OR head coach Mark Helfrich stands amongst his players during a time out during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016. OR is playing Nebraska for the first time since 1986, when the Huskers were in the old Big Eight. Tommy Armstrong Jr. completed 20 of 34 passes for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running backs Devine Ozigbo (4.6 ypc) and Terrell Newby (5.1 ypc) will test a rebuilt OR defensive line.
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Armstrong converted a fourth-and-9r with a 14-yard pass to Jordan Westerkamp before taking off on his winning run for the Huskers (3-0).
With the half drawing to a close, the Huskers special teams’ and kick returner De’Mornay Pierson-El saved the day with a 45-yard return, placing Nebraska at the OR 19-yard line. Kieron Williams has led the Nebraska defense with 15 tackles and 2 interceptions, while Josh Kalu has added 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack. Terrell Newby chipped in with 42 rushing yards as well. New QB Dakota Prukop has the offense running the way OR offenses are supposed to, but the defense has let down in the second half against overmatched opponents. Take the points, Oregon.
The ball would land in the hands of the Oregon Offense on a 4 and 18 to extend the game and Prukop could not find anyone open. Freeman, one of the nation’s top running backs, totaled 31 yards on five carries prior to exiting.
Oregon: TE Pharaoh Brown. Defensively, Nebraska football is yielding 290.5 yards in passing and 109.8 in rushing against the opposing teams.
While the Ducks would prefer to avoid third-and-long situations and can not expect 85-yard runs from Freeman on a routine basis, going for large chunks of yardage is a key to the win Saturday.
OR tried to put together one final drive, but several unfortunate dropped passes and costly penalties brought their drive to an end.
OR jumped on Nebraska to start the game. The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0) outlasted Wyoming Cowboys, 52-17, last week.
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This should be a very exciting game that could go either way. OR has looked shaky on defense at times this season, but their offense has been able to put up a lot of points to start the year. However, much like the Nebraska defensive line, Oregon’s defense faces its toughest test of the year on Saturday.
