Nebraska football is entering a period of change, with new offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen preparing to reshape the team’s approach on offense.
Though he’s only been with the Huskers for a week, Holgorsen is expected to start blending elements of his signature Air Raid offense into the team’s playbook. While it’s impossible that Nebraska will fully adopt this new system by their upcoming game against USC, fans might see a gradual transition, with a full rollout possible in 2025 if Holgorsen remains on the staff.
This shift has stirred mixed feelings among Nebraska fans, many of whom worry about how a pass-heavy offense would fare in the Big Ten. The tradition of run-oriented offenses in the conference is often seen as better suited for the cold weather, and that is what many Big Ten teams have stuck to.
Hal Mumme, one of the original minds behind the Air Raid system and a mentor to Holgorsen, believes the offense can succeed anywhere if handled correctly. In a recent interview on Hail Varsity Radio, Mumme discussed why he thinks the Air Raid could work at Nebraska, even in Big Ten competition.
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“I never really cared about what the conference’s style was,” Mumme said. “I just wanted our style to be what it was, and we wanted to be good at it. Anyway, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, but if your athletes are fairly equal in ability, it gives you a great advantage, mainly because not many people do it.”
Timing, Mumme says, is on Holgorsen’s side. Although the Air Raid system was once common in the Big 12, it’s now less popular, providing a chance to reintroduce it in a way that might surprise Big Ten opponents.
“There was a time in the Big 12 when nearly every school in the conference was running it, maybe 10 or 12 years ago. But now it’s kind of rotated back, and it’s not as popular as it was to begin with. So I think it’s a good time to pull it out.”
Nebraska’s Air Raid experiment will soon be put to the test as the Huskers explore whether this high-energy offense can withstand the demands of Big Ten play, especially in the unpredictable fall climate of Big Ten country.
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The 2024 Nebraska high school football playoffs continued last week, and now it’s time for Round 3 — the state semifinals.
Top-seeded Omaha Westside will face No. 5 Omaha North in Round 3 of the Class A bracket. The winner of that game will face the winner of No. 2 Millard South and No. 3 Kearney in the championship round.
Here are the Nebraska high school football playoff brackets, with matchups and game times for each classification:
(1) Sumner-Eddyville-Miller vs. (4) Garden County
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5 p.m. CT Friday
(2) Hay Springs vs. (3) Stuart
2 p.m. MT Friday
(1) St. Francis vs. (4) Central Valley
7 p.m. CT Friday
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(2) BDS vs. (6) Riverside
5 p.m. CT Friday
(1) Sandy Creek vs. (12) Lourdes Central Catholic
5 p.m. CT Friday
(2) Stanton vs. (6) Summerland
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6 p.m. CT Friday
(1) Norfolk Catholic vs. (13) Kearney Catholic
7 p.m. CT Friday
(2) Bishop Neumann vs. (3) Battle Creek
7 p.m. CT Friday
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(1) Sidney vs. (5) Central City
5 p.m. MT Friday
(3) Wahoo vs. (7) Auburn
7 p.m. CT Friday
(1) Bennington vs. (5) Elkhorn North
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7 p.m. CT Friday
(2) Seward vs. (3) Skutt Catholic
7 p.m. CT Friday
(1) Omaha Westside vs. (5) Omaha North
7 p.m. CT Friday
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(2) Millard South vs. (3) Kearney
7 p.m. CT Friday
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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Alexis Markowski scored 22 points, Natalie Potts had a double-double and No. 21 Nebraska cruised to an 84-58 win over Southern on Tuesday night.
Potts had 17 points and 12 rebounds, eight on the offensive end, for the Cornhuskers (3-0). Alberte Rimdal added 12 points.
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Aniya Gourdine scored 22 points for the Jaguars (0-4), who have played the hardest opening schedule in the country. Their other losses were to Top 10 teams Oklahoma and Iowa State as well as Missouri and head to Colorado for their next game.
Nebraska only led 15-13 after one quarter and closed the second with a 10-0 run to lead 36-26 at halftime. The Cornhuskers had an early 7-0 run in the third quarter, which ended with an 8-0 for a 61-43 lead.
Nebraska had a 46-26 rebounding advantage and was a plus-20 inside. The Cornhuskers also went 25 of 36 from the foul line while the Jaguars were 6 of 10.
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The 4-5 USC Trojans face the 5-4 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, and the Trojans are making a quarterback change and attempting to become bowl eligible. The Cornhuskers are just one win away from bowl eligibility but have made changes of their own on the offensive side of the ball.
Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule spoke in the weekly press conference about the matchup with USC. The Nebraska quarterback starting against the Trojans is still up in the air. Rhule said the team will see how quarterback Dylan Raiola is doing but is preparing Heinrich Haarberg.
When asked about how the team is preparing both quarterbacks with their different playing styles, Rhule’s response remained ambiguous.
Sep 28, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule high fives quarterback Heinrich Haarberg (10) during the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images / Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
“That’s why I’m not gonna let anybody talk to you guys tomorrow because you guys are really good at your jobs, and I appreciate that,” Rhule said.
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While speaking about Nebraska’s quarterback situation, Rhule changed the conversation to having to prepare for a new USC quarterback. Jayden Maiava will be making his first start for USC but has played numerous games in his career while at UNLV.
“We’re sitting here trying to figure what to do with, you know, they’ve changed the quarterback. You know, we’re watching UNLV film and spring film and all that,” Rhule said.
Rhule expanded on the challenges of preparing for Maiava. While there is film on him, Maiava has not played much under the USC offensive scheme.
“It’s sort of the same thing, right? You’re sitting there looking at, you know, what do they do well, and they do a lot well.” Rhule said. “Maiava, you know, he has the ability to move.”
Sep 20, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule talks with officials after an interception during the second quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Rhule also spoke about how well USC coach Lincoln Riley utilizes the run game each week. The Nebraska coach spoke highly about Trojans running back Woody Marks, who has been having a strong season.
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“The tailback is, I mean, like all Lincoln Riley offenses, you know, Marks is a fantastic tailback. He’s explosive, dynamic. They’re, you know, I’ve coached against Coach Riley for a long time. He’s going to find a way to run the football. He’s elite at what he does,” Rhule said. “Even in the last game against Washington, they got back in the game by just running the football at a high level.”
Rhule then spoke about the Trojans’ receiving core, highlighting wide receiver Zachariah Branch and his ability as the slot receiver.
“Branch is, you know, excellent excellent excellent slot,” Rhule said. “They have some guys that can really go on the outside.”
USC’s offensive weapons make it more challenging for Nebraska to defend the offense. Being able to run the ball well and now having Maiava’s ability to run is difficult to contain. If USC gets the run game going early, that could open the passing game.
Aug 31, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule reacts during the second quarter against the UTEP Miners at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
“Now as a defense, you’re having to defend the counter and the tackle trap and all these plays that they run. Plus, the opportunity for the quarterback to pull the ball and run because he, you know, he’s a dual threat player,” Rhule said. “And you don’t know exactly which direction they’re going to go with him.”
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The Nebraska fanbase is a loyal one. Rhule closed speaking to the media giving the Nebraska fanbase credit on the road, and how it will help them against USC.
“I think the impact of our fans on the road always is elite,” Rhule said. “When they do show up in mass it limits the need for the silent cadences and all the things that make being on the road hard.”
The USC Trojans and Nebraska Cornhuskers will kick off at 1 p.m. PT in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
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