Can Young Cornhuskers Shock Utah in Las Vegas?
Former NFL defensive lineman Adam Carriker breaks down Nebraska’s chances against Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl. He highlights the upheaval on both sidelines—Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham swapping places with Utah’s leader, key Ute starters sidelined, and both teams fielding a sea of freshmen and sophomores. Carriker warns of youthful mistakes but also sees boundless energy from Nebraska’s young roster. He notes Utah’s porous run defense and suggests Nebraska needs a fast start and red-zone efficiency to pull off the upset. Tune in for four keys to victory, a bit of humor, and Carriker’s straight-talk prediction.
Nebraska’s bowl hopes, as told by Carriker, sound like a kids-vs-pros bowling alley: the Cornhuskers may roll gutter balls (hello, freshmen mistakes) or somehow strike gold (friends don’t let friends fumble in the red zone). The idea that Matt Rhule’s squad will play “like their hair is on fire” reads like a shampoo ad gone rogue—“Get that lid-lifter look on the gridiron!” And credit to Carriker for reminding us that even pros are “young and dumb” sometimes. Which begs the question: if “young and dumb” is a strategy, sign up every team. Strap in—it might be the most entertaining ugly football contest you’ll accidentally enjoy this postseason.
Huskers vs. Trojans: Women’s Basketball Clash Preview
No. 20 Nebraska women (12-0) host No. 17 USC (9-3) to cap off the 2025 calendar year. The Huskers rolled to an 11-0 nonconference mark behind double-digit wins and now face a Trojans squad retooling after losing star guard JuJu Watkins to an ACL tear. USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb adds top recruits and transfers like true freshman Jazzy Davidson and veteran Kara Dunn. Nebraska counters with Britt Prince and Jessica Petrie leading a balanced attack. Both teams enjoy eight-day rests, and the home court could tilt the rebound battle. The Huskers aim to stay unbeaten by exploiting USC’s offseason turnover and rebounding depth.
Nothing screams “college basketball drama” quite like a matchup between a team that chewed through cupcakes and another that replaced its superstar with five transfer parts—like a DIY car crash. USC’s post-JuJu rebuild reads like a blockbuster cast change: “Now starring Jazzy Davidson, with special appearances by Kara Dunn and Vivacious Vivian Iwuchukwu!” Meanwhile, Nebraska’s poised to treat the Trojans to a clinic on how to stay undefeated: Step 1, crash the boards. Step 2, drown any Trojan three-point dreams in Cornhusker fervor. Step 3, profit. Grab your popcorn—this feels more dramatic than last season’s spring-break telenovela.
Big Ten Smackdown: Men’s Basketball Week Ahead
Nebraska men’s basketball (12-0) tackles New Hampshire (4-8) on Dec. 30 before hosting Big Ten power Michigan State (11-1) on Jan. 2 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Coach Fred Hoiberg stresses rebounding after a sluggish first half vs. North Dakota, while Joe Lunardi projects the Huskers as a No. 4 NCAA seed. Michigan State, a perennial threat under Tom Izzo, excels in rebounding margin, an area where Nebraska struggles. The Huskers must improve toughness and perimeter shooting against the Spartans, then bounce back to face Ohio State and Indiana on the road.
Behold Nebraska’s holiday break blueprint: no bonbons (apparently extinct), a few conditioning days, and a crash course in rebounding “toughness”—a.k.a. murder boards. That’s coach-speak for “stop letting opponents dunk on our dignity.” Round one is New Hampshire, likely a layup, followed by the true litmus test: Michigan State’s rebounding juggernaut. If Nebraska shoots 40 percent from deep, maybe the Huskers will avoid becoming human piñatas on the glass. And if they don’t, well, Hoiberg’s Instagram archive of Spartan-spirit-cardigan selfies will at least give fans something to chuckle about.
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