Wisconsin Football: Get To Know The Nebraska Cornhuskers
By Jim Oxley
The Wisconsin football team will look to bounce back from a Big Ten opener loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes when they travel to face the Nebraska Cornhuskers in week two of the Big Ten schedule.
READ ALSO: 0-1 Conference Start Nothing New For Wisconsin Badgers
Both teams are coming off of tough losses in week one in the conference schedule, and both teams are looking for a win to keep their conference championship hopes alive.
Here’s what you need to know about Wisconsin’s week six opponent, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Wisconsin Badgers
Record: 2-3
Season so far: The Cornhuskers have had some heartbreakers this year, and it started week one against BYU. Nebraska led 28-27 with only seconds remaining, but gave up a Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired to lose the first game of the season.
After dismantling the South Alabama Jaguars 48-9 a week later, the Cornhuskers suffered yet another heartbreaker, this time a 36-33 overtime loss to Miami (FL). The heartbreak was that much greater after the Huskers came back from down 23 points to tie the game at 33-10 to force overtime. An interception on the first play of overtime put the ball in Miami’s hands, and a field goal sealed the win.
Nebraska followed the loss with a 36-28 win over the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, and fell last week in the Big Ten opener 14-13 to the Illinois Fighting Illini, again on a last second touchdown pass.
Key Players: Nebraska’s starting quarterback is a familiar face in Tommy Armstrong, Jr. He’s completed 54 percent of his passes this year on the way to 1,371 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s a dual threat, and is the Huskers second-leading rusher with 156 yards on 32 carries, scoring a touchdown and averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
Armstrong’s favorite receiver has been Jordan Westerkamp, who has 27 catches for 350 yards and four scores. Brandon Reilly has been the most explosive receiver for the Huskers, taking 18 catches for 352 yard and a score, averaging nearly 20 yards a catch. Junior wide receiver Alonzo Moore has three touchdown receptions on 11 grabs for the Huskers this season.
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Terrell Newby is averaging 5.5 yards per carry on the way to 414 yards and three scores for the Huskers. Senior fullback Andy Janovich has over 100 yards on the ground and a touchdown for the Cornhuskers, as well.
De’Mornay Pierson-El, a talented receiver and returner for the Huskers, has been battling injuries, and will likely play more this weekend against the Badgers than he did last weekend against Illinois.
On defense, the Huskers are also battling injuries, with defensive end Jack Gangwish missing significant time, and defensive tackle Vincent Valentine and linebackers Josh Banderas and Michael Rose-Ivey all out at times this season.
Outlook: The Cornhuskers are a little beat up on defense, which is god news for the Badgers, who struggled mightily to move the ball last week. The Badgers offense couldn’t move the rock on the ground, and face a Nebraska defense that is holding opponents under 100 rushing yards a game this season.
Nebraska’s pass defense, however, has been more suspect, allowing opponents 353.8 yards per game. The Huskers opponents have averaged 24 points a contest.
Wisconsin’s defense, meanwhile, has given up just 48 points on the entire season (9.6 per game), all but 13 of them coming against Alabama. Wisconsin’s opponents have averaged less than 200 yards per game through the air and less than 100 per game on the ground.
The Badgers defense is good enough to keep them in any game left on the schedule. The offense will need to get moving this weekend, especially on the road. Given the way Nebraska has performed so far defensively, the Badgers may need Joel Stave to take to the air to get the job done.
If the same Stave who made poor decisions against Iowa shows up, the Badgers could be in trouble. But if Stave takes care of the ball, the Badgers should leave Nebraska with their first conference victory.
Next: Husker Corner Talks Nebraska Football
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