Final take: A long week in Lincoln ends with Oklahoma running Nebraska out of its own stadium
Just when you thought the 2022 Nebraska football season on the field could not go much lower, Oklahoma came into Memorial Stadium on Saturday and handed the Huskers one of their worst home losses since 2017.
In what was a day that initially started with hope and optimism, quickly shifted to reality as Mickey Joseph made his Cornhusker head coaching debut. The Sooners cruised to a 49-14 victory. They called the dogs off early in the third quarter.
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Oklahoma magnified Nebraska’s weaknesses
We knew Nebraska had its fair share of questions going into this game. OU blew those up with a magnifying glass.
The Blackshirts have struggled most of this season with tackling and rushing the passer. That once again was an issue on Saturday, as NU has now allowed 1,222 yards of defense in the last two games.
“You watched the game. You saw it. No it was not there, but that is not on them, that is on me,” a frustrated Joseph said after the game.
They also were not helped by the play of their offense, as they went seven straight possessions without points to close the first half, after putting together a six-play, 77-yard drive to open the game. The Huskers had 12 empty possessions in a row before scoring late in the fourth quarter.
To make matters worse, the offensive line struggled with the Sooners’ front four, as there was a key span in the first half where they allowed three sacks over five plays.
“We need to work more fundamentals with them this week,” Joseph said of his line. “We have to find a five, a good combination of five of them, and see how it works. We have to look at some young kids. We have to look at some backups and see if they can help us.”
Even the Huskers’ special teams’ play had its issues early, allowing 60 punt return yards to OU wide receiver Marvin Mims.
Oklahoma controlled this game from every angle. Under first-year head coach Brent Venables, they looked like the No. 6 team in the country after questions surrounded them following season-opening wins against UTEP and Kent State.
It’s going to be a long, quiet stretch now in Lincoln as we presumably will not hear from a Husker player or coach until Indiana week.
Joseph and his team will have a bye week to look things over, but realistically what can be done at this point?
“More drill work. More bump combo. More nine-on-seven. More turnover drills,” Joseph said when asked what can be done over the bye week. “More drill work and less teamwork because the teamwork does not matter if the individual work is no good.”
Oklahoma vs. Nebraska: What I saw on Saturday
***Offensive lineman Teddy Prochazka had his shoulder wrapped on Saturday. Joseph confirmed he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury vs. Georgia Southern, and did not sustain another knee injury. In his place, Turner Corcoran moved to left tackle and Kevin Williams Jr. started at left guard.
Because the injury happened in the third game of 2022, Prochazka will be able to redshirt this season. His knee injury last year happened in the fifth game he played in vs. Michigan.
***Both linebacker Nick Henrich and tight end Travis Vokolek return to the field vs. OU for the first time since the Northwestern game in Ireland.
***Brent Venables and his staff had to be licking their chops attacking Nebraska’s undermanned offensive line. When they wanted to bring heat, NU had zero answers.
***Chubba Purdy entered the game at quarterback with 8:59 left in the third quarter. He showed some arm talent and mobility at times.
***Timmy Bleekrode came into punt with 7:14 left in the third quarter. His first punt went for 51 yards. Earlier in the game starting punter Brian Buschini was forced to make a tackle in punt coverage and was seen going into the medical tent.
***I ran into several former Huskers during pre-game on Saturday. One notable face was former wide receiver/quarterback/safety Mike Stuntz. The Council Bluffs native now lives in Tampa and works as an eye doctor. He said it’s the first game he’s been to in years. Stuntz was the hero of NU’s 2001 win over Oklahoma after the touchdown pass he threw to eventual Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch on a reverse pass.
***Wide receiver Trey Palmer has caught 28 passes in the season’s first four games, believed to be the most by a Nebraska player in their first four games of the season. Both Stanley Morgan (2017) and Jordan Westerkamp (2015) had 26 receptions in their first four games played.
***Only three Husker players talked to the media after the Oklahoma game. We are not expected to have any media access over the bye week. The next scheduled press availability will be Sept. 27.
Oklahoma vs. Nebraska: The final grade out
| Grade | HOL Take | |
| Rushing offense | D | NU had something going with their run game at times, but once things got out of hand, it was a non-factor. The long run of the game was was just 14 yards. |
| Pass offense | F | Nebraska went 2-of-9 on third downs in the first half. The offensive line simply could not protect Casey Thompson in the pocket. |
| Rushing defense | F | The Husker defense allowed nine runs of 10+ yards, including a 61-yard TD by Dillon Gabriel that turned the game around quickly. The Sooners finished with 319 sack-adjusted rushing yards. |
| Passing defense | F | Nebraska’s defense gave up six passes of 15+ yards. The pass rush was also a non-factor for most of the game, as Gabriel has time to do whatever he wanted. Oklahoma finished with 268 yards passing. They only threw one pass the entire fourth quarter. |
| Special teams | D | Nebraska allowed 60 yards of punt return to Marvin Mims. The coverage was not there. Punter Brian Buschini was also not his best at times, as he got shaken up after being forced to make a tackle in punt coverage. Timmy Bleekrode took his place late in the game. |
