Matt Rhule opens up on challenge of containing dual-threat quarterback Bryce Underwood

As Nebraska prepares for a huge conference game against Michigan, it’s readying itself for one of the most electric quarterbacks in the country. Bryce Underwood is a freshman who’s already well-known.

The talented Michigan star is coming off the best game of his season, rushing for 114 yards and a pair of scores. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule knows his team has its work cut out for it on the ground defensively.

“They’re 15th in the country in rushing offense,” Rhule said on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday. “To your point, last week the quarterback was the leading rusher. So the things that bothered us against Cincinnati — they ran for 200 yards and over 100 of that was the quarterback — (Brendan) Sorsby for Cincinnati dropped back and found a hole and ran and we didn’t have a great answer for him.”

Nebraska gave up 96 yards rushing and two touchdowns to Sorsby in the season opener. That won’t cut it against Bryce Underwood and Michigan.

“Obviously, that hasn’t hurt us the past two weeks, but we’re facing a whole different animal now,” Rhule said. “So, big, physical O-line. That’s what Michigan football is, right? They’re going to run the ball and stop the run. It’s true Big Ten football. Now they have a quarterback who can also run. So our guys are going to have to defend the run and defend the quarterback run to play well.”

Rhule isn’t overly familiar with Bryce Underwood other than what he’s seen on tape. He seemed impressed by the Michigan freshman, but he simply hasn’t had a chance to get to know him yet.

The two didn’t cross paths at Big Ten Media Days. So there will likely be some introductions on Saturday.

“It’s weird now with the Big Ten because there’s 18 teams,” Rhule explained. “They do three days and they do six teams each. So of the five teams and us, the only team we played is Maryland. It was Rutgers, it was Ohio State, it was a bunch of teams that we don’t even face this year. So it’s really like the NFL, you don’t know who you’re going to face. Even the Bussin’ Bowl, like we faced them two years ago, not last year. We face them this year. It’s a rotating schedule.”

Expect Nebraska to get acquainted with Bryce Underwood in a hurry on Saturday. The Cornhuskers just hope it’s in the backfield, not the end zone.

“He’s really talented, elite recruit,” Rhule said. “And he’s done a great job for them. We think we have a really good quarterback, too, so excited to go compete.”