
Nebraska: 5 things I'd like to see from Cornhuskers vs. Wisconsin
Nebraska has the second-longest longest losing streak in the country at eight. Only UTEP (17) has waited longer for a victory among teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Cornhuskers (0-4) face a huge challenge in trying to break that skid as they visit Wisconsin (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Big Ten Network).
Here are the 5 things I’d like to see from the Cornhuskers in Madison:
Love losing less
Scott Frost did not like what he saw on the sidelines from some of his players last week when the Cornhuskers were facing Purdue. Specifically, some players were dancing to music over the PA system, leading Frost to say after Saturday’s game that some of his players “look like they love losing.” But Frost did say this week that he sees a culture change and that “everybody is working” toward turning things around.
Keep ground game churning
Against the Boilermakers, Devine Ozigbo rushed for a career-high 170 yards on 10 carries. Nebraska has distributed the workload pretty well among its running backs this season — perhaps too well. The Cornhuskers don’t have a single player among the top 15 in the Big Ten in rushing attempts or rushing yards. Even accounting for the fact that they had a game canceled, that’s not good. They might do well to go with the hot hand against Wisconsin, and that’s Ozigbo.
Spielman, Morgan combo shines
J.D. Spielman is leading Nebraska in catches (23) and touchdown receptions (four). He is tied for third in the B1G in the latter category. Adrian Martinez seems to have found a nice rhythm with Spielman, but Stanley Morgan (17 catches, a team-high 269 yards, 1 TD) will remain a key member of the passing attack too. It would help if the Cornhuskers found a credible third receiving threat (maybe walk-on Kade Warner?) but for now the two top receivers need to see the ball a bit more.
No more QB injuries
First Martinez got hurt in the opener and missed a game. Now the quarterback who replaced him, Andrew Bunch, is on the shelf. Bunch sat out the Purdue game with a leg injury and is questionable for Saturday’s game. The Cornhuskers are extremely thin at this position already so they cannot afford another injury to Martinez.
Steadier foot
Barret Pickering is 3-of-6 on field goals this season; his 50 percent success rate is last among Big Ten kickers. The freshman missed a 54-yarder near the end of the first half on Saturday but his other two misses this season were makeable tries from 33 and 43 yards. He was a highly regarded kicking recruit coming out of the Class of 2018 so he should get more time to prove himself. But kicking is pretty simple: You either make them or you don’t.