It’s Time–Saturday’s Nebraska Blackout Must Be a Knockout

Nebraska fans are being encouraged to show up in black and be loud. Memorial Stadium is already decked out in black flags for the event. Additionally, the Nebraska Football X.com account is in black.

The mindset seems to be that fans will swallow hard and tolerate, if not fully support, the Blackout if it brings a win over the Men of Troy on Saturday night.

It is year three of the Rhule era, which has meant breakout seasons at Temple and Baylor. And while the Huskers are 6-2, bowl eligible, and playing a meaningful game with College Football Playoff implications in November, they still have much to prove.

A win over an improved USC team, which is favored by seven points after a 4.5-point open, would be the confirmation moment of Rhule’s program.

While it won’t be easy it is certainly possible. And there are paths to get there.

Opportunity Must Be Exploited

The Trojans enter the game at 5-2 on the season. USC is coming off a bye week that followed 34-24 loss at No. 12 Notre Dame (5-20. The Fighting Irish manned up to run roughshod over USC for 306 yards and 7.0 yards per carry. USC ran for only 68 yards and 2.3 yards per carry.

Consider that the Trojans’ defense ranks No. 59 in the nation against the rush and No. 55 for points allowed. The USC defense ranks No. 80 nationally against the pass. All of which should point to opportunities for the Huskers and the ability to run a balanced attack that keeps USC guessing. However, there is more to that than meets the eye.

Nebraska boasts the Big Ten’s third-leading rusher, Emmett Johnson, who is averaging 5.7 yards per carry on 146 rushes for 837 yards. The problem is that Johnson gained many of his yards without much help from the offensive line. Instead, Johnson shakes, bakes, jiggles and wiggles for his yards.

Despite Johnson’s efforts, Nebraska ranks a revealing No. 100 nationally for rushing yards. It is not an accident and a source of frustration inside the opponent’s 10-yard line, where offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen calls the Godforsaken fade pass, football’s most annoying and worst play, far too often and with rare success.

Holgorsen and Rhule claim to want a physical team. But they have not been able to sustain a ground attack. Thus, the Nebraska offensive identity is not nickel-and-dime, but rather penny-and-nickel passing by sophomore sensation QB Dylan Raiola.

While touted in the preseason, Nebraska’s O-line reminds nobody of a vintage Wisconsin line before Chris McIntosh told Steve Pederson to hold his beer so he could obliterate that school’s culture and DNA.

Raiola was sacked nine times at Minnesota, with no help from his line or receivers, but also because he often took too much time. The main problem is that Raiola and his receivers have not been able to connect on deep balls consistently. Thus, defenses can play tight and depend on a strong rush against the passer.

The USC defense invites a balanced attack of rushes and passes. But Nebraska has not shown the ability to take advantage. Rhule claims the offensive line is getting better and can deliver more, but there is little in the body of work to suggest it can.

Still, if Nebraska can execute and keep USC guessing, the Huskers have enough to make gains.

Weather or Not for a Special Night?

Saturday night’s weather is expected to be in the low 40’s and dropping as the game progresses. While not bad, that is not the type of climate that USC is used to or prefers. The obvious answer is for Nebraska to maximize a masculine, punishing style of football that makes the Trojans miserable.

Rhule’s stated desire for such football must be implemented in a burn-the-boats sort of way Saturday night.

USC ranks No. 2 in the nation for total offense and No. 5 for scoring. And they dominated a physical No. 21 Michigan (6-2, 4-1) team in an impressive 31-13 win on Oct. 11. That is not the stuff of surfer boy softies. But can the Trojans do that in the cold and on the road in one of the loudest and most intimidating venues in college football?

The most impactful contributor to the 2025 Huskers is special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, who arrived after Rhule’s first two years were undermined by special teams.

Last week, Kenneth Williams’ 95-yard TD kickoff return proved to be the difference in a 28-21 win over Northwestern (5-3, 3-2). Special teams also made the difference in a win over Michigan State (3-5, 0-5), led by a blocked punt touchdown.

The Nebraska special teams are unrecognizable from the past and now a lead asset for Rhule’s program.

Last year’s 28-10 home win over Colorado is the biggest of the Rhule era. But a Blackout win over USC would be infinitely bigger and more impactful, with CFP implications.

On balance, USC has better athletes. But if Nebraska can find another gear and use its grit, tenacity and the intangibles of a feature night, this Blackout could be one of destiny that permanently changes the trajectory of the program.

It’s time. Way past time.

If not now, when?