Sunday Morning Quarterback with Jay Stockwell and Bob Frady

USC invades Lincoln!

Was the Minnesota game an aberration - we’ll find out soon!

Here we go with the kickoff of a “Former Pac-10 Back-to-Back” set of games. First up? The Trojans of USC.
Lincoln Riley is a whiz at recruiting and developing quarterbacks. Winning tough road games? That might be another matter.
USC comes to town with a high-powered offense and a low-powered defense. Will they score points? Of course - they’re a Ferrari on offense. Will they give up points? They’re a Ferrari on snow on defense.
USC’s biggest enemy in this game might be…the airplane. The last two times they’re ventured east from the warm climate, sandy beaches, and mind-numbing traffic of Southern California, they’ve come up losers and given up 34 points. Here’s hoping for a three-peat!
USC’s second worst enemy might be…the weather. It’s in the 80’s this week in LA but kickoff should be somewhere in the mid-40’s in Lincoln. While no self-respecting Husker fan would consider that to be cold, the thin-skinned West Coasters might be getting more than a little chill AND have a terrible case of the winds.
The plan for Nebraska? Try not to turn this into a track meet. Control the rock and the clock. Will they be able to resist winging it at every turn? Doubtful.
This is Nebraska’s “stake in the ground” game for the rest of the season. Are the Huskers tough enough to beat a ranked team? Will their “Blackout” uniforms provide the perfect antidote for the “Surrender Whites?” Will the denizens of the University of Spoiled Children be able to handle the cold? We shall see!
USC - 33
Nebraska - 34

Huskers were embarrassing in Minnesota: 9 sacks and no touchdowns.Matt Rhule to Penn State suffers a fatal blow. PJ Fleck deserves more consideration than Matt Rhule.Friday night in Minneapolis, the Nebraska Cornhuskers under Matt Rhule ran into a buzz saw against the Minnesota Golden Gophers and walked off the field 24 to 6 wondering how it could go so wrong. Early on, Nebraska appeared to have its bearings with two long drives and respectable field position, but instead of touchdowns the Huskers settled for field goals. That first red zone stumble foreshadowed the disaster to come.Minnesota brought relentless pressure, and Nebraska’s offensive line folded. Nine sacks allowed, a school record for Minnesota in this rivalry. Quarterback Dylan Raiola was hurried, flushed, hit, and harassed all night long. Combine that with the loss of two offensive linemen, guard Rocco Spindler to a broken finger and tackle Elijah Pritchett ejected for targeting, and you had a recipe for chaos.What makes this one sting even more was the short week after the Maryland game, limiting preparation time, and the swirling rumors about Rhule’s candidacy for the Penn State job that didn’t exactly help keep the focus razor sharp. The sideline chatter made a difference.Critically, Nebraska didn’t score a touchdown. Not one. For the first time in the Matt Rhule era, the Huskers went an entire game without finding the end zone. Two field goals, a hushed locker room, and the palpable sense of a program stumbling. On the flip side, Minnesota executed perfectly, including a 98-yard, 14 play drive in the third quarter. Their backs ran with purpose, and the Gophers punched through Nebraska’s front seven and pride.Nebraska had the talent on paper. Unfortunately, the game is played on grass. They can rush, they can pass, they’ve got the big recruits. But when the game got nasty, when Minnesota decided to make it a trench fight, the Huskers wilted. The narrative now isn’t just “we lost.” It’s “we got embarrassed.” And given the fact that rumors about Rhule’s future hovered all week, one wonders if the head coach was mentally checking the calendar instead of the tape.To borrow from Carl Spackler, Nebraska came in with a license to kill Gophers but instead managed to shoot themselves in the foot. The Huskers had the targets lined up, the motivation in place, and every reason to make a statement, yet they fumbled the opportunity in spectacular fashion. Now the question remains: can Nebraska bounce back and show up for Northwestern next week, or is this unraveling the start of something deeper? Because if you surrender nine sacks and fail to score a touchdown, you’re not just off, you’re lost.Matt Rhule needs to drop the podcast, cancel the Pat McAfee appearances, drop the special uniforms, skip the hair salon and eat some junk food. Then take Mike Ekeler to lunch and ask him how to just focus on being a great football coach. Rhule forgot about that this week, and his team paid the price. Consequently, Husker Nation has more questions than answers. Hopefully the Northwestern game fills in the blanks for the most loyal fan base in college football.

Big November Tests Await After Huskers Take Care of Business vs. Upstart NorthwesternCommitment to the run and 4th quarter situational excellence carry the day.On a crisp fall evening in Lincoln, Nebraska showed grit, discipline, and timely execution in a 28–21 victory over Northwestern. The win pushed the Cornhuskers to 6-2 on the season and reestablished their momentum heading into the back half of the Big Ten schedule.First Half: Slow Grind and Defensive BattleBoth teams opened with strong defensive efforts. Nebraska struck first midway through the first quarter when running back Emmett Johnson capped a 69-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run to give the Huskers a 7–0 lead. Northwestern responded with a pair of Jack Olsen field goals, one from 40 yards and another from 25, after stalling deep in Nebraska territory. The Wildcats’ ground game, anchored by running back Caleb Komolafe, found some rhythm, but the Husker defense tightened when it mattered most. Nebraska took a narrow 7–6 lead into halftime.Third Quarter: Momentum Turns RedThe second half started with a thunderbolt. Nebraska’s return man Kenneth Williams took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house, igniting Memorial Stadium and putting the Huskers ahead 14–6. Moments later, quarterback Dylan Raiola found receiver Nyziah Hunter on a 12-yard touchdown pass after a Northwestern turnover, pushing the lead to 21–6. The Wildcats fought back late in the quarter with a four-yard scoring run by Komolafe to trim the deficit to 21–13, setting up a tense final period.Fourth Quarter: Northwestern Surges, Nebraska RespondsNorthwestern found life early in the fourth when Komolafe broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Preston Stone hit Hayden Eligon II for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 21 with just over 11 minutes remaining. But Nebraska refused to fold. Raiola calmly led a 13-play, 64-yard drive, converting four third downs along the way. Johnson finished it off with a four-yard touchdown run to put the Huskers back in front 28–21. The defense took it from there, forcing a turnover on downs in the closing minute to secure the win.Game NotesJohnson led Nebraska with 124 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Raiola showed poise in key moments. Komolafe paced Northwestern with 125 yards on the ground and two scores. The special teams touchdown by Williams proved to be the difference.Nebraska’s ability to finish drives, control the fourth quarter, and deliver on special teams underscored a team maturing under Matt Rhule, one that now sits firmly in the Big Ten title hunt as USC comes knocking.

Nebraska vs Northwestern Pregame
Two weeks ago, the fans of the then-mighty Cornhuskers were flying high and ready to take on any and all comers in the Big 10.
It's amazing the difference a week makes.
After last week’s pantsing by Minnesota, the Huskers now face a must-win game against the Wildcats of Northwestern. Two weeks ago, Husker fans would have predicted this game would be a blowout. Today…Nebraska fans stand at the edge of a dark and foreboding abyss – the “we’ve been here before and it stinks” chasm.
Alternatively, maybe it was just a stinker of a day. in the words of renowned philosopher Hannah Montana, "Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has those days." It happens.

One good thing for the Big Red? Northwestern has had zero sacks in its last two victories. Then again, we also thought that Minnesota had a bad pass rush!
The coaching staff has to dig deep and come up with a solid game plan to defeat the suddenly resurgent Wildcats. As we’ve seen with both Indiana and UCLA, it’s the coaching that makes all the difference between winning and losing football. 
Here's the most perplexing question of all about last week's shellacking...How did one of the top two backs in the Big 10 - Minneapolis native Emmett Johnson - only manage to get 14 carries for the entire game? Husker fans know that pounding the rock is the key to winning in the wild and windy Big 10 – SMQ is starting to wonder (actually, we've been wondering for the last two seasons) if that fact is lost on the current coaching staff.

Will they finally commit to the run game? Will they have more safety-valve plays to the tight end or quick-release passing plays? Or will they insist on doubling down with a slow-developing pass game that gets Dylan Raiola knocked on his butt NINE times in one game? Without a better plan, things might look grim for the Big Red.
We were at the Minnesota game and watched the bad offensive game plan unfold in front of us. We are keeping the faith that the Huskers will right the ship and emerge victorious in this suddenly critical game. However, we’re WAY less optimistic than we were two weeks ago – we’re not touching the point spread or the over.  Here’s hoping that the Huskers regain their winning ways.
After all, Nobody's Perfect.
Nebraska 21, Northwestern 17.

Sunday Morning Quarterback – Nebraska vs. Minnesota: License to Kill Gophers

Huskers to end a five-year Losing streak!

Nebraska vs. Minnesota — Friday night lights, revenge on the line. Can the Huskers finally end a five-year drought and take back the North?Matt Rhule’s squad rolls into Minneapolis ready to exterminate some Gophers.

Dylan Raiola leads the charge — 73% passing, 1,591 yards, 16 TDs — with weapons Nyziah Hunter, Jacory Barney Jr., and Dane Key lighting up defenses.

Emmett Johnson powers the ground game with 650 yards and seven scores.Nebraska’s defense? Elite. Top in passing yards allowed, near the top in total defense. The only question: can they stop the run?It’s grit vs. growth, patience vs. potential.

But this feels like Nebraska’s night.Prediction: Nebraska 31, Minnesota 17.

License renewed. Gophers exterminated.

It was the messiest of wins, it was the mightiest of comebacks.

From turnovers to triumph, Nebraska earned it the hard way — and SMQ says this one was EARNED. AGAIN.

The backdrop: Nebraska, riding a 4–1 record, rolled into College Park as underdogs to some, favorites to others. But Jay, Bob, and the faithful in the SMQ cornfield believed this was Nebraska’s for the taking. The plan was simple: feed Emmett Johnson, let Dylan Raiola play within himself, and dare Maryland to stop the run. As predicted in the preview, the Terps’ defense roared early — but the question was, could they last?

First Half: A back-and-forth circus
Nebraska struck early. A 64-yard catch-and-run from Raiola to Nyziah Hunter set the tone — this wasn’t going to be a slog. Maryland answered quickly: Nolan Ray broke free for a 28-yard score, then a Raiola fumble gave Washington a short field, and Leon Haughton Jr. made it hurt.

But the Huskers hit back on special teams. Kenneth Williams ripped off an 85-yard return to the Maryland 10, Raiola found Lindenmeyer, and two plays later Hunter hauled in a 12-yard strike. Nebraska up 24–14 — until Maryland clawed back with a late field goal, 24–17 at the half. It was clear this one would come down to whoever had the ball last.

Third Quarter: Maryland seizes control
Momentum flipped hard. The Terps opened with a 75-yard drive capped by DeJuan Williams’ score to tie it. Then came the gut punch: Raiola’s third interception, returned 67 yards by Dontay Joyner for a Maryland pick-six. Suddenly it was 31–24, and the ghosts of Husker collapses past crept in.

Fourth Quarter: Dial it up, baby
This was the stuff legends are made of. Nebraska refused to blink. Emmett Johnson broke loose for 50 yards to set up a field goal, trimming it to 31–27. Then came the drive of the season — 81 yards in seven plays. Raiola completed 4 of 5 passes, including a 23-yarder to Lindenmeyer, a 33-yard bomb to Hunter, and the go-ahead 3-yard TD to Dane Key with 1:08 left.

Maryland’s final possession ended with an intentional grounding call and a broken-up fourth-down pass. Nebraska held, 34–31.

Takeaways:

Raiola: Three interceptions would sideline most quarterbacks, but he bounced back. Under pressure, he hit big throws and finished 20 of 29 for 260 yards and four touchdowns. Grit over panic.

Emmett Johnson: SMQ wanted more Emmett, and he delivered — 21 carries for 176 yards, including that clutch 50-yarder that reignited the comeback.

Defense & scheme: They gave up 379 yards but bent, never broke. When it mattered most, they shut down Maryland’s rhythm and protected the lead.

Coaching & identity: Matt Rhule keeps talking about “pressure inoculation.” This was another dose — two straight one-score wins. The Huskers are learning to finish.

Still unresolved: Turnovers remain the Achilles’ heel. Three picks nearly flipped the game, and that edge won’t hold against top Big Ten opponents. But for now, it’s enough — because this team believes.

This was Nebraska football in its rawest form — messy, dramatic, and powered by heart. Jay would call it a turning point. Bob would smirk (because he saw it coming). And George? He’d say if the Huskers can clean up the rough edges, they’re not just playoff pretenders — they’re a team you bet on.

Sunday Morning Quarterback, in three words: EARNED. AGAIN.

READY THE ROAD CREW — THE BIG RED IS ROLLIN’ EAST!

Can Nebraska keep the fire burning on the road? SMQ says: absolutely!

The Huskers are hittin’ the highway for a two-week road trip, and the first stop is College Park. Four-and-one. Confidence high. Kool-Aid supply fully stocked. The vibes? Immaculate. The mission? Simple — silence the Terrapins and prove that Nebraska travels just as well as it celebrates at home.

Maryland’s a curious case. They look shiny on paper — 19 sacks, freshman QB Malik Washington, a defense that bites. But scratch the surface and it’s a different story. Up 20–0 on Washington… and lost 24–20. Oof. A stat like that says it all: talented, sure, but not yet battle-tested.

SMQ’s George called it: “A battle of the lines.” He’s not wrong. The Terrapins’ pass rush is real, but Nebraska’s got the antidote — a sharper Dylan Raiola, a more balanced playbook, and a little something called momentum. Last week’s sack-fest taught this team lessons that stick. Holgerson and Raiola both said it — not every sack is on the O-line. Sometimes it’s play design, sometimes it’s timing, sometimes it’s experience. And experience is growing fast in Lincoln.

Jay’s got faith. Bob’s got swagger. And the whole crew agrees: Nebraska’s special teams and secondary are elite — and those travel well.

Maryland’s defense might roar early, but they can’t run, and that’s trouble. Nebraska’s biggest weakness has always been the mobile quarterback — and the Terrapins don’t have one. Translation: the Huskers can pin their ears back and let it rip.

We’ve got the law firm of Johnson, Nelson, and Ives ready to clock in. Feed Emmett early and often. Let Dylan cook from a clean(er) pocket. Bubble screens, quick slants, and a little play-action spice — that’s the recipe. And when it hits? The scoreboard’s gonna light up like Memorial Stadium in prime time. Vegas has Nebraska favored by five and a half. We say that’s disrespectful.

The over’s creeping up. We say it’s not high enough. Because this isn’t just another Saturday. It’s a statement

Saturday.Prediction: Nebraska 34, Maryland 21.(Because we’re polite — but we think it’ll be more.)

The Big Red is about to roll through College Park like a corn-fed freight train. The Terrapins might crawl out of their shells… but they won’t like what’s coming.

Go Big Red!Please subscribe to SMQ on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube.

It was the best of games, it was the worst of games. Talk about a game with two different faces!The first wave on the “Michigan Invasion” ended in heartbreak for the Big Red. The second wave? Despite pitching and rolling like a plane in a thunderstorm, the Huskers emerged victorious with a 38-21 victory over the Spartans of Michigan State.

First Quarter: Dylan Raiola looked calm, collected, flipping passes downfield, stretching the Spartan defense like taffy. Receivers beat press coverage, found gaps, and the Spartans looked helpless. After an Emmitt Johnson touchdown, the Husker special teams did their thing and blocked a punt - resulting in a scoop and score for a 14-0 lead. Bob and Jay (who were predicting a big day for the Huskers) turned to each other and said “this might be a little easier than we thought!” Oh, optimism, you are such a fickle beast!Second Quarter: To (almost) quote Bob Seger, “we’re still (passing) against the wind.” Against all forms of common sense, the Huskers largely abandoned the ground game and tried passing against a stiff 30-40 mph breeze. From there, the game unraveled into the…Third Quarter: What looked like a blowout suddenly found the Huskers down 21-14! What happened? The backslide brought memories of game after game that Nebraska has dropped over the last several years. Fortunately, Raiola completed a long pass off a scramble and Emmitt ran it in again (THAT’S HOW YOU BEAT THE WIND!!) to knot the score at 21 going into the…

Fourth Quarter: Once they had the wind at their backs, the Huskers attacked, dropping 17 straight points and letting all Husker fans breathe a tremendous sigh of relief! The Spartans scored a late touchdown that only did one thing - it made sure that SMQ would not get the correct score for the 4th time in 5 games!

Final Score & Takeaways: Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27. It was closer than it appeared, yet also further than it appeared…it was that sort of game. It was a game we would have probably dropped in the past. But not this year!

While there’s a lot to pick on, the fact is the team showed fight and resilience to pull victory from the jaws of defeat! Go Big Red!

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STAND BACK! WE DON’T KNOW HOW BIG THIS THING COULD GET!!!Is Nebraska primed to keep piling up the points? SMQ thinks so!The SMQ crew is fired up and the Kool-Aid is flowing! Saturday afternoon, the Spartans roll into Lincoln for a showdown with Nebraska, and the only real question is: will the Huskers win by a little…or by a lot?Last game’s stumble against Michigan left scars, but it also left a burning itch for redemption. This isn’t the same script. Michigan State isn’t Michigan, and Nebraska isn’t about to let another one slip at home. Unlike the Wolverines, the Spartans bring the nation’s 116th-ranked pass defense to Memorial Stadium — and that’s the kind of stat that makes SMQ’s eyes go wide. Someone’s gonna feast and it won’t be the Spartans.Dylan Raiola has been steady to great this season and this matchup screams a high completion rate, lot ‘o yards, and TD’s galore!! Nebraska’s line will give him the time and the vertical shots will be there all game long. Expect the Huskers’ receivers to stretch the field, exploit mismatches, and turn the secondary into Swiss cheese.The oddsmakers have installed the Huskers an 11.5 point favorite. We think that’s low. The over has jumped from 48.5 to 50.5. We also think that’s low. How far we’ve come in one season where all we could do was pick the under!We’re not just sipping the Kool-Aid — we’re guzzling it by the gallon. Over, points, confidence, swagger: give us all of it.Prediction: Nebraska 37, Michigan State 21 (because we’re nice - we think it’ll be more.)A whoopin’ is coming, and the Spartans are the unlucky ones holding the short end of the corn stalk.Please subscribe to SMQ on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.

Nebraska Falls Short to Michigan, 30–27, in Gut-Wrenching Big Ten OpenerSMQ Team Travels to Nebraska for Michigan Win. While disappointed hope still springs eternal in Matt Rhule’s third season.Nebraska let another golden opportunity slip away on Saturday, falling 30–27 to No. 21 Michigan in front of a raucous Memorial Stadium crowd. Despite flashes of brilliance from quarterback Dylan Raiola, the Huskers couldn’t overcome poor protection, a nonexistent run game, and late-game execution issues, poor tackling and ineffectual coaching failing to make necessary adjustments in all three phases of the game.The first half gave fans reason to believe. Michigan jumped out to a 10–0 lead behind a field goal and a 37-yard run from freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood after Nebraska failed to score in the first two possessions. But Raiola struck back, hitting Jacory Barney Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown. Justice Haynes ripped off a 75-yard scoring run to push Michigan ahead again, only for Raiola to answer with a 52-yard Hail Mary to Barney as time expired, tying the game at 17–17. At that moment optimism flowed through Memorial Stadium.Momentum shifted quickly in the second half. Michigan hit a 56-yard field goal and then sprung a 54-yard touchdown run by Jordan Marshall (because of a masterclass in poor tackling). Suddenly, Nebraska trailed 27–17 and was playing catch-up. A fourth-quarter field goal cut the deficit to seven, but Michigan’s grinding 16-play, 77-yard drive ate up nearly nine minutes and effectively sealed the game. Raiola’s late touchdown pass made it 30–27, but the onside kick failed, and Michigan closed it out.The box score told a clear story: Nebraska produced 351 total yards, with Raiola throwing for 308 and three touchdowns. But the running game was completely stuffed, just 43 rushing yards on 31 attempts. Worse, Raiola was sacked seven times, constantly under siege as the offensive line struggled to hold up. By contrast, Michigan dominated on the ground, piling up 286 rushing yards and two long touchdown runs that proved decisive. Nebraska was out coached failing to make necessary adjustments to address the lopsided rushing performances.The disappointment is obvious. Nebraska had its chances, from the opening red-zone miss to the inability to stop Michigan’s clock-draining march in the fourth quarter. This is the type of game the Huskers must learn to finish if they want to climb in the Big Ten.So, what needs to improve? First, the offensive line must be fixed. Seven sacks and no push in the run game is a recipe for failure, no matter how talented Raiola is. Second, the defense must tighten against explosive plays; giving up touchdowns of 75 and 54 yards simply erases too much hard work. Finally, Nebraska has to finish drives. Settling for field goals or giving away possessions has become a costly habit.Saturday showed progress, but it also highlighted how far Nebraska has to go. The pieces are there, Raiola, Barney, and a defense that fights, but until the Huskers clean up the trenches and situational football, heartbreak will continue to outweigh hope.Please subscribe to SMQ on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube.