Nebraska

USC Trojans, Nebraska Cornhuskers Prediction: Can Jayden Maiava Win First Start of USC Career?

Published

3 hours ago

November 15, 2024

USC Trojans, Nebraska Cornhuskers Prediction: Can Jayden Maiava Win First Start of USC Career?

The USC Trojans host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT on FOX.

Each of these teams are coming off a bye week. USC has a record of 4-5 while the Cornhuskers come in with a record of 5-4. After promising starts to the season for both, they have really struggled in conference play. USC is 2-5 in Big Ten play and Nebraska is 2-4.

USC vs. Nebraska Odds

Nov 2, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule talks with an official against the UCLA Bruins during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

The Trojans enter Saturday’s matchup as a 7.5-point home favorite vs. the visiting Cornhuskers. The over/under is set at 51 points.

The Trojans have been two different teams on the road and at home. USC is 0-4 record on the road while being a solid 3-1 at home. Their lone home loss was an overtime defeat to Penn State. USC also won their neutral site battle in week one vs. LSU.

The Cornhuskers have been reeling over the past month. Nebraska was once 5-1, but have lost their last three games to Indiana, Ohio State, and UCLA.

USC vs. Nebraska Preview

Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans tailback Javorius Allen (37) is pursued by Nebraska Cornhuskers linebacker Austin Williams (24) on a 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

/ Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Trojans a 82.3 percent chance to beat the visiting Cornhuskers on Saturday.

The most shocking stat about the 2024 USC Trojans is that in all nine games, they have had a fourth quarter lead. Somehow, they have managed to let five of them slip away, but USC has been able to hold serve at home this season. In their last outing, the Trojans lost 26-21 to Washington in Seattle.

Nebraska looked like a legitimate college football playoff contender after their first six games. The Cornhuskers were 5-1 with their one loss coming in overtime to a good Illinois team. It has been all downhill since. After three straight losses, the Cornhuskers’ bye week gave them a much-needed break. Their last game was a 27-20 home loss to UCLA.

The Trojans and Cornhuskers have met five times before, with USC winning four of them and one game ending in a tie. The most recent meeting was in the 2014 Holiday Bowl. USC won 45-42.

USC vs. Nebraska Score Prediction

There is a lot of pressure building on Trojans’ coach Lincoln Riley. Riley made the decision to bench quarterback Miller Moss for sophomore Jayden Maiava. Maiava will be making his first start this season. Will he give USC a much needed spark to end the season one a high note?

This game will be close, but USC will find a way to pull it out with Maiava.

USC 31, Nebraska 24

MORE: USC Trojans Losing 5-Star QB Julian Lewis To Georgia Bulldogs? SEC Recruiting Flip

MORE: Why 4-Star Hayden Lowe Flipped From USC Trojans To Miami Hurricanes, Mario Cristobal

MORE: USC Trojans Women’s Basketball Star JuJu Watkins Makes Name, Image, Likeness History

MORE: Nebraska Starting Quarterback vs. USC? Dylan Raiola Injury Update

MORE: USC Trojans Throwback Uniforms Unveiled For Nebraska Cornhuskers Game: Photos

MORE: USC Trojans On NCAA Probation Due To Coaching Violations: Lincoln Riley Not Suspended

MORE: USC Trojans Coach Lincoln Riley Reacts to NCAA Probation: ‘We Don’t Take It Lightly’

MORE: USC Trojans Commit Carde Smith Trending to Deion Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes

MORE: USC Trojans Schedule Update: UCLA Bruins Official Kickoff Time, TV Broadcast

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Nebraska

Nebraska flips four-star OLB Dawson Merritt away from Alabama

Published

13 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

Nebraska flips four-star OLB Dawson Merritt away from Alabama

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Rivals.com, the leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here.

Flip season is on and just got real for Nebraska. Four-star outside linebacker Dawson Merritt has announced that he’s flipped from Alabama to the Huskers.

Merritt had been a long time target of the Huskers and remained a priority even after his initial commitment to Alabama.

The Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley four-star is the 20th commitment for Nebraska’s 2025 recruiting class. The class currently sits inside the top 20 the Rivals team recruiting rankings.

WHAT MERRITT MEANS FOR NEBRASKA

If Nebraska is going to return to the national scene part of the story will be that the program started landing elite talent from the Midwest. So it’s a huge deal that the Huskers were able to pull the flip with Merritt who is among the best players in the region this cycle.

Merritt joins offensive lineman Julian Marks, linebacker Christian Jones, running back Jamarion Parker, defensive lineman Tyson Terry and wide receiver Isaiah Mozee as four-stars in the class from the Midwest. That’s a terrific haul for Rhule as he rebuilds the program.

This commitment also shows another important thing for Rhule. He can land players that want to go to elite programs. The relationship between Rhule and the Merritt family is fantastic. That’s because of Rhule’s ability to connect and how he kept on Dawson even after he gave his commitment to Alabama.

WHAT MERRITT BRINGS FOR THE HUSKERS

Versatility is the name of the game for Merritt. He’s exactly the type of potential defensive chess piece that defensive coordinator Tony White loves to coach. The Kansas native has the arm length, bend and quickness that can make him a good pass rusher. There are moments he flashed that ability when I saw him play in person this season.

But Merritt has a frame (6-3, 200) that will likely be able to hold 20-30 more pounds. Strength coach Corey Campbell will want to put some additional muscle mass on him before he hits the field in Lincoln. If that happens, Merritt could also be a player that plays some off-ball linebacker in the way that John Bullock currently plays for the team.

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Nebraska

Thursday Tim-Bits: Huskers heating up in final stretch to Signing Day

Published

20 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

Thursday Tim-Bits: Huskers heating up in final stretch to Signing Day

Nebraska sits at 19 commits in the 2025 class just weeks away from Early Signing Day. The Huskers are heating up, ramping up pursuit and NIL efforts as they look to put the finishing touches on the class. Here’s the latest on top targets like Michael Terry, Dawson Merritt and Jordan Allen, along with a note on the Huskers making the top group for two 2026 four-star targets and two 2026 targets set to see Nebraska in action this weekend.

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Nebraska

VB Previews: Nebraska hosts Minnesota and Indiana amid 21-game win streak

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2024

Press Room

VB Previews: Nebraska hosts Minnesota and Indiana amid 21-game win streak

Slowly but surely, the Nebraska volleyball team is grinding its way into the No. 1 spot in the Top 25 national rankings.

The Huskers (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) remain just behind Pittsburgh (23-1) in the latest AVCA Top 25, released on Monday, in the No. 2 spot. They garnered their most first-place votes (12) in the poll in the last four weeks, however, amid their current 21-game win streak.

Now, they will be putting that dominant run to the test once again as they match up with Minnesota (16-8, 9-5) and Indiana (12-12, 5-9) this week in Lincoln.

Below are the stats to know, players to watch and more information on the Huskers’ upcoming home matches against the Gophers and Hoosiers.

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HOW TO WATCH, STREAM & LISTEN

#2 NEBRASKA (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) vs. MINNESOTA (16-8, 9-5)

Time: 8:00 p.m. CT on Thursday

TV Channel: Big Ten Network

Commentators: Larry Punteney (play by play) and Emily Ehman (color)

Streaming: Fox Sports App

Radio: Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations

Listen online: Huskers.com (LINK)

App Audio: Official Huskers App

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#2 NEBRASKA (24-1 overall, 14-0 Big Ten) vs. INDIANA (12-12, 5-9)

Time: 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday

TV Channel: Big Ten Network

Commentators: Larry Punteney (play by play) and Lauren Stivrins (color)

Streaming: Fox Sports App

Radio: Huskers Radio Network with John Baylor and Lauren (Cook) West will broadcast all the action on their volleyball affiliate stations

Listen online: Huskers.com (LINK)

App Audio: Official Huskers App

SERIES HISTORY

NEBRASKA-MINNESOTA:

>> Nebraska is 38-12 all-time against Minnesota and won both matches against the Golden Gophers last year.

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NEBRASKA-INDIANA:

>> Nebraska is 23-1 all-time against Indiana and has won 23 straight against the Hoosiers since Indiana’s lone win in 1978.

SCOUTING REPORTS

NEBRASKA

All stats and info provided courtesy of Nebraska Athletics Communications

>> Nebraska has won 21 matches in a row since a loss at SMU on Sept. 3. Seventeen of the 21 wins have been sweeps, including the last four matches.

>> Entering Thursday’s match, Nebraska has won 15 sets in a row.

>> Nebraska is 6-0 against top-10 teams this season, which is the most top-10 wins in a regular season in school history.

>> Nebraska is 9-0 against ranked foes this season, as SMU was not in the AVCA Top 25 at the time of that match.

>> The Huskers rank 11th nationally and second in the Big Ten with a team hitting percentage of .295.

>> Nebraska ranks seventh nationally in kills per set (14.28).

>> Outside hitter Harper Murray is leading the Huskers with 3.30 kills per set and 25 service aces and is hitting .255. Murray also adds 2.15 digs per set.

>> Opposite hitter Merritt Beason is averaging 3.06 kills per set for the Big Red and is hitting .258 with 1.30 digs per set and 23 aces.

>> Taylor Landfair is putting up 2.51 kills per set and hitting .254.

>> Middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.67 kills with a .444 hitting percentage, which ranks fourth in the nation.

>> Middle blocker Rebekah Allick adds 1.68 kills per set on .337 hitting with 1.28 blocks per set. Allick has moved into the top 10 in school history in career blocks with 354.

>> Setter Bergen Reilly is averaging 11.12 assists per set, which ranks sixth in the nation and leads the Big Ten. She also adds 2.90 digs per set and has 17 aces. Reilly has 13 double-doubles and has been named Big Ten Setter of the Week three times this season.

>> Three-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Lexi Rodriguez guides the Husker back row with 3.70 digs per set. Last week, Rodriguez passed Kayla Banwarth for No. 2 all-time in career digs at Nebraska. Rodriguez now has 1,731 and is chasing Justine Wong-Orantes (1,890).

SCOUTING REPORT: MINNESOTA

>> No. 16 Minnesota is 16-8 overall and 9-5 in Big Ten play after suffering home defeats to Washington (3-1) and No. 12 Oregon (3-0) last week.

>> Julia Hanson leads the Golden Gophers with 3.73 kills per set and is hitting .270. She also has a team-high 26 aces.

>> Lydia Grote adds 2.87 kills per set and also has 26 aces.

>> Phoebe Awoleye ranks seventh nationally in blocks per set with 1.49. As a team, Minnesota ranks 13th (2.78).

SCOUTING REPORT: INDIANA

>> Indiana is 12-12 overall and 5-9 in the Big Ten after losses at home to No. 9 Purdue (3-1) and No. 20 USC (3-1) last week.

>> Candela Alonso-Corcelles paces the Hoosiers with 3.58 kills per set, while Avry Tatum adds 3.42 kills per set.

>> Camryn Haworth averages 9.96 assists per set and has 42 aces on the season.

>> Libero Ramsey Gary ranks second in the Big Ten with 4.20 digs per set.

STATS TO KNOW: NEBRASKA

SERVE AND PASS

>> Nebraska has allowed just 46 service aces this season, which leads the nation. The next closest team is Pittsburgh with 54 aces allowed.

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BALANCED ATTACK

>> Nebraska has seven different players averaging between 1.68 and 3.30 kills per set.

>> Six different players have led the Huskers in kills in a match this season.

>> Reilly ranks sixth nationally averaging 11.12 assists per set.

>> Nebraska’s attack has been one of the best in the nation this season. The Huskers rank 11th in hitting percentage (.295) and seventh in kills per set (14.28).

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HOME SWEET HOME

>> Nebraska has won 38 home matches in a row dating back to Dec. 1, 2022, which is the longest active streak in the nation.

>> The Huskers’ home win streak is its longest since moving into the Devaney Center in 2013.

>> Nebraska’s longest all-time home win streak was 88 matches from 2004-09. Since then, NU also has a home win streak of 38 matches in a row from 2009-11.

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