Nebraska has spent years trying to claw back into the role of a program that dictates terms. On Saturday in Lincoln, against a Maryland team still sorting through the wreckage of a 54-3 home loss to UCLA, the Huskers get a chance to do exactly that. This is Homecoming at Memorial Stadium, and the first real test of whether a 4-0 Nebraska can play like a bully instead of a team still proving it belongs.
The Cornhuskers arrive off a 31-13 road win at Michigan State. They are averaging north of 42 points and roughly over 400 yards a game, with a ground game that has been the key to opening everything up. Anthony Colandrea has been efficient and seems to be the missing piece. Even with Jamal Rule listed as doubtful, the depth behind him and the way Nebraska has controlled the line of scrimmage so far give Matt Rhule’s group a clear path to set the tone early.
Maryland, is the opposite picture. Malik Washington’s four-interception afternoon against UCLA exposed a group that can be forced into bad decisions once the script breaks. Mike Locksley’s Terps have shown they can move the ball in spots, but they have not shown they can withstand sustained physical pressure on the road.
Nebraska does not need style points against Indiana next week or Oregon the week after; but it needs to keep its hands around Maryland’s throats for sixty minutes. Dictate the first-down count. Make the Terrapins play from behind the sticks. Crowd the box and force Malik Washington to hold the ball an extra beat in a stadium that will be loud for Homecoming. When a team just got embarrassed by 51 points at home, the mental margin is thin. Every stuffed run, every coverage sack, every third-and-long that ends in a punt reinforces the idea that this afternoon is not going to be competitive. Nebraska has not had many recent versions of itself that could simply bully an opponent and refuse to let them breathe. This group, with the defensive numbers it has posted and the early-season scoring margin, looks built for it.
Last week against Michigan State, the goal was to make it personal; this week it's to be the bully. Break their will. Be the final straw that gets their coach fired. Maryland will try to manufacture explosives and lean on tempo, but the Terps are walking into a defensive front that has been disruptive and a secondary that has limited big plays. A clean, physical afternoon should cover it and then some. I expect Nebraska to remain balanced on offense and to keep their foot on the gas. I expect the turnover troubles to remain a problem for Maryland. I think the first quarter is close, and then Nebraska just pulls away. By the time the 4th quarter starts, fans will already be daydreaming about Nebraska upsetting Indiana. Final score: Nebraska 45, Maryland 10.
