW, WE SAW THIS PLAY A FEW TIMES -- THIS LITTLE COUNTERACTION FROM YANT -- I THINK MAYBE RAHMIR JOHNSON GOT IT -- MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE BUT, I REALLY LIKED HIS ACTION.

WE GET HERE -- WE GET A LITTLE MOTION HERE TO KIND OF HOLD LINEBACKER SAFETIES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET AUSTIN ALLEN AND SICHTERMAN KIND OF PULLING HERE AND IT'S JUST -- YOU GET A CREASE HERE AND IT'S REALLY GOOD ACTION.

YOU GET THE PULL AND, BOOM, YOU GET THE LEAD -UP - YOU GET A HUGE HOLE HERE BUT THE SAFETY RUNS UP HERE FROM -- FROM PURDUE I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S QUITE DOING -- HE RUNS IN THE BACK OF HIS OWN GUY -- HE COULD COME HERE AND MAYBE MAKES A TACKLE.

THANKFULLY, HE DOESN'T.

BUT, OVERALL, REALLY GOOD EXECUTION, REALLY GOOD JOB BY SICHTERMAN GETTING THIS GUY ON THE GROUND, AND NEBRASKA WAS REALLY SUCCESSFUL WITH THIS RUN PLAY IN THE FIRST HALF -- WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN A LOT MORE IN THE SECOND HALF, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DIDN'T DO THAT AND -- BUT, A COUPLE GOOD PLAYS THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THE FIRST HALF IN THIS PURDUE GAME.

>> GOING BACK TO THAT FIRST PLAY, ONE OF THE UNDERRATED THINGS IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT NEBRASKA PUT THEIR DEFENSE IN TOUGH SPOTS AND IN SUDDEN CHANGE, THEY GOT STOPS.

>> YEAH, IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING EARLY, RIGHT, WHERE NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE WAS KIND OF HOLDING SORT OF A SHORT FIELD AND LIKE YOU SAID, SUDDEN CHANGE.

IT WAS ENCOURAGING BECAUSE YOU FELT LIKE, ALRIGHT, THEY HAD A GOOD BEAD, A GOOD VIBE, ON WHAT PURDUE WAS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH ON OFFENSE.

I THINK THIS DEFENSIVE TEAM JUST SIMPLY WORE DOWN.

>> THEY'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD IN SUDDEN CHANGE.

LOOK AT THE MICHIGAN GAME, THE TIMES THEY GOT IN SUDDEN CHANGE AND HELD THEM TO FIELD GOALS.

THAT WAS -- THAT KEPT THEM IN THE BALL GAME.

>> NEXT UP ON "BIG RED WRAP-UP," KETV SPORTS DIRECTOR, ANDY KENDEIGH WILL DROP BY AND HELP OUR CONVERSATIONS KEEP GOING AND SHARE SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH NEBRASKA.

BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK, IMAGES FROM A SPOOKY SATURDAY IN LINCOLN, COURTESY OF "HAIL, VARSITY."

WE'RE BACK SOON.

S S S S >> WELCOME BACK TO "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

OUR PLAYERS OF THE GAME, OMAR MANNING AND LUKE REIMER, BOTH HAD OUTSTANDING GAMES.

OMAR MANNING, OF COURSE, WITH A NICE TOUCHDOWN - ANOTHER GREAT CATCH LATE IN THE GAME.

AND, LUKE REIMER -- 19 TOTAL TACKLES, A CAREER HIGH FOR HIM -- 12 SOULS AND SO HALF A SACK, AS WELL.

WHAT A GREAT DAY FOR LUKE REIMER AND OMAR MANNING.

WE ARE PLEASE TO BE JOINED BY ANDY KENDEIGH, KETV SPORTS DIRECTOR - "THE DIRECTOR" IS WHAT I ALWAYS CALL YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME!

YOU GUYS WANT TO TALK A LITTLE HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL OR SOMETHING?

BIG STATE TOURNAMENT COMING UP?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH, YOU KNOW, ONE VERSUS 16 -- FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD AN UPSET IN CLASS A.

>> AND, IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

IT WAS TERRIFIC.

UNBELIEVABLE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OMAHA NORTH, TAKING MILLARD SOUTH.

WHAT A GAME ON FRIDAY.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY -- AND NOW IT'S WIDE OPEN, OF COURSE, IN CLASS A, AND I THINK THIS WHOLE HIGH SCHOOL SEASON IS REALLY A SHOT IN THE ARM AFTER AT WE'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH IN THE LAST YEAR, AND THE HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL WILL TAKE CENTER STAGE AT PINNACLE BANK ARENA AND THEN THE FINAL AT THE DEVANEY CENTER OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> WE'VE GOT LOTS TO GET TO WITH NEBRASKA, BUT GOOD FOR OMAHA NORTH.

HAVING THAT SEASON OFF WAS TOUGH ON COACH MARTIN, I KNOW.

TO BE IN THIS SITUATION NOW, IT REALLY IS REMARKABLE.

>> AND, THINK ABOUT THIS: THE TWO OPS SCHOOLS WHO MADE IT TO THE PLAYOFFS BOTH WON THEIR OPENING GAMES, SO CREDIT TO OMAHA BURKE AND CREDIT TO OMAHA NORTH, ESPECIALLY AFTER LAST YEAR, WHICH ALL OF THE OPS SPORTS DIDN'T HAVE A FALL SPORTS SEASON, SO GOOD ON THEM AND GOOD LUCK TO THEM THE REST OF THE WAY.

>> YOU WATCHED NEBRASKA AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CONSISTENCY.

THEY'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD IN THE THIRD QUARTER THIS YEAR.

THIS THIRD QUARTER, THEY GET A HANDFUL OF PLAYS, THEY CAN'T GET STOPS, THEY GET TURNOVERS.

THIS TEAM IS SO ERRATIC, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE.

>> YEAH, AND THEN -- AND THEN YOU GO BACK ONE MONTH AGO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT "WHAT A GREAT FIRST HALF AGAINST NORTHWESTERN."

I MEAN, THAT WAS -- IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS THREE YEARS AGO.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A TEAM CAN LOOK SO GOOD AT TIMES, LOOK SO POORLY IN A SPAN OF 20 REAL-TIME MINUTES, AND I THINK THAT'S THE MADDENING THING ABOUT THIS TEAM IS THAT THEY CAN'T STRING TOGETHER, NOT JUST GAMES, BUT QUARTERS.

THEY'RE JUST STRINGING TOGETHER QUARTERS AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT FRUSTRATES FANS THE MOST BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT GETTING ANY RESULTS.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE TALENTED PLAYERS BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE RESULTS ON THE FIELD AREN'T HAPPENING, AND IT'S JUST NOT ONE THING.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW.

SATURDAY IT WAS TURNOVERS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN TAKE YOUR PICK ON THE REST -- YOU KNOW, YOU COME OUT FLAT AGAINST MINNESOTA, WHICH IS INEXCUSABLE IN MY OPINION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THE GOOD THING IS THAT THEY STILL HAVE THREE GAMES TO GO - THEY GOT, YOU KNOW, INGRAINED LIKE PICK-ME-UPS, LIKE, "YOU'RE GOING TO GET UP FOR OHIO STATE.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET UP FOR WISCONSIN.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET UP FOR IOWA," WHICH IS, I THINK, GOOD NEWS FOR NEBRASKA BECAUSE, YOU'D BETTER, BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET STEAMROLLED IF YOU'RE NOT.

>> WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS -- THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKS IN THE MEDIA.

THE TALK'S ALREADY ABOUT THERE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT SCOTT FROST WILL BE BACK.

IT SEEMED LIKE HE KIND OF ADDRESSED THAT ON MONDAY.

DID YOU FEEL HE WAS ADDRESSING THAT WHEN HE SAID HE WAS HOPING TO GET "IT?"

>> YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AROUND - WE'VE BEEN AROUND.

YOU KNOW THE DRILL.

YOU KNOW, HE -- SCOTT FROST WAS MAKING MENTION OF HOW YOUNG HIS TEAM WAS, HOW BRIGHT THE FUTURE IS, AND THAT'S WHAT COACHES DO WHEN THEY'RE DEFENDING THE JOB THAT THEY HAVE DONE.

THEY JUST HAVEN'T HAD THE RESULTS ON THE FIELD THAT -- THE 15 AND 26 IS JUST A TOUGH FIGURE TO GET PAST.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY, TREV ALBERTS HAS -- WOULD -- SAID, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THAT HE'LL - YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT AND THAT'S, I THINK, THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION BECAUSE THAT'S JUST NOT FAIR TO ANYONE.

LET'S SEE HOW THIS THING PLAYS OUT, BECAUSE AS WE'VE SEEN, THIS THING CAN TURN WEEK-TO-WEEK, AND YOU'VE GOT THREE CHANCES TO TO STRAIGHTEN THE SHIP AND -- AND, WE'LL SEE.

THE ONE THING THAT I THINK THAT FRUSTRATES ME AND FRUSTRATES SOME HUSKER FANS I'VE TALKED TO IS THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- THERE'S ISSUES WITH THIS TEAM, I REALIZE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROGRAM THAT YOU CAME INTO WASN'T THE GREATEST -- I GET THAT.

BUT THEY STILL WENT 19 AND 19 IN THREE YEARS, RIGHT?

AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD LOOK.

THEY'VE GONE AWAY FROM THAT APPROACH, AT LEAST SCOTT FROST HAS IN RECENT WEEKS, BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IT'S LIKE, OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON.

>> YEAH, THE THING THAT YOU BRING UP IS THE ONE THAT'S GOT TO BE THE MOST HAUNTING, COMING OFF OF HALLOWEEN FOR THE FANS, IS THAT IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME.

REMEMBER EARLIER, IT WAS ALL SPECIAL TEAMS -- THAT WAS THE ISSUE -- THAT'S WHY THEY WERE LOSING GAMES.

DEFENSE PLAYED WELL, THE OFFENSE COULDN'T GET IT GOING EARLY -- CAN'T GET A FIRST DRIVE.

THEN IT COMES IN THE SECOND HALF.

YOU CAN'T PUT -- I DON'T KNOW HOW THE HEAD COACHING -- HEAD COACH AND THE COACHING STAFF -- PUT THEIR FINGER ON WHAT'S WRONG.

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY IT.

SO, MICHIGAN STATE.

YOU LOST BECAUSE YOUR PUNTER PUNTED IT THE WRONG WAY.

>> WE'VE NOT SEEN HIM SINCE, BY THE WAY.

( LAUGHTER ) >> YES, PLAIN AND SIMPLE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THEN YOU FAST FORWARD TO A COUPLE WEEKS LATER AND YOU SAY, OKAY, MINNESOTA.

THIS IS A GAME THAT EVERYBODY SAYS YOU SHOULD GET, AND WILL GET", AND YOU COME OUT AND YOU'RE NO SHOW IN THE FIRST HALF AND MINNESOTA WAS WAY UP FOR THAT GAME AND REALLY TOOK IT TO 'EM.

THEN, YOU GO TO AAA PURDUE GAME -- ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU SHOULD GET ON PAPER.

YOU'RE THE FAVORITE, RIGHT?

AND THEN, PURDUE DOES SOMETHING TOTALLY AGAINST WHAT THE -- THE ANALYTICS SAY.

THEY'RE NOT A RUN TEAM, RIGHT, AND THEY COME OUT AND RUN IT DOWN YOUR THROAT.

I MEAN, IT WASN'T LIKE THEY RAN IT FOR BIG CHUNK PLAYS -- BUT, JUST ENOUGH TO JUST GET THESE LITTLE CUTS, LITTLE CUTS, AND THAT'S HOW THEY DID IT.

>> SO, YOU'VE BEEN AROUND WITH KETV NOW FOR, WHAT NOW?

>> IT'S MY 12TH SEASON.

>> SO, TWO -- YOU'VE SEEN TWO COACHING CHANGES HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE HOW THIS LAST THREE GAMES TURNS OUT?

WHAT'S YOUR FEEL TO SEE IF THEY HAVE FROST BACK, OR NOT?

DOES IT NEED TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY?

IS IT A WINS/LOST THING?

IS -- HOW DO YOU FORESEE THIS THING -- A DECISION BEING MADE?

>> WELL, I GO BACK TO BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS, IN INDIANAPOLIS.

AND, WE TALK TO TREV IN A BIG GROUP SETTING --.

>> YEAH.

>> AND, WHAT DID HE TALK?

HE DIDN'T TALK WINS AND LOSSES.

HE TALKED ABOUT INCREMENTAL GROWTH, OKAY?

AND, WE SAW INCREMENTAL GROWTH FOR THE FIRST PART OF THIS SEASON.

NOW, IN MY OPINION, THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, WE HAVEN'T.

BUT NOW, THERE'S STILL A CHANCE TO SEE SOME GROWTH TOWARDS THE END OF THE SEASON.

IF WE SEE THAT GROWTH, I THINK THAT THERE WILL NOT BE A CHANGE AND I DO THINK THAT SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, TOO, THAT THIS IS TREV ALBERTS' FIRST YEAR, RIGHT, AND I THINK THAT PLAYS A ROLE.

HE'S NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY RASH DECISIONS.

I THINK THERE'S A FINANCIAL COMPONENT THAT DOESN'T GET TALKED ABOUT ENOUGH.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT -- HOW MUCH OF IT --.

>> YEAH, THERE IS A FINANCIAL COMPONENT ABOUT THE BUYOUT AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> AND, YOU'RE BUILDING THE NEW FACILITY --.

>> YOU'RE BUILDING A NEW FACILITY AND YOU MAY HAVE A FACTION WHO IS, "KEEP HIM," AND YOU MAY HAVE A FACTION OF SUPPORTERS AND BOOSTERS, AND BIG MONEY PEOPLE WHO SAY, "NO, FORGET HIM.

THIS TIME IS DONE - WE NEED TO BREAK TO NEW GROUND."

BUT HERE'S THE THING, LIKE, THIS IS YEAR FOUR, OKAY, AND IF YOU BRING IN A NEW GUY, THEN WHERE DO YOU GO?

YOU'RE GOING TO TURN THE DIAL BACK AND START FROM ZERO AND THEN SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE -- IF IT'S OKAY - YOU'VE GOT TO WEIGH ALL OF THE OPTIONS.

IT'S NOT AS EASY AS HE SAYS, "OKAY, THIS GUY'S 15 AND 26, LET'S GET RID OF HIM."

THERE'S SO MANY OTHER OPTIONS THAT KIND OF -- THERE'S SO MANY OTHER ELEMENTS THAT PLAY INTO A DECISION LIKE THAT.

>> BUT, IF YOU KEEP HIM AND SAY HE GOES 3-9 --.

>> WELL, THEN -- THEN THAT DECISION'S MADE FOR YOU.

>> YOU THINK IT'S MADE FOR YOU IF THEY GO 3-9?

>> OH, THIS YEAR?

OH, I THOUGHT YOU MEANT NEXT --.

>> NO, I MEAN, IF THEY GO 3-9 THIS YEAR --.

>> OH, NO-NO-NO -- COME ON --.

>> IF THEY LOSE TO OHIO STATE, WISCONSIN, AND IOWA --.

>> BUT IF YOU -- IF YOU -- IF YOU HAVE SOME INCREMENTAL GROWTH DURING THIS TIME - IF YOU LOOK LIKE YOU, A TEAM OF THE COMPETITIVE BIG TEN FOOTBALL TEAM SHOULD LOOK --.

>> MORE ONE-SCORE LOSSES?

>> WELL, I'M JUST SAYING --.

>> YOU'VE GOT THAT ONE DONE.

>> BUT - BUT - YEAH, WE HAVEN'T GONE THAT WAY, BUT I THINK THAT'S BETTER THAN LOSING 52-17, OR LOSING 49-7.

I DO.

AND, I THINK WE HAVE SEEN A BETTER PRODUCT ON THE FIELD IN THE BIG-PICTURE SENSE.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING BLOWN OUT - THEY'RE NOT GETTING EMBARRASSED, RIGHT?

YEAH, YOU COULD SAY LOSING TO PURDUE IS EMBARRASSING, LOSING TO MINNESOTA IS EMBARRASSING -- OKAY, YOU CAN SAY THAT ALL YOU WANT BUT THEY'RE NOT GETTING BLOWN OUT AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING EMBARRASSED FULLY BY TEAMS LIKE THIS.

SO, I THINK THAT AS LONG AS THEY LOOK COMPETITIVE ON THE FIELD, I THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT YOU CAN BRING HIM BACK.

I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE POPULAR WITH SOME FANS WHO I THINK -- SOME FANS HAVE ALREADY JUMPED OFF -- THEY'RE MOVING ON.

BUT, I THINK THAT THIS -- THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS NEXT THREE WEEKS SO COMPELLING.

>> SO, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE SELLOUT STREAK, RIGHT, AND IT'S BEEN KIND OF NEGOTIATED THROUGH.

IF YOU TELL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TICKET HOLDERS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING BACK SCOTT FROST AND HE'S BRINGING BACK ADRIAN MARTINEZ, I DON'T KNOW WHO IS BUYING TICKETS.

>> I SEE THE POINT.

>> WHO IS BUYING INTO THAT?

I'M NOT SURE WHO THAT IS.

>> I - THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

NOW, I -- I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> DO YOU THINK IT CHANGED THAT, BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY FELT LIKE --.

>> IT DOES FEEL LIKE --.

>> THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT HE WAS GOING TO COME BACK BEFORE PURDUE --.

>> AND, I THINK -- HERE'S A THING, TOO, AND THIS IS BIGGER DISCUSSION ABOUT NIL AND CRITICISM, AND COLLEGE -- THIS GAME IS DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU PLAYED, JAY, RIGHT?

>> OH, 100%.

>> I MEAN, WHEN GUYS ARE MAKING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, I THINK THAT GIVES SOME FANS A LITTLE MORE LICENSE, OR LEAST IN THEIR OPINION I THINK -- I'M THINKING FOR THE FANS, HERE -- A LITTLE MORE LICENSE TO CRITICIZE.

NOW, I WILL SAY, IT IS ALWAYS UNNERVING FOR ME TO HEAR BOOS AT MEMORIAL STADIUM, OR IN ANY COLLEGE VENUE, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE NATURE OF COLLEGE SPORTS THESE DAYS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AMATEURS ANYMORE.

I MEAN, YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE RADIO SHOW THAT COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S A JOB.

>> IT IS.

>> RIGHT?

IT'S A JOB NOW.

THESE GUYS -- IT'S A JOB AND -- AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE -- EVERYTHING ABOUT IT, YOU GET EVALUATED CONSTANTLY, NOT JUST BY YOU INSIDE THE WALLS, BUT OUTSIDE THE WALLS, SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

I DO THINK IT WOULD BE A TOUGH SELL, THOUGH, TO BRING BACK SCOTT AND ADRIAN IF THAT WAS TO BE THE CASE.

BUT, AGAIN, WE GOT THREE WEEKS LEFT.

>> YEAH.

>> I KNOW YOU WEREN'T THERE FOR '07, BUT YOU WERE AROUND FOR THE LAST ONE, RIGHT?

HERE'S THE THING, RECRUITING IN THOSE CLASSES ACTUALLY WAS -- THEY HAD A LOT OF MOMENTUM, RIGHT?

REMEMBER, MIKE RILEY HAD MOMENTUM.

BOOKIE RADLEY-HILES -- THERE WAS ALL THAT MOMENTUM, RIGHT?

>> BOOKIE --.

>> RIGHT.

>> BOOKIE.

THERE'S ZERO MOMENTUM RIGHT NOW, RECRUITING EVEN.

YOU CAN'T EVEN FALL BACK ON THAT.

>> RIGHT, BECAUSE THE CLASS FORTHCOMING --.

>> RIGHT.

>> I'LL SHINE ON THIS A LITTLE MORE - IT'S JUST A SMALLER CLASS AND THAT'S BY JUST THE FALLOUT OF A WHOLE LOT OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF FACTORS, AND COVID IS ONE OF 'EM.

SO, THERE IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH SELL, BUT THAT'S JUST IT.

IF THEY GO DOWN AND STUMBLE HERE DOWN THE STRETCH, I THINK THAT -- I THINK THE DECISION WILL BE MADE FOR YOU.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH MIKE RILEY AFTER HIS THIRD YEAR.

I THINK EVERYBODY KNEW IT WAS DONE AT MINNESOTA, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

>> I MEAN, THAT WAS THE GAME THAT REALLY --.

>> LIKE THAT WAS THE FEEL.

>> THAT WAS THE FEEL, RIGHT?

I DON'T GET THE SENSE YET WITH SCOTT FROST, BUT I THINK IT'S -- THIS IS THE TIPPING POINT.

>> YOU DON'T FEEL HE'S HAD HIS MINNESOTA GAME, OKLAHOMA STATE GAME - YOU DON'T FEEL HE'S HAD THOSE YET.

>> NOW, WE COULD LOOK BACK AND SAY, "OH, YEAH, YOU KNOW, LOOKING BACK AT THAT MINNESOTA GAME REALLY IS WHAT DONE HIM IN" OR, "HEY, THOSE FOUR TURNOVERS AGAINST PURDUE IS REALLY WHAT DID HIM IN."

I'M NOT READY TO SAY THAT YET.

NOW, I WILL SAY THAT FEELING AT MEMORIAL STADIUM WAS TERRIBLE.

JUST --.

>> THE THIRD QUARTER, PEOPLE WERE JUST --.

>> TO SEE FANS LEAVE IS ALWAYS UNNERVING.

>> IT HAD THAT FEEL -- IT HAD THAT FEEL TO ME, LATE IN THE THIRD QUARTER --.

>> YOU THOUGHT IT WAS OVER?

>> I'M LIKE, "THIS ONE'S DONE.

THIS GAME'S DONE," AND I LITERALLY SAID "I DON'T THINK THEY'LL WIN ANOTHER FOOTBALL GAME THE REST OF THIS YEAR."

>> I THOUGHT --.

>> I HAD THAT FEELING.

THAT WAS MY INITIAL REACTION AND THAT'S JUST -- THAT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL REACTION TO THAT JUST LIKE MANY OF THESE FANS HAVE HAD, YOU KNOW, WATCHING THIS -- UNDERSTANDABLY SO.

>> WELL, WE - YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME WE TOOK THOSE FANS WALKING OUT OF THE STADIUM SHOTS FOR KETV WAS OHIO STATE, AND THAT BILL MOOS HAD JUST GOTTEN HIRED --.

>> RIGHT.

>> MIKE RILEY - I MEAN, HE WAS WELL ON HIS WAY OF BEING DONE.

I THINK THE MINNESOTA GAME REALLY DID IT BUT - WHEN THAT WAS VERY ALARMING TO SEE IT AND THEN TO SEE THE EMPTY STANDS.

WE DIDN'T SEE EMPTY STANDS ON SATURDAY.

IN FACT, I THINK SATURDAY'S CROWD WAS ONE OF THE BETTER ONES I'VE SEEN FOR AN AFTERNOON GAME LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> THE STUDENT SECTION WAS FILLED, THERE WAS -- EVERYBODY WAS REVVED UP AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO FRUSTRATING.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO MAKE THIS THING WORK.

EVERYBODY'S PULLING TO MAKE THIS THING WORK, AND FOR WHATEVER REASON IT'S NOT.

BUT, I WAS LEANING YOUR WAY AFTER SATURDAY, SAYING -- YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT ON THE RIDE HOME AND WE WERE LIKE, "UGH, ANOTHER COACHING SEARCH.

LEAVE OPEN YOUR DECEMBER," ONE OF THOSE DEALS.

AND THEN, I GOT TO MONDAY, AND MAYBE THEY JUST PUT ON A GOOD TALKING SHOW, BUT I GOT DONE WITH MONDAY AND SAID, "HEY, THESE GUYS ARE ENGAGED.

THESE GUYS REALLY, TRULY BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN HANG WITH A TEAM THAT'S BLOWN THEM OUT THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I MEAN, YEAH, THEY HUNG WITH THEM FOR THE FIRST HALF LAST YEAR.

THE FINAL SCORE WASN'T PRETTY, BUT WE'LL SEE ON SATURDAY.

>> WELL, THE AVERAGE MARGIN OF VICTORY THE LAST FIVE TIMES THEY'VE PLAYED 'EM, 33 POINTS.

>> YEP.

>> THE SPREAD AVERAGE IS 21.

SOMEBODY IN VEGAS THINKS THAT MAYBE NEBRASKA CAN STAY WITH THEM BECAUSE IT'S NOW DOWN TO 14 - 14-1/2, SO SHOULD WE THINK THAT NEBRASKA WILL STAY WITH THEM?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY THAT YOU CAN POINT TO, "HEY, NEBRASKA COULD STAY WITH 'EM."

OKAY, LOOK AT WHO OHIO STATE HAS PLAYED.

BESIDE THE OPENER IN MINNESOTA, THEY'VE PLAYED, WHAT, MARYLAND --.

>> AND LOST TO THEM -.

>> I'M TALKING ABOUT CONFERENCE GAMES - BUT, MARYLAND, INDIANA --.

>> RIGHT.

>> I MEAN, THIS IS NOT MURDERER'S ROW HERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND, YEAH, THEY HANDLED THEM AND THEY PLAYED -- PENN STATE -- PENN STATE PLAYED THEM --.

>> PLAYED 'EM VERY TOUGH.

>> YEAH.

AND, I THINK -- I THINK THAT NEBRASKA, IF THEY PUT IT TOGETHER AND THEY COME OUT AND PLAY LIKE THE MICHIGAN/NEBRASKA, OR MICHIGAN STATE/NEBRASKA, OR NORTHWESTERN/NEBRASKA, I THINK THEY CAN HANG FOR A -- THEY CAN HANG.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN CRAZY STUFF IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

YOU SEE IT EVERY WEEK.

HECK, ILLINOIS WENT ON THE ROAD AND WON AT PENN STATE -- NINE OVERTIMES.

>> I MEAN, THEY WERE JUST -- TOTALLY JUST BEYOND POINT WITH THIS SEASON AND THEY CAME OUT AND PLAYED WELL AND HAD A CHANCE.

>> IT WOULD BE --.

>> IT WOULD BE SO ON PAR WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR.

>> YOU THINK THE PLACE WILL BE FULL AT 11 A.M.?

>> I DO.

IT'S OHIO STATE, IT'S STILL NEBRASKA, IT'S STILL A CHANCE TO SEE ONE OF THE -- THE BLUE BLOODS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN OHIO STATE.

I THINK IT WILL BE.

I THINK IT WILL BE.

I THINK -- I THINK THIS WILL BE ONE OF THOSE GAMES THAT WILL DECIDE WHERE WE'RE GOING THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH.

GIVE ME A -- GIVE ME A PICK -- GIVE ME A SCORE PREDICTION.

I KNOW IT'S TUESDAY.

>> OH, MY G -- MIKE'L, YOU'VE SEEN ME PICK GAMES EVERY WEEK.

>> WE - WE BOTH HAD TO DO IT.

>> I'LL SEE NEBRASKA HANGS WITH THEM FOR THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS AND THEN OHIO STATE GETS A CHEAPIE AND COVERS.

I'LL SAY 31-14.

>> THAT'S FAIRLY LOW SCORING.

>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW -- EVERYTHING ON PAPER SAYS IT'S GOING TO BE A HIGH SCORING GAME.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT!

>> IF I'VE LEARNED ANYTHING BY PICKING GAMES WRONG THIS YEAR IS JUST GO AGAINST WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

>> THANK YOU, ANDY, WE APPRECIATE IT.

ANDY KENDEIGH FROM KETV.

NEXT UP ON THE "WRAP-UP," SEAN CALLAHAN WILL JOIN US ALL FOR SOME UPDATES AND THE LATEST RECRUITING OFFERS FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND BUT FIRST, ANOTHER LOOK AT THE PURDUE GAME, COURTESY OF "HAIL, VARSITY."

STAY WITH US.

S S >> THE WINS TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING AND DESPITE ALL THE IMPROVEMENT THAT I'VE SEEN, THAT HASN'T IMPROVED AND WE'VE HAD A TOUGH SCHEDULE AND PLAYED SOME REALLY GOOD TEAMS -- GOT TO GET THEM DONE AND WE'VE BEEN SO CLOSE.

GOT TO GET 'EM DONE, AND THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, THE KIDS UNDERSTAND THAT, AND WE'LL KEEP FIGHTING EVERY DAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

( WHOOSH ) >> IT'S ALL ABOUT HOW WE GONNA RESPOND, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE RIGHT NOW, RECORD-WISE, BUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO RESPOND.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN JUST SELL IT IN, OR WE'RE GOING TO SHOW UP AND FIGHT -- KEEP FIGHTING.

( WHOOSH ) >> JUST GO OUT THERE AND PUT EVERYTHING ON THE FIELD FOR EVERYTHING, LIKE, WHY NOT?

WE GOT A COUPLE OF GAMES LEFT -- DON'T GIVE UP NOW.

I'M A SENIOR.

I'M NOT GIVING UP NOTHING.

YOU GOING TO SEE ME PLAY A 110% TO THE TIME ON THE FIELD, YOU KNOW, LAY IT OUT ON THE GRASS.

( WHOOSH ) >> WELL, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS GAME.

I THINK THE WHOLE DEFENSE IS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT WHAT HAPPENED THE PAST TWO GAMES TO BED.

I MEAN, YOU GO OUT AND YOU BEAT OHIO STATE, YOU KNOW, IT CREATES OBVIOUSLY A REALLY BIG DEAL.

SO, WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN FRONT OF US.

( WHOOSH ) >> THEY LOVE THESE GAMES.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE PROBABLY PLAYED OUR BEST FOOTBALL AGAINST THE BEST TEAMS THAT WE'VE PLAYED THIS YEAR AND THIS TEAM'S PROBABLY THE BEST, OR CLOSE TO IT, THAT WE'VE P P PAR.

I'M SURE THE REST OF THE SEASON WILL REVEAL ALL THAT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN READY AND OUR GUYS ARE EXCITED TO PLAY.

>> WELCOME BACK AND THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON THE "WRAP-UP."

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE, JOINED BY SEAN CALLAHAN.

A BUNCH OF NEW OFFERS.

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE RECRUITING KIND OF BEING SLOW THIS YEAR.

TELL US ABOUT THE NEW OFFERS.

>> YEAH, NEBRASKA GETS STUCK AT EIGHT COMMITS FOR 2022, BUT WE REALLY SAW THE BIGGEST PUSH OF NEW OFFERS THAT NEBRASKA'S MADE FOR QUITE A WHILE.

FIVE NEW OFFERS MADE AT THE GAME, ALL TO PROSPECTS FROM KANSAS, IOWA, MISSOURI, AND NEBRASKA.

LET'S START WITH JAMISON PATTON OUT OF DES MOINES.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE NEBRASKA HAS OFFERED A PLAYER FROM ACTUAL DES MOINES PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

JAMISON PATTON, A SAFETY ATHLETE, SECOND OFFER, AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT J.J. KOHL HERE IN A SECOND -- ACTUALLY A BORDERLINE FOUR-STAR GUY, HIGH THREE-STAR QUARTERBACK WITH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OFFERS.

WE'LL HIT ON HIM HERE IN A MINUTE.

BUT, JOSHUA MANNING OUT OF LEE'S SUMMIT, MISSOURI -- A WISE RECEIVER FOR 2023.

JOE OTTING, OUT OF TOPEKA, KANSAS --.

>> APPARENTLY IS "THE HULK" GETTING READY TO TURN.

>> BUT, YEAH, OUT OF NEARBY TOPEKA.

BEEN A WHILE - I CAN'T REMEMBER EVER AN OFFER MADE IN TOPEKA IN MY TIME DOING THIS, AND THIS ONE IS THE MOST INTRIGUING ONE TO ME: CHRISTIAN JONES - 6'3", 200-POUND FRESHMAN.

I'M SURE OUR MAN ON THE SET, DAMON, KNOWS A LOT ABOUT CHRISTIAN JONES AND HIS BACKGROUND, BUT A VERY INTRIGUING FRESHMAN PROSPECT AT BURKE AND NEBRASKA CAME IN WITH AN OFFER.

SO, THIS WAS THE RECRUITING STORY OF THE WEEK.

NEBRASKA WENT VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH FIVE NEW OFFERS MADE TO LOCAL PROSPECTS.

>> CHRISTIAN, A SOPHOMORE OR A FRESHMAN?

2023, HE'D BE A SOPHOMORE, RIGHT?

>> THE BURKE KID?

>> YEAH.

>> HE'S A FRESHMAN.

HE'S A 2025.

>> OH, OKAY!

I JUST THOUGHT 2023.

>> YEAH, SO THERE'S FOUR 2023S --.

>> OKAY, GOTCHA.

>> AND THEN HE'S A 2025.

>> 2025.

LET'S TALK ABOUT J.J. KOHL.

YOU MENTION HIM.

BIG QUARTERBACK, LONG KID, YOU'VE SEEN HIM.

>> YEAH, I'VE SEEN J.J. NOW THREE TIMES AND YOU LOOK AT HIM AT 6'6", 225, THAT IS A LEGIT 6'6".

THAT IS NOT A BOOST-HIM-UP TO 6'6" HEIGHT, THIS WAS AT THE NEBRASKA SEVEN-ON-SEVEN CAMP IN MEMORIAL STADIUM.

I WATCHED HIS TEAM BEAT LINCOLN SOUTHEAST, CREIGHTON PREP -- THEY WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP THAT DAY IN THE NEBRASKA SEVEN-ON-SEVEN EVENT AND HE WAS SPECTACULAR.

AND THAT WAS HONESTLY THE FIRST TIME THIS COACHING STAFF HAD A LOOK AT HIM IN PERSON BECAUSE OF COVID.

I MEAN, THEY JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO GET OUT AND SEE THIS GUY AND SLOWLY YOU COULD SEE VERDUZCO SORT OF WATCHING HIM MORE.

ERIK CHINANDER, OBVIOUSLY.

YOU KNOW, HIS FATHER, JAMIE KOHL, THE LEGENDARY KICKING COACH, IS BASED OUT OF DES MOINES.

NOW, THE INTRIGUING ANGLE IS HIS FATHER JAMIE PLAYED AT IOWA STATE, BUT YOU LOOK AT J.J., HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S STRAIGHT OUT OF CENTRAL CASTING TO BE A WISCONSIN OR IOWA QUARTERBACK - YOU KNOW, JUST A PROTOTYPICAL BIG TEN QUARTERBACK.

NEBRASKA JOINS IN AND MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT'S UP WITH REESE MOONEY?

THAT HAS BEEN THEIR PERCEIVED NUMBER ONE TARGET.

HE'S GOING TO MAKE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT THIS MONTH.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH REESE MOONEY?

REESE MOONEY'S BEEN HURT, TOO.

I LIKE KOHL BETTER, PERSONALLY.

I THINK KOHL'S THE BETTER OF THE TWO.

I THINK HE'S A BETTER CULTURAL FIT FOR THE BIG TEN, BUT IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THIS GUY.

I MEAN, HE'S GOT IOWA, IOWA STATE, WISCONSIN, NOTRE DAME KNOCKING - A NUMBER OF OTHER TEAMS THAT WILL REALLY COME IN ON THIS GUY.

>> HE'S BUILT LIKE A YOUNG NATE STANLEY, FROM IOWA.

>> WE WILL SEE THIS GUY IN MEMORIAL STADIUM ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

>> ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IN-STATE GUYS.

YOU TALK ABOUT THE STIR THAT STARS ONE OF THE BEST OFFENSES?

THAT'S WHAT L.J.

RICHARDSON IS AND I KNOW MAYBE THERE'S NOT A SPOT FOR HIM, BUT THEN WE LOST JAY DUCKER.

HE WENT TO NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

HE'S PLAYING PRETTY WELL.

THIS IS THE GUY THAT COULD BE A WALK-ON - COULD HE FIT IN NEBRASKA SOMEPLACE?

>> HE'S AT 6'4", 264 -- THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT --.

>> WE'RE NOT WATCHING A JA'MAR TOOMBS HERE.

>> HE'S NOT JOHN CLAY YET.

HE IS A FAST, TOUGH KID WHO CAN CATCH THE BALL OUT OF THE BACKFIELD, MAKE GUYS MISS.

HE IS A GREAT RUNNER.

>> AND, HE'S A 10.8 GUY, ELECTRONIC, IN THE HUNDRED, AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY GOT MY ATTENTION THIS SUMMER.

HE'S 6'1", 210, 205, AND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SEE VERIFIED TRACK SPEED WITH THAT, THAT'S WHEN WYOMING GOT INTERESTED.

THAT'S WHEN WYOMING STARTED TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, SAY "WE GOT TO GET YOU DOWN HERE," AND I THINK HE WISELY JUMPED ON THAT OFFER.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD FIT FOR HIM, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE BIG TEN, THE BIG 12S JUST DIDN'T MAKE A MOVE ON HIM, BUT I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD PLAYER.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S ANOTHER BELLEVUE WEST RUNNING BACK DOING GREAT THINGS AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS, AND THAT TEAM'S LOADED AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE WE'LL GET A CHANCE TO SEE THEM PLAY IN MEMORIAL STADIUM HERE ON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> YEAH, NORTHERN ILLINOIS IS LEADING THE MAC IN RECORD RIGHT NOW, TOO, AFTER COMING OFF OF 0-6 LAST YEAR, SO THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB THERE.

SEAN, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO OUR "SIDELINE SURVEY" QUESTION.

"HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ADRIAN MARTINEZ?"

HERE ARE THE CURRENT NUMBERS.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN ALWAYS VOTE.

"DOES A LOT GOOD, 4%."

"DOES TOO MUCH WRONG, 6%."

"BOTH A AND B, 52%," AND, "SHOW ME LOGAN SMOTHERS," SITTING AT 38% RIGHT NOW.

>> YEP.

>> 38% RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN ALWAYS, OF COURSE, VOTE ON THERE ON OUR WEBSITE.

CAST YOUR VOTE.

AND NOW, A QUICK LOOK AROUND THE BIG TEN.

MICHIGAN STATE STAYS UNDEFEATED AFTER RUNNING TO A WIN OVER MICHIGAN, 37-33.

IF YOU MISSED IT, THEY ARE IN THE TOP FOUR OF THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF.

WISCONSIN UPSETS NUMBER NINE, IOWA, AT HOME, ON A STRONG DEFENSE, 27-7.

AND, THE BUCKEYES WE'LL SEE THIS WEEK, OF COURSE, BEATS PENN STATE, 33-24.

TELL ME ABOUT L.J.

RICHARDSON.

YOU'VE SEEN HIM A TON.

>> YEAH.

I THINK HE'S - HE'S THE BEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER ON THAT FOOTBALL TEAM, AND THAT'S SAYING --.

>> THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING.

>> THEY GOT A LOT OF GREAT PLAYERS, ELWORTH HELMS AND RILEY DUCKER, AND T.K.

BARNETT, AND ON AND ON, BUT L.J.

RICHARDSON IS THE FALLBACK GUY, HE'S LIKE THE LINUS -- HE'S THE BLUE BLANKET FOR COACH HOFFMAN AND THAT FOOTBALL TEAM, AND HE'S A BIG STRONG KID, YOU KNOW, A 210-POUNDER, HE'S A 10.800-METER GUY AND REALLY UNASSUMING.

HE'S A FANTASTIC KID -- A GUY THAT I'VE GOT A CHANCE TO REALLY GET TO KNOW, SO, HE'S FANTASTIC.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK OF HIM.

HE'S DEFINITELY THE STRAW THAT STIRS THAT DRINK.

>> EXACTLY AND THERE WAS A TIME WHERE IN-STATE RUNNING BACKS DIDN'T GET OUT OF THE STATE.

>> YEAH.

>> THEY ENDED UP PLAYING -- YOU MAYBE KNOW SOME OF THEM WHO ENDED UP STAYING IN THE STATE AND PLAYING, AND WERE PRETTY GOOD.

>> (LAUGHS).

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT OHIO STATE, OKAY?

OHIO STATE DOES MAKE IT INTO THE FINAL FOUR -- OH, ACTUALLY AT NUMBER FIVE, THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE NUMBER FOUR, CINCINNATI'S NUMBER SIX IN THE COLLEGE BOWL PLAYOFF, BUT THIS IS A TEAM THAT'S GOOD.

I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THEY'RE NOT BUT THEIR SCHEDULE HASN'T BEEN GREAT - THEY DID LOSE TO THE BEST TEAM THEY PLAYED.

DO YOU FEEL NEBRASKA CAN STAY WITH THIS TEAM?

>> THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT SAYS "YES."

THERE'S ALSO A PART OF ME THAT JUST WATCHED THEM PLAY REALLY POOR THE LAST TWO GAMES - THAT'S NEBRASKA --.

>> NEBRASKA, RIGHT.

>> AND, IT'S LIKE I SEE OHIO STATE GET INCREMENTALLY BETTER.

I SEE NEBRASKA -- YOU THINK IT INCREMENTALLY BETTER, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE LOSING, BUT THEN THEY HERE AND THEY HAVE COMPLETELY NOSE-DIVED, SO I'M TORN.

THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT ALSO SAYS, "WELL, MAYBE THEY CAN PERFORM WELL BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DID AGAINST OKLAHOMA AND MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE."

BUT PART OF ME IS ALSO LIKE, "MAN, WHERE DOES IT GO FROM AFTER THESE PAST TWO GAMES?"

I DON'T -- I'D SAY -- ER, EXCUSE ME, OHIO STATE'S -- THEIR OFFENSE IS TOO POWERFUL, MAN.

I THINK THIS DEFENSE IS FINALLY GETTING -- THIS DEFENSE IS GETTING TIRED.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD TRULY THINK.

I THINK THIS DEFENSE HAS BEEN ON THE FIELD TOO MUCH -- THEY'VE PLAYED SO WELL THROUGH THESE NINE GAMES AND THEY'VE GOTTEN ZERO HELP.

I MEAN, THIS DEFENSE HAS GOT ZERO HELP AND I JUST THINK THIS DAM IS REALLY CLOSE TO GETTING BROKEN.

I MEAN, THEY'RE PLAYING A LOT OF SNAPS AND THIS OFFENSE ISN'T DOING THEM ANY FAVORS.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS ISN'T DOING THEM ANY FAVORS, AND I THINK THEY'RE NOW GOING TO SEE THEIR BEST OFFENSE THEY'VE SEEN ALL YEAR --.

>> SURE.

>> I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT FIRST-ROUNDERS EVERYWHERE IN THIS OFFENSE AND I JUST THINK IT'S GOING TO BE TOO MUCH FOR THEM TO HANG IN THERE TO KEEP IT A ONE-SCORE GAME WITHIN FOUR QUARTERS.

>> YEAH, I THINK CONCEPTUALLY, IT'S FAIRLY SIMPLE, RIGHT?

YOU'LL SEE SOME INSIDE ZONES, SOME OUTSIDE ZONE, A LOT OF VERTICAL PASSING GAME AND SOME OVER-ROUTES, RIGHT?

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO OVERWHELM YOU SCHEMATICALLY, SO I THINK NEBRASKA CAN SETTLE IN THERE.

NOW, THIS WILL BE THE CLASSIC CASE OF IF OUR GUYS ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN YOURS, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

WE'LL SEE BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, XS AND OS, NEBRASKA WILL BE FINE.

>> AND, TROUT DOESN'T RUN.

HE DOESN'T PRESENT NECESSARILY THAT THREAT.

>> WHICH IS A VERY TOUGH CONCEPT OUT OF THE ONE-BACK GUN SHOTGUN GAME, RIGHT?

I TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME.

WITHOUT A COMPLEMENTARY PIECE, YOU BETTER BE OUTSTANDING UP FRONT.

NOW, THEY ARE VERY GOOD IN THE BACKFIELD - TREMENDOUS TALENT.

THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, THOUGH, IF I TRUSTED NEBRASKA, I WOULD SAY "YES" BECAUSE I THINK IF NEBRASKA'S PLAYING AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME, THEY CAN BE COMPETITIVE AND THEN SOME WITH OHIO STATE.

I JUST -- THE JEKYLL AND HYDE PSYCHE CONCERNS ME -- YOU JUST CAN'T PUT A TON OF STOCK IN THEM BUT I ACTUALLY THINK THIS GAME WILL BE A LITTLE CLOSER THAN THE EXPERTS THINK.

I THINK THE TO -- THE SPREAD, I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING 15, 16 POINTS --.

>> YEAH, THAT SO --.

>>I WAS SHOCKED THAT IT WAS THAT LOW.

>> NEBRASKA'S OFFENSE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET AT OHIO STATE'S --.

IF YOU GET GOOD ADRIAN -- A GOOD ADRIAN --.

>> ESPECIALLY IN THE SECONDARY WHERE I THINK THERE'S PLAYS TO BE MADE AND IT'S BEEN FEAST OR FAMINE FOR OHIO STATE IN TERMS OF SMASH PLAYS DEFENSIVELY.

>> EVEN PENN STATE RAN THE BALL A LITTLE BIT, COMING OFF A GAME WHERE THEY ONLY HAD 66 YARDS AGAINST ILLINOIS AND THEY FOUND A WAY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE BALL.

THIS IS A TOUGH QUESTION FROM PAT IN OMAHA: "IF FROST DOES STAY, YOU'D ANTICIPATE SOME CHANGES ON THE COACHING STAFF."

>> I JUST DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT ANY OTHER WAY WITHOUT DOING THE CONTRACT, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET NEW ASSISTANTS FOR JUST A YEAR.

THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOME ASSURANCES, AT LEAST FROM AN ASSISTANT COACHING STANDPOINT, FOR A SECOND YEAR.

I JUST CAN'T SEE HOW YOU COULD DO IT ON A ONE-YEAR TRIAL BASIS BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE REALLY HARD TO DO, IN MY OPINION.

>> IT'S 2002 ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO RE-WORD ALL THE SEMANTICS OF THE DEAL, RIGHT?

HOW ELSE WOULD YOU SEE -- AND I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK --.

>> I DON'T THINK AN ASSISTANT COACH IS GOING TO COME HERE FOR A ONE-YEAR DEAL.

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK -- I DON'T' THINK IT'S -- I DON'T THINK IT'S FEASIBLE TO GET AN UPGRADE IN STAFF WITH THIS SYSTEM FOR -- ON A ONE-YEAR WHIM, RIGHT?

I THINK YOU'D HAVE TO SELL IT AS A MULTI-YEAR DEAL.

>> HOW MUCH DO YOU SAY, AND THIS IS JOHN FROM SOUTH OMAHA, WHO SAYS HE THINKS "NEBRASKA'S BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THEY'RE SIMPLY NOT PLAYING TOGETHER.

NOT PLAYING AS A TEAM -- THEY FEEL MORE LIKE INDIVIDUALS AND THAT'S WHY THEY CAN'T GET OVER THE HUMP."

>> YEAH, I CAN'T -- I MEAN, THE DEFENSE HAS PLAYED SO WELL THIS YEAR.

THEY PLAY AS -- THEY PLAY 11 GUYS -- THEY PLAY REALLY, REALLY WELL.

OFFENSIVELY --.

>> IT IS A LITTLE DISJOINTED.

>> OFFENSIVELY IT'S DISJOINTED.

I MEAN, JUST -- THEY GET IN RHYTHM WITH THE CERTAIN CALLS AND LOOKS LIKE YOU HINTED AT EARLIER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, BOOM, YOU HAVE SOME SUCCESS WITH THAT BUT YOU DON'T SEE IT FOR THE REST OF THE GAME, ALMOST LIKE THEY NEED TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE -- DEFENSE, NO -- OFFENSE, YES - SPECIAL TEAMS, THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER AREA OF -- THAT TAKES A WHOLE 'NOTHER SHOW.

>> YOU WANT TO SEE YOUNGER OFFENSIVE LINEMEN.

THEY'RE ALREADY YOUNG AT OFFENSIVE LINE, BUT PAT PAUL, FROM LINCOLN, SAYS: "YOU WANT TO SEE SOME YOUNGER OFFENSIVE LINEMEN IN THERE TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO."

>> I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A TON OF OPTIONS.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN SOME WRINKLES WITH BRANT BANKS AND I THINK HE'S THE NEXT BEST.

I KNOW BENHART HAS STRUGGLED.

>> BANDO'S BEEN MENTIONED A LOT.

>> HE MAY BE THEIR BEST ALTERNATIVE, SO I DON'T KNOW, IN TERMS OF A YOUTH MOMENT, I'D HAVE A HARD TIME LOOKING AT THOSE SUPER SENIORS AND SAYING, "HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

LET'S GO YOUNG."

I THINK YOU HAVE TO REALLY TRUST THAT GUYS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAXIMIZE ON SATURDAYS AND GIVE THOSE SUPER SENIORS KIND OF WHAT THEY CAME BACK FOR, THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO WIN.

>> AND, THEY DID GO YOUNG.

I MEAN, YOU START TEDDY PROCHAZKA --.

>> YEP.

>> AS A TRUE FRESHMAN, AND NOUILI, AND - WHO WAS --.

>> EVEN BENHART'S STILL --.

>> YEAH, HE'S STILL YOUNG, BUT YEAH, I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE A TON OF OPTIONS.

>> RIGHT, AND THEN SO IN TERMS OF THE OTHER POSITIONS OVER THESE LAST THREE WEEKS -- I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SUPER SENIORS -- THOSE GUYS WHO ARE COMING BACK, BUT OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE, INCLUDING A GUY NAMED LOGAN SMOTHERS I SEE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE EMAILS AND MESSAGES.

ANY CHANCE YOU SEE LOGAN PLAYING?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK COACH FROST ANSWERED THAT QUESTION -- HE IS WAITING FOR THAT BREAKOUT GAME, THAT SIGNATURE PERFORMANCE FOR ADRIAN MARTINEZ THAT HE THINKS HE'S EARNED, AND HAS PRETTY MUCH SAID HE'S -- HE'S GOING WITH ADRIAN MARTINEZ, SO I -- I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY.

>> ME, EITHER.

IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE YOU SEE ADRIAN PERFORM SO WELL AND, YOU KNOW, SINGLE-HANDEDLY, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THE FUMBLE IN THE MICHIGAN GAME.

HE WAS -- HE PLAYED SO WELL IN THAT GAME AND YOU SEE GETTING HIM OUT OF -- YOU KNOW, SITUATIONS -- MICHIGAN STATE AND MAKE GREAT THROWS AGAINST OKLAHOMA, AND, BUT THEN YOU SEE THE POOR THROWS AND HANDLING OF THE BALL AND YOU'RE LIKE, "MAN, THERE'S JUST" - LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S SIX ONE WAY, HALF A DOZEN THE OTHER SOMETIMES WITH HIM, AND IT'S TOUGH.

>> IT'S TIME FOR OUR BURNING QUESTIONS.

LEAD IT OFF, D.B.

>> WHERE IS NEBRASKA EMOTIONALLY, RIGHT?

WILL -- WILL THEY EMPTY THE TANK TOMORROW -- I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PHYSICALLY LAYING IT ON THE LINE.

I THINK THE COMPETITOR IN THEM, THE ALPHA IN THEM AND WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING AGAINST ANOTHER OPPONENT PHYSICALLY, THEY'LL RISE TO THE OCCASION.

WHERE'S THEIR MINDSET WHEN IT COMES TO GRIT, RIGHT?

SOME BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE FAN BASE IS LIKE.

CAN NEBRASKA DIAL IN EMOTIONALLY TO GIVE THEMSELVES THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN?

>> YEAH, I'LL PIGGYBACK THERE.

WHERE'S THE DEFENSE AT?

REMEMBER I SAID THEY'VE BEEN ON THE BIG PART OF TON OF SNAPS -- THEY'RE TIRED -- NOT A LOT OF HELP FROM THE OFFENSE.

THEY'RE FACING THEIR BEST OFFENSE THEY'VE FACED ALL YEAR.

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP WITH THESE GUYS?

>> CAN MARTINEZ PROTECT THE BALL AND CAN NEBRASKA'S DEFENSE DO LIKE PENN STATE DID WHERE THEY FORCED TURNOVERS EARLY TO BE ABLE TO GET A LEAD AND BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE GAME?

DON'T FORGET TO HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AND CLICK ON "THE PREDICTION."

JAY AND I WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT ON SATURDAY.

THE HUSKERS START THEIR TOUGH FINAL THREE-GAME STRETCH THIS WEEKEND WHEN THEY WELCOME IN THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES, MEMORIAL STADIUM, KICK OFF IS SCHEDULED FOR 11:00 A.M. ON "BIG FOX."

WE'RE BACK NEXT WEEK TO BREAK THAT GAME DOWN AND WHERE THINGS STAND WITH THE HUSKERS HEADING INTO THE BYE WEEK.

FINALLY, HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA THIS WEEKEND, WITH NSAA VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

ALL-DAY COVERAGE FROM THE BOB DEVANEY CENTER, IN LINCOLN, BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M. AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE DAY ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

OUR THANKS TO ANDY KENDEIGH, AND SEAN CALLAHAN, FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR JAY MOORE AND DAMON BENNING.

I'M MIKE'L SEVERE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA'S "BIG RED WRAP-UP."

S S CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM