NEBRASKA (1-0) vs. Bowling Green (0-1) – The Ground Game Could Launch Hard: HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
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Bowling Green comes to town Saturday night and their performance in Week 1 did little to instill dread in Husker fans who have grown used to disappointing things in the last decade or more.
The Falcons dropped their opener last weekend to FCS school Tarleton State 20-13, which is not as bad as it sounds. The Texans are a 1-AA team, true, but they’re a pretty damn good one. Or at least they were in 2025 when they finished 12-2 and lost in the quarterfinals of the FCS tourney.
But here’s where it gets interesting where the Huskers are concerned. During the loss, Bowling Green was outgained 464-366 and they surrendered 250 of those yards on the ground to the Texans’ running back Tylan Hines on 26 carries. Hines is a 5’8” 180lb 5th senior who has never rushed for over 650 yards in a season – though he will likely do so at some point in the next two games.
For me, this causes joy. No disrespect to Hines or Tarleton State, but Bowling Green will be facing a Husker three-headed running attack tomorrow night and I’d wager that were Hines at Nebraska, he would find himself firmly behind all three and possibly one or two more on the Husker depth chart. I’d also wager the Huskers offensive line is a cut above Tarleton’s.
Another 500+ yard offensive day with at least 300 on the ground seems like a solid possibility – at least with the always dependable knowledge which can be gleaned after each have played only a single game.
The crowd will be livelier given a beautiful afternoon in which to get oiled up in the parking lots and bars near Memorial Stadium – without the threats of death, heatstroke and dehydration floating by that 98 degree reading on the old mercury. Okay, fine, some may still drink themselves dry to a fine headache, but that’s on them.
Also, Bowling Green’s Head Coach is Eddie George, yes, that Eddie George. Perhaps, if we can open up a large enough lead on the Falcons, we can make returning his 1995 Heisman Trophy to Tommie Frazier part of Matt Rhule’s agreement to take his foot off the gas in the 2nd half. It’s time to correct one of the great mistakes in college football history.
Colt McCoy, we’re coming after you next and bringing Suh along to claim his trophy personally.
Here’s your HT Watch/Listen, wagering lines, kickoff time ,weather and a little more.
Go Big Red.
HOW TO WATCH
Time: 6:00pm CST
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NE
Surface: Hellas Turf (Blessed by the Bobfather himself in Husker Valhalla)
Wagering Info: Huskers -30 1⁄2 . O/U – 49 1⁄2. Moneyline Nebraska +102, Bowling Green +2500 (FanDuel)
Series Record: Saturday’s game marks the first matchup ever between the two schools.
TV: The game can be viewed on FS1. Play-by-Play: Eric Collins. Analyst: Spencer Tillman. Sidelines: none listed. It is also streaming on the Fox Sports app.
Radio: The audio can be streamed live for free at Huskers.com or the Huskers App. The crew will be: Play-by-Play: Kyle Crooks. Analysis: Jay Moore. Sidelines: Jessica Coody. Pre/Post-Game: Matt Coatney, Jessica Coody, Ben McLaughlin & Jeremiah Sirles.
Weather: After brunch in the Memorial air fryer last weekend, Saturday evening’s contest should be gorgeous and mild by comparison. Skies will be partly cloudy with temps around 75 at kickoff dropping to 67 or so by game’s end making it perfect for tailgating and the game itself as well as some post-game reflection under the stars.
HUSKERS HAPPY HOUR
Hey, did you know we have Corn Nation podcasts every Monday, Tuesday & Thursday? Mine is every Tuesday night at 8pm CST and is called the Huskers Happy Hour…although it often goes over an hour. Or two on occasion – stay as long as you like. You can watch on Corn Nation’s You Tube Live Channel or Corn Nation Facebook or Twitter/X.
Next Tuesday’s show will be Season 3, Episode 2 and we will hopefully be discussing the 2-0 start and insane Husker rushing yardage which may be on the menu.
The watchers and listeners are encouraged to chime into the comments as they are happily a big part of the show. Pour your own cold one – or spiked coffee, we don’t judge – and hop aboards!
FACTS & FIGURES
- After a punt on its initial drive of the second half, Nebraska scored a touchdown on each of its final five possessions of the victory over Ohio. Nebraska averaged 9.2 yards on 33 plays on those five drives.
- Nebraska running backs Jamal Rule, Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee combined for 329 yards from scrimmage in the win over Ohio. The group had 31 rushes for 217 yards and four receptions for 112 yards.
- Dana Holgorsen boasts seven full seasons of experience as an offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, Houston, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. In seven seasons as a coordinator, Holgorsen’s offenses have averaged 502.8 yards per game and 39.0 points per game.
- Bowling Green is coached by Eddie George, the 1995 Heisman Tropy winner. George is in his second season with the Falcons and his sixth season overall as a college head coach after leading Tennessee State from 2021 to 2024.
- Rob Aurich has been a defensive coordinator at the Division II, FCS and FBS levels. In his three seasons as an FBS or FCS defensive coordinator, Aurich’s teams have ranked in the top 25 in total defense every year with an average national ranking of 16th in total defense in those three seasons.
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