LINCOLN — Solely as soon as in Mark Whipple’s 40 years as a coach did he consider his crew had no probability to win.
The Nebraska offensive coordinator was the receivers coach at Brown in 1983 and Harvard had simply overwhelmed them 17-10 in an unsightly sport. Subsequent up was a 400-mile bus journey west to Penn State to fulfill the defending nationwide champions and a hostile crowd of 84,000.
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In a twist Whipple didn’t see coming, Brown ran for 300-plus yards and saved issues respectable in a 38-21 loss.
“From that time on, I stated I’ll by no means say by no means,” Whipple stated.
Oddsmakers this week view Nebraska like an Ivy League faculty touring to tackle a significant energy and nationwide championship contender in Michigan. With the Wolverines a 31-point favourite in response to some sportsbooks, the Huskers are the largest official underdogs they’ve been since at the very least earlier than the Bob Devaney period started in 1962. It’s doubtless the most important level unfold ever towards Massive Crimson.
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The the reason why are apparent and a number of. Michigan ranks among the many nation’s high 5 in a dozen key statistics spurred on by a ferocious entrance seven, a masterful offensive line and a Heisman Trophy contender at operating again. It’s at dwelling in its sprawling, historic venue towards a Nebraska crew waffling between two inexperienced backup quarterbacks, with its finest beginning security suspended and led by an interim head coach and lame-duck offensive coordinator who haven’t seen eye to eye on personnel and play-calling selections.
“Everyone knows what’s in entrance of us,” NU coach Mickey Joseph stated. “…We all know what we’re moving into. We all know the duty at hand. But it surely’s a possibility.”
Nebraska is 17-80-1 as an underdog since 1985. Its largest unfold earlier than Saturday was 2004 Oklahoma, when the 30-point lengthy shot within the first 12 months of the Invoice Callahan period saved the ball on the bottom and comparatively contained star rusher Adrian Peterson in a 30-3 defeat towards the eventual nationwide runners-up.
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Apart from that sport, a lot of the Huskers’ tallest odds-on duties have come within the final 15 years. Ohio State video games from 2016-20 had been all spreads of at the very least 17 factors. Penn State in 2017 was 27 factors. Oklahoma in 2021 was 22.5. Oklahoma and Texas Tech in 2008 and Texas in 2007 additionally cracked the 20-point mark. Nebraska lined in half of these and received none.
“When you’ve that sort of level unfold, they’re calling you a scrub,” former Husker receiver Clester Johnson stated at a Massive Crimson Breakfast in 2017 earlier than Nebraska took on 17.5-point favourite Ohio State in a 56-14 loss.
The Huskers’ greatest upset within the trendy period got here in 2005 once they beat Colorado 30-3 as 17-point underdogs within the well-known “Restore the Order” sport. They beat Michigan (-11.5 factors) within the Alamo Bowl a couple of weeks later and Georgia (-9.5) within the Gator Bowl to cap the 2013 season thanks to a couple swing performs in every. Slim losses within the 1994 Orange Bowl to Florida State (-17.5) and the 2009 Massive 12 title sport to Texas (-14) almost made the checklist too.
Massive Crimson’s greatest wins as an underdog within the Scott Frost period had been 2020 Penn State (-2.5) and 2020 Purdue (-1).
Joseph, who performed on gifted Nebraska groups within the late ‘80s and early ‘90s and received a nationwide title in 2019 as an assistant at LSU, stated he had “completely not” been in a sport the place an opponent was favored by that a lot.
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“It means (oddsmakers) assume they’re 4 touchdowns higher than you,” Joseph stated. “That’s what they’re saying. However you continue to gotta kick the soccer off. We gotta play at a high stage. We’ve bought to play 60 minutes. However we’re not going to again down. We’re not going to throw the towel in. These children received’t try this. These coaches received’t try this. We’re not going to try this.”
Nebraska defensive coordinator Invoice Busch quipped that the crew wouldn’t be watching “Hoosiers” earlier than Saturday’s sport, as a substitute specializing in enjoying basic protection. Tight finish Travis Vokolek stiff-armed the notion that NU was an underdog, as a substitute calling the sport a “nice alternative” to indicate what it could possibly do. Security Marques Buford reminded reporters that the Wolverines placed on their helmets and shoulder pads identical to anybody else.
“It’s Michigan however it’s simply guys on the market,” left guard Ethan Piper stated. “They’ve the identical weaknesses like anyone else. We simply have to have the ability to exploit these. We simply should play it like another sport. Whenever you begin taking a look at stuff like (level spreads), it will get in your head. You’ve bought to take the surface noise and simply shut it off.”
The Huskers have seen excessive ends of the spectrum towards the super-athletic Wolverines. As 18-point underdogs in 2018 with an injured beginning quarterback and little depth, Nebraska was bodily dominated 56-10 within the Massive Home. Michigan was a 2.5-point favourite final season and escaped Lincoln with a 32-29 win on its strategy to the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
Each video games had been a part of Nebraska’s ongoing drought towards ranked competitors. It has misplaced 19 straight towards top-25 groups courting again to 2016 and hasn’t overwhelmed a top-10 membership in 11 tries since upending Michigan State in 2015.
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Whipple has seen lopsided spreads firsthand in current seasons as head coach at Massachusetts, together with comparable traces to Saturday like in 2017 at Mississippi State (-33) or 2016 at Florida (-34.5) or 2015 at Notre Dame (-28.5). One distinction this time, he stated, is Nebraska and Michigan are friends in the identical convention with the identical assets. They share a nationwide title from 25 years in the past.
It’s as much as the Huskers to show the present hole isn’t that enormous.
Whipple stated he by no means bets — he joked he misplaced $60 as a freshman at Brown and hasn’t gambled since. The actual worth play throughout the locker room is perception in getting the job performed.
Even when cash traces scream in any other case.
“We’re Division I and we’ve bought an opportunity,” Whipple stated. “That’s all you ask for.”
Following a dismal 89-52 loss to Michigan State on the road, the Nebraska men’s basketball team needed a bounce back in a big way.
That bounce back came in the form of a dominant 85-68 victory over a highly-touted Indiana team at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Hoosiers were as hyped as any in the conference, being selected second in the Big Ten preseason poll while bringing in a top-five transfer class in the country over the offseason.
But IU was outclassed by Nebraska, who shot over 65 percent from the field in the first half followed by a defensive effort that stifled the Hoosiers to a 27.8 field goal percentage in the second half to run away. Guard Brice Williams went off with a game-high 30 points with Juwan Gary (14), Connor Essegian (14) and big man Andrew Morgan (10) each reaching double figures to support.
With a momentum-boosting win over a storied program, it gave the Huskers plenty to build on approaching a holiday tournament in the Diamond Head Classic, which features a field that Nebraska can come out on top of.
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Here’s all you need to know as NU visits Hawaii for its lone regular-season tournament of the season.
How to Follow Along
Murray State’s Brain Moore Jr. (14) goes up against Evansville’s Chuck Bailey III (4) as the University of Evansville Purple Aces play the Murray State Racers at Ford Center in Evansville, Ind., Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Murray State beat Evansville 81-59. / MaCabe Brown / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Murray State Scout
Head Coach: Steve Prohm | 3rd Season in Second Stint; 7th overall at MSU | 139-68 (.671) at Murray State; 236-163 (.591) Career HC | 3x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 8x NBA Draft Picks, 2x OVC Titles, 2x Big 12 titles | Previous head coach at Iowa State | Previous assistant coach at Tulane, Southeastern Louisiana and Centenary.
2023-2024 Record: 12-20 (9-11 MVC, T-7th) | 1x All-MVC Bench Team | Did not qualify for the postseason.
All-Time Series: Murray State leads 2-0 (Dec. 30, 2000 last match, 79-71 MSU).
Fun Fact: The Huskers and Racers have faced only twice in school history with both matchups going the way of the Racers. MSU won in the title game of the 1990 San Juan Shootout and a regular season win in December of 2000.
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Key Returners: JaCobi Wood, G, Sr. | Nick Ellington, F, Sr. | Alden Applewhite, F, Jr. | Justin Morgan, G, Jr.
Key Departures: Quincy Anderson, G (Eligibility) | Rob Perry, G (Eligibility) | Brian Moore Jr., G, Sr. (Norfolk State) | Shawn Walker, Jr., G (Eligibility).
Outlook: Murray State enters an important year in the second stint of head coach Steve Prohm. From 2011-2015, Prohm helped the mid-major to new heights, making a pair of NCAA Tournaments – including a win in the First Round in 2012 – winning two Missouri Valley Conference tournament titles and posting a 104-29 record in four seasons. Prohm catapulted that success into a six-year run at Iowa State, taking over for new Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg who went to become the head coach for the Chicago Bulls.
Prohm went 97-95 in Ames before coming back to Murray State. The success hasn’t all been there for the Racers compared to Prohm’s earlier run with a 35-39 record in just over two complete seasons.
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Three of the top five scorers from last year’s 12-20 squad moved on from the program, including leading scorer Quincy Anderson (12.6 PPG), Rob Perry (11.9 PPG) and Brian Moore Jr. (9.2 PPG) who transferred to Norfolk State.
However, JaCobi Wood and Nick Ellington both returned, giving the Racers a pair of returners who produced double-digit points. Wood’s game has grown as a senior, leading the team with 15 points per game. Ellington has remained productive as well with 10.3 points per contest, but Prohm went heavy into the transfer portal to supplement his roster.
Four of the top six scorers came to Murray State from other schools. 6-foot-7 senior guard AJ Ferguson has had the biggest impact with 12.3 PPG for second on the team alongside a team-leading six rebounds per game. He’s exploded on the scene after spending two seasons at Southern Illinois. Senior guard Terence Harcum was an All-Sun Belt Third Team pick last season with Appalachian State, and is now averaging 12.0 PPG. Kylen Milton rounds out the transfer trio with 11.2 points per game after three seasons at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and one year at Western Kentucky. He brings plenty of experience with now 107 games of college basketball experience. Even Texas Tech transfer KyeRon Lindsay brings a spark with 8.3 points per game.
This is a balanced team across the board with its scoring, but it emphasizes three-point shooting with a 38.6 percent mark through nine games this season. The Racers are actually better in defending the three, however, with a 27.9 three-point shooting percentage from opponents.
The Racers don’t have any bad losses on its resume, but going into Sunday they are riding a two-game losing streak with consecutive defeats to Western Kentucky (81-76) and Indiana State (84-74). If Nebraska plays up to its ability, the Huskers should take care of business while having a great chance to win the whole tournament.
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Tournament Capsules
February 22, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers head coach Wayne Tinkle (right) instructs center KC Ibekwe (24) against the California Golden Bears during the second half at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Oregon State
Head Coach: Wayne Tinkle | 11th Season at OSU; 19th as Head Coach | 148-179 (.453) at Oregon State; 306-270 (.531) as Head Coach | 5x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 4x Conference titles, 2x Big Sky Coach OTY | Previous head coach at Montana.
2024 Record: 8-2 (0-0 Pac-12) | Wins: Utah Tech, Weber State, Western Oregon, Cal State Fullerton, UC Davis, Idaho, UC Irvine, Sacramento State | Losses: Oregon, North Texas.
Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Michael Rataj (16.7) | Rebounds: Michael Rataj (9.0) | Assists: Damarco Minor (5.9) | Steals: Michael Rataj & Damarco Minor (2.2) | Blocks: Michael Rataj (1.1) | FG%: Parsa Fallah (64.6%) | 3P%: Nate Kingz (53.8%) | FT%: Michael Rataj (89.4%).
Xavier Musketeers head coach Chris Mack calls out a play in the first half of the NCAA Big East Conference basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Georgetown Hoyas at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018.
020318 Xavier / Sam Greene / USA TODAY NETWORK
Charleston
Head Coach: Chris Mack | 1st Season at Charleston; 13th as Head Coach | 286-135 (.679) as Head Coach | 1x Final Four, 9x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 3x Conference titles, 1x Big East Coach OTY, Atlantic 10 Coach OTY | Previous head coach at Louisville and Xavier.
2024 Record: 8-2 (0-0 CAA) | Wins: Southern Illinois, South Florida, Florida Atlantic, The Citadel, Northern Kentucky, Tusculum, Saint Joseph’s, Wofford. | Losses: Liberty, Rhode Island.
Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Ante Brzovic (19.5) | Rebounds: Ante Brzovic (8.4) | Assists: CJ Fulton (6.2) | Steals: CJ Fulton (1.6) | Blocks: Ante Brzovic (1.3) | FG%: Ante Brzovic (54.2%) | 3P%: CJ Fulton (50.0%) | FT%: Ante Brzovic (73.7%).
Nov 22, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Loyola (Il) Ramblers coach Drew Valentine on the sidelines during the first half against the Creighton Bluejays at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images / William Purnell-Imagn Images
Loyola Chicago
Head Coach: Drew Valentine | 4th Season at LUC | 67-40 (.626) as Head Coach | 1x NCAA Tournament Appearance, 1x MVC title; 1x Atlantic 10 title | Previous assistant at Oakland and Michigan State.
2024 Record: 9-1 (0-0 A10) | Wins: Chicago State, Detroit Mercy, Eureka, Princeton, Southern Utah, Tulsa, Eastern Michigan, South Florida, Canisius | Losses: San Francisco.
Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Des Watson (12.6) | Rebounds: Francis Nwaokorie (5.9) | Assists: Justin Moore (5.3) | Steals: Des Watson (1.1) | Blocks: Miles Rubin (2.3) | FG%: Jalen DeLoach (66.7%) | 3P%: Sheldon Edwards Jr. (38.6%) | FT%: Jalen Quinn (75.0%).
Key Contributors: Des Watson, G, Sr. (12.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG) | Jayden Dawson, G, Jr. (12 PPG) | Sheldon Edwards Jr., G, Gr. (11.6 PPG) | Miles Rubin, C, Soph. (7.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG) | Justin Moore, G, Jr. (7.7 PPG) | Jalen Quinn, G, Jr. (7.7 PPG) | Kymany Houinsou, G, Jr. (6.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG) | Francis Nwaokorie, F, Sr. (6.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG) | Jalen DeLoach, F, Sr. (6.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG).
Oct 20, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; Oakland Golden Grizzlies head coach Greg Kampe on the sideline in the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Oakland
Head Coach: Greg Kampe | 41st Season at Oakland | 703-544 (.564) at Oakland & Career | 7x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 7x regular season conference titles, 4x tournament conference titles | 4x Summit League Coach OTY, 1x GLIAC Coach OTY. | Longest current tenured men’s basketball coach; Third active coach with 600 or more career wins; Fourth-most active career wins.
Jan 6, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte 49ers head coach Aaron Fearne during the second half against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Dale F. Halton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images / Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Charlotte
Head Coach: Aaron Fearne | 2nd Season at Charlotte; 15th as Head Coach | 25-16 (.610) at Charlotte | NBL Coach OTY, 2z QBL Coach OTY 2x QBL Champion |Charlotte Interim HC for 2023-2024 season before being elevated; 13 years as head coach in Australian Professional Basketball.
2024 Record: 6-4 (0-0 AAC) | Wins: Presbyterian, Richmond, Gardner-Webb, Livingstone, Georgia State, West Georgia | Losses: Utah State, Long Island, ETSU, Davidson.
Stat Leaders (Per Game): Scoring: Nik Graves (16.7) | Rebounds: Jaehshon Thomas (4.0) | Assists: Nik Graves (3.2) | Steals: Robert Braswell IV (1.1) | Blocks: Robert Braswell IV (0.7) | FG%: Giancarlo Rosado (55.8%) | 3P%: Robert Braswell IV (46.3%) | FT%: Robert Braswell IV (86.4%).
March 20, 2016; Spokane , WA, USA; Hawaii Rainbow Warriors head coach Eran Ganot speaks to players during a stoppage in play against Maryland Terrapins during the first half in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Hawaii
Head Coach: Eran Ganot | 10th Season at Hawaii | 162-105 (.607) at Hawaii; 165-107 (.607) Career record | 1x NCAA Tournament Appearance, 1x Big West Regular Season & Tournament title, 1x Big West Coach OTY | 3-2 as acting HC for St. Mary’s (CA.) in 2013-2014.
2024 Record: 6-3 (0-1 Big West) | Wins: Life Pacific, San Jose State, Pacific, Weber State, Hawaii Pacific, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | Losses: North Carolina, Grand Canyon, Long Beach State.
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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
How about some Husker hoops during the holidays in Hawaii.
Nebraska (7-2 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten) begins its Diamond Head Classic slate on Sunday night in Hawaii against Murray State (6-4, 1-1 in Missouri Valley Conference). Tip for the game is set for 8 p.m. central time. It will be televised by ESPN with Roxy Bernstein and Sean Farnham on the call.
The Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic is a three-day tournament with games on Sunday, Monday and Christmas day on Wednesday. The action is played at SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, the home of the hosting Rainbow Warriors.
Nebraska will play the winner of Hawaii and Charlotte in the second game on Monday. College of Charleston, Loyola (Chicago), Oakland and Oregon State make up the rest of the eight-team tournament field.
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Here’s a look at the bracket, which can be viewed here:
Each team in the tournament will play three games in four games. That’s a lot of basketball packed into a short amount of time. That’ll no doubt be a different feeling for the Huskers, who have a schedule with a December stretch of just three games in 21 days.
Obviously, getting off on the right foot in the opener against Murray State is a must for the trip to be considered a success.
“This first one obviously is very important, to try to stay on the right side of the stay bracket,” Fred Hoiberg said during a press conference Thursday before the team departed. “We’ll worry about the second game when we get there, whether it’s Hawaii or Charlotte, and then have a day off to prepare for the third game that we will play.”
Nebraska will catch Murray State on a two-game losing streak. The Racers fell on the road at Western Kentucky 81-76 in overtime last Saturday, then dropped a game at Indiana State on Wednesday 84-74.
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Hoiberg noted how Murray State dug itself in a hole early but never quit and made it a game at the end. The Racers trailed by as many as 22 points in the second half, 53-36 with 12:15 remaining, but slashed the Sycamores’ lead to a two-possession game, 78-74, with 1:37 left.
“It’s a team that shoots the ball as well or better than any team that we played to this point, and they’ve got quick, athletic guards that pose problems on both ends of the court,” Hoiberg said.
Nebraska is coming off a head-turning 85-68 victory against Indiana on Dec. 13, a solid rebound effort after getting embarrassed in a loss at Michigan State.
In the win over the Hoosiers, Brice Williams went off with an outing of 30 points, six rebounds and five assists. The 6-7 guard was named Big Ten Player of the Week and one of five USBWA Oscar Robertson National Players of the Week.
Williams also became only the second Husker in the Big Ten era to have at least 30 points and five assists in a game, joining Teddy Allen (2021).
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Murray State will come into the game averaging 78.8 points per game (7th in MVC) while shooting 47.7% from the field (7th) and 38.6% from 3-point range (4th). The Racers’ defense is allowing 67.0 points per game (3rd) and have done well defending the perimeter, holding opponents to 27.9% shooting from 3 this season.
“Their ability to shoot is the thing that really stands out,” Hoiberg said. “They shoot over 40 percent as a team. Their guards are really quick, and they do a great job getting into the paint.”
Hoiberg knows Murray State head coach Steve Prohm well. Prohm was who took over for Hoiberg at Iowa State when he took the Chicago Bulls head coaching job.
“I think he’s a great guy and I think he’s a hell of a coach,” Hoiberg said of Prohm. “So they do a really good job of spacing the floor. They run a lot of really good actions, especially for their shooters when they get it going. And their bigs, the guys that do play, they’re very active going to the glass. They will throw it in there depending on matchups. I’ve been impressed with this team and their overall quickness and ability to shoot the ball. Those are the things that worry you most about this group.”
With the forecast for Honolulu calling for sunny skies and 80-degree temperatures during the days of the tournament, the Huskers want to enjoy the experience of being in Hawaii during the holidays.
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But making sure winning basketball games and the tournament is the top priority.
“If we go out there and guys want to sit on the beach and do all that, we’re probably not going to be very successful,” Hoiberg said. “We’ve talked a lot to our guys about going out there, enjoying the experience and enjoying the process, but understanding when that ball goes up in the air, we got to be on point and we got to be ready to go.”
Nebraska preferred to fly to Hawaii on Thursday, but due to finals at UNL, the departure day was pushed to Friday. The Huskers landed in Honolulu on Friday afternoon local time.
Hoiberg said the Huskers had a light workout on the court after landing and will have a practice on Saturday before the Sunday game. The tight schedule won’t be an excuse, Hoiberg said, because every team in the tournament, outside of host Hawaii, is making the same trip.
“We’re all in the same boat on this trip,” Hoiberg said. “It’s something where the team that puts the distractions behind them — you got the time change, got a new ball that we’ve been practicing with all week — but it’s the same thing for everybody. It’s the short turnarounds, and the team that prepares the best will have the most success in the tournament this week.”
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On Tuesday, the off day on Christmas Eve, Hoiberg said there will be a team meal with some of the family members that also made the trip. They’ll find time to fit that in between a practice and multiple film sessions.
An SEC defensive back is headed to Lincoln via the transfer portal.
Former Georgia DB Justyn Rhett has committed to Nebraska. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
Rhett appeared in four games over two seasons for the powerhouse Bulldogs. He finishes his Georgia career with three tackles.
The 6-1, 200-pound DB got to Athens from the football factory out of Las Vegas, Bishop Gorman. A four-star prospect out of high school, Rhett was selected to play in Under Armour All-America Game and picked Georgia over Alabama, Michigan, Florida State, LSU, Tennessee, Oregon, Notre Dame, Oregon, and more.
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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.