Matt Rhule looked like the happiest man on the planet, following today’s events at the Memorial. Nebraska is riding a winning momentum. After a shutout win over Akron (68-0), they delivered a 59-7 beating to the Huskies. Interestingly, the Huskies also opened their season with a 69-0 victory over Arkansas Baptist on August 28. So did the Huskers break a sweat in defeating them?

Not at all. This would be the first game ever between the Huskers and Houston Christian, and QB Dylan Raiola and WR Dane Key made sure the ball was in Nebraska’s court. They ran rampant in Houston’s defensive half, tearing them apart. While Raiola was expected to pass for 222 yards and land 2 TDs, Key made 4 receptions over 104 yards and scored one touchdown. After the victory, the WR gave his takeaway on the match. “I’m just ready to go out there and compete. I mean, this league’s had four people in the CFP. So I’m expecting for it to be a grind, just like the SEC was. So I just got to be ready and just trust my teammates that will all be ready and just get prepared.” Key said. 

After spending three seasons in Kentucky, SEC, where he completed 135 receptions, Dane Key has brought his A-Game to the Big Ten. His performance indicates Matt Rhule’s team is serious this season. If Nebraska wants to compete for the title, it will have to keep its performance up. Speaking on the matter, Key said that the team knows that they are “going into a gauntlet” and have “to get ready and come ready to work every day.”

If Nebraska can replicate this against big teams, then they might have a shot at the trophy. They have a challenging schedule, with Michigan next in line. But they can tackle it. If they continue their momentum, then they can become a force in the CFB-sphere. However, this momentum can also become a double-edged sword. If they are aiming for the top, then they have to accept the pressure that comes with it.

Every team has had periods where they’ve had to prove their quality to the world. Take Notre Dame as an example. Their successful program has made them into a team that is on the rise. Successful teams build their success by turning pressure into a strength. That is the essence of the sport and why we love college football.

The race for the playoffs has just started, and Nebraska knows what to expect

Despite the resounding victory, Matt Rhule was not impressed. Instead, he emphasized that “the road gets a lot harder.“ He continued by saying, “If we stay where we are right now, we won’t win a lot of games moving forward. We have to improve.” It wasn’t a request. It was an order. This shows the mentality that Rhule has implemented in the team. He wants to focus on improvement and keep the grind up. “And so, this was [an] improvement from last week. I thought the week of preparation was excellent,“ added Rhule.

Matt Rhule also complimented his team members for their mentality and for maintaining the standard across the dressing room. Talking about focus, he said, “I have to single out guys like Ceyair [Wright], Marques [Buford Jr.], DeShon [Singleton], the whole O-line, and Dylan [Raiola] for bringing it back to the standard that we have.” 

Rhule also said that his team has “a long way to go” before competing with the elites. At last, he expressed that he was impressed with how the team had reacted in the game. “To be 3-0 and end up playing a Power Four team, and dominate two teams we’re supposed to dominate, that’s all I can ask of.” 

Nebraska will now face the real test, facing the likes of Michigan, MI State, Maryland, and Minnesota in their upcoming schedule. One loss could affect the entire morale of the team, so it is important for Nebraska to be at their best, and with players like Dane Key vowing to give it all to the Cornhuskers, the road to the playoffs seems achievable.