I credited Nebraska last week with not giving up. I revoke that. Losing to Minnesota is one thing. Letting Minnesota's offense have their way with you like that is completely different. Not that Riley was keeping his job anyway, but once your players have quit, it's officially done. In case you were wondering if things could get any worse, Nebraska's passing game, the one thing they still had with a dismal defense and no run game to speak of, may be without Tanner Lee. Lee left last week, and as of yesterday is still in concussion protocol. As of now, redshirt freshman Patrick O'Brien is the #1 signal caller, with true freshman Tristan Gebbia, who has never played a college game, backing him up. O'Brien saw his first meaningful action last weekend, when he replaced Lee. He looked ok, but certainly seemed uncomfortable in the pocket. I suppose that's to be expected though. I thought Rutgers was a shot for Saquon Barkley to get back on track for his Heisman candidacy, and instead it went the exact opposite way, as yet again an opponent forced McSorley to beat them, and yet again, they obliged. Barkely is only 5th in the Big Ten in rushing in conference games, averaging only 84.1 ypg, and that's with 211 yards against Iowa in the conference opener. Over the last six games? Just 63.5 rushing ypg, which wouldn't even put him in the top 10. I assume Nebraska will employ the same strategy anyway, but it's tough to see them being successful at it. Minnesota has no passing game to speak of, and yet ran all over a stacked Nebraska front, even late when they were just trying to run out the clock and Nebraska knew what was coming. This feels like one of those days. It's Senior Day, for a class (which includes Barkley, who won't be back next year) that is largely credited with getting the program back on track after the Sandusky scandal. Home crowd will be fired up, against a Nebraska team that already packed it up, and Barkley at least sends the fans off with one last big game.
PENN STATE 42, NEBRASKA 14
