Where does Mickey Joseph’s Nebraska candidacy stand now? Huskers observations

LINCOLN, Neb. — Within the days forward of the 26-9 steamrolling delivered Saturday by Huge Ten West front-runner Illinois in opposition to Nebraska, we talked about moments. Moments in a training search and in a soccer season that outline one thing bigger, the moments from which readability emerges out of the clouds.

This fifth loss in eight video games — and third in 5 beneath interim coach Mickey Joseph — supplied a second and a few readability maybe about his candidacy to amass the everlasting job.

• Joseph had been gaining momentum. Even in defeat at Purdue two weeks in the past, Nebraska fought admirably and stayed in place to drag an upset. Joseph has greater than met the problem in his work to rally assist and hold vitality excessive across the Huskers.

His progress in recruiting and different organizational priorities exceeded the excessive requirements in place.

• However Joseph all the time needed to win. Saturday, he misplaced. He misplaced in his bid to indicate that the Huskers had ready to deal with an harm to quarterback Casey Thompson.

The fifth-year junior went down when rushed and hit on a third-and-11 throw with just below seven minutes to play within the first half. Illinois defensive again Sydney Brown intercepted the deflected throw and returned it 37 yards to the Nebraska 11.

Brown’s twin brother, Chase, scored two performs later. No. 17-ranked Illinois led 13-9 after the additional level and 20-9 after one other late landing within the first half. It by no means appeared again in holding the Huskers and backup QB Chubba Purdy to 29 yards within the second half.

“I used to be stunned it bought away that fast,” Joseph mentioned.

• The Illini moved to 7-1 beneath second-year coach Bret Bielema. The Huskers fell to 3-5, trying subsequent on this formidable stretch at Minnesota, which beat Rutgers 31-0 Saturday earlier than the Gophers’ go to to Lincoln.

• There’s no time left for surprises on this season outlined by a training search. Credit score Thompson’s toughness for his skill to final this lengthy earlier than an opponent knocked him out. Joseph can’t dictate who stays wholesome, however he signed up for this association. He’s judged on his management, sure, but in addition on his document.

It took an unsightly flip Saturday in Nebraska’s twentieth consecutive defeat in opposition to a ranked foe.

Did Joseph and offensive coordinator Mark Whipple fail to prepared a backup QB?

• Purdy didn’t look outfitted to beat Illinois State, not to mention the resurgent Illini. The Florida State switch relieved Logan Smothers, who dealt with two possessions late within the first half after the Thompson harm, and struggled immensely in opposition to the top-ranked protection within the nation. Purdy completed 3-for-8 passing for 15 yards. He rushed 5 occasions for 16 yards and was sacked twice.

His internet whole offense determine: 4 yards in six possessions. Nebraska’s second-half drives led to 4 punts, an interception by Purdy and a fumble by Anthony Grant.

• The interception, Sydney Brown’s second, got here on an ill-advised Purdy throw on third down after Quinton Newsome recovered a fumble by Isaiah Williams on the Illinois 23-yard line.

“He’s bought to handle the soccer,” Joseph mentioned. “You study that the primary day of quarterback faculty. Don’t throw again throughout your physique. He ought to have simply ran the soccer. We have been already in subject objective vary. I’ve bought to prep him higher.”

• Typically, Joseph mentioned, the backup quarterbacks obtain few reps in apply.

“He’s bought to get psychological reps,” Joseph mentioned, “and he’s bought to go in there and do his job.”

Regardless, Purdy wasn’t ready. And it’s not all on him.

Ought to the Huskers have performed Smothers after halftime?

• Sure. It’s a simple reply now. Nebraska went three-and-out in Smothers’ lone alternative to maneuver the offense Saturday after Thompson went down. Smothers accomplished a 1-yard go to Trey Palmer — the one catch for Palmer, who torched Purdue for a school-record 237 receiving yards — and the third-year QB rushed twice for six yards.

• Joseph mentioned the Huskers selected Smothers within the first half as a result of they wished to run the choice. Within the second half, down by two scores to begin, they wanted to go, Joseph mentioned, and felt that Purdy offered a greater likelihood at success.

“We’ve bought nice quarterbacks,” mentioned offensive captain Travis Vokolek, who caught a 56-yard landing go from Thompson to place Nebraska on prime early within the second quarter. “We’re going to rally round whoever’s enjoying. Nothing goes to alter for us. We belief these guys.”

What’s the standing of Thompson?

• Day after day, in response to Joseph. Thompson was hit round the fitting elbow on his final throw, the interception that led to Illinois’ go-ahead landing. He misplaced feeling in his proper hand, Joseph mentioned, probably from a nerve harm. Thompson watched on the sideline within the second half. He was to be evaluated extra completely Saturday night time and Sunday.

• If he’s unable to play in opposition to Minnesota or in different November video games in opposition to Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa, clearly, Thompson’s absence would create a major problem for the Huskers.

True freshman Richard Torres isn’t prepared, Joseph mentioned. Purdy struggled Saturday. Smothers, who performed nicely within the majority of his solely profession begin final season in opposition to Iowa, didn’t seem within the second half in opposition to the Illini.

• If a viable choice behind Thompson doesn’t exist on the roster, it raises questions in regards to the work of this teaching workers, in regards to the likelihood to seek out one other win this season and in regards to the process in 2023 for a rebuilt teaching workers.

• I’ll say this simply as soon as, understanding that Nebraska has already inquired because the Sept. 11 firing of former coach Scott Frost: It must ask once more about Gretna (Neb.) Excessive Faculty standout Zane Flores, the highest performing passer within the Nebraska highschool ranks this 12 months — and probably ever. Flores might probably command a hefty NIL deal in Lincoln. He’s dedicated to Oklahoma State and set to sign up December. The Cowboys misplaced 48-0 Saturday at Kansas State. If there was ever a time to see as soon as and for all if Flores would pay attention, that is most likely it.

Why was Dylan Raiola at Nebraska this weekend?

• Talking of prospects who bought away from the Huskers, QB Dylan Raiola of Chandler, Ariz, the top-ranked participant nationally within the 2024 class, returned to Lincoln together with his household simply in time to see the Huskers wallow within the distress of a troubling offensive efficiency.

Formally, Raiola, who dedicated to Ohio State in Could not lengthy after observing the Huskers’ spring sport, got here Saturday to assist his youthful brother Dayton, a 2026 QB who obtained a Nebraska supply final week.

• No cause exists to consider that Dylan Raiola is wavering in his pledge to the Buckeyes. However … wow. What sort of a lift might renewed curiosity within the Huskers from the five-star QB present to Joseph’s candidacy?

Dominic Raiola, father of Dylan and Dayton, was an All-America middle at Nebraska. Dominic’s brother, Donvovan, coaches the Nebraska offensive line.

Let’s keep tuned on this one.

Did Bret Bielema take it simple on the Huskers?

• That’s not precisely his model. Bielema’s Wisconsin groups pounded Nebraska in two of three conferences in 2011 and 2012. Perhaps he was getting again then on the Huskers for his or her blowout wins in opposition to Kansas State groups in 2002 and 2003 that included Bielema as co-defensive coordinator. He was additionally a part of the defensive staffs at Iowa in 1999 and 2000 that misplaced large to Nebraska.

He appeared Saturday to indicate a little bit of mercy in his first teaching victory at Memorial Stadium.

“I can let you know they dominated us within the second half,” Bielema mentioned.

• However the Illini scored simply six factors after halftime on a pair of subject objectives, content material to bleed clock and depend on a stout protection to quiet Nebraska. Earlier than the third-quarter subject objective, good from 36 yards by Caleb Griffin, Bielema handed on the prospect to transform a fourth-and-1 with Chase Brown on the prepared. Brown, who led the nation in speeding with 1,059 yards earlier than Saturday, gained 149 in opposition to Nebraska on 32 carries.

Bielema has lengthy identified Whipple and Invoice Busch and will get alongside nicely with the Nebraska coordinators, they mentioned final week. Joseph, too, instructions respect across the sport for the job he’s tackled this fall as interim coach.

 (Picture of Chubba Purdy: Steven Branscombe / Getty Photos)