Huskers excited for challenge of stopping Northern Iowa's rushing attack

The Nebraska Cornhuskers defense has already proven itself to be a strength of the 2024 team but the unit will get a different test on Saturday than it's faced so far.

Nebraska’s defense is tied for 18th in the nation in points allowed per game (8.5) and 24th in yards per game allowed (232.5) through two weeks. The Blackshirts have also allowed just 72 total rushing yards and zero touchdowns on 46 carries this season, an average of just 36 rushing yards per game and 1.5 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, Northern Iowa will come to Lincoln with a strong ground game completely unlike what UTEP and Colorado had.

Through two games this season, the Panthers have racked up 598 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns while averaging a whopping 7.4 yards per carry.

“They will rush for 200 yards if you let them," Huskers defensive coordinator Tony White said of UNI on Tuesday. "Respect the hell out of the running backs. They may be the best running backs that we’ve seen to date.”

The challenge the Panthers present is something Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule also highlighted on Monday.

“We’ve played two spread teams, now it changes," Rhule said. "How do we match up against teams that wanna run the ball like we wanna run the ball? How do we match up against teams that want to play physical defense and play special teams?”

Northern Iowa's ground game is led by a pair of seniors in Omaha native Amauri Pesek-Hickson and Tye Edwards.

Pesek-Hickson, who played his high school ball in Kansas, stands 6 feet tall at 225 pounds and has some receiving ability in addition to his strong running game. He spent his first two collegiate years at Kansas before transferring to UNI, hardly played in 2022 and then averaged 4.6 yards per carry last season.

Edwards is even bigger, at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, and combines power with some speed, having already rattled off runs of over 50 yards in each game this season.

The Huskers believe they're up to the challenge.

“Yeah, we’re super excited, especially up front. We know we can stop the run and we’re gonna go show it this weekend,” senior defensive lineman Nash Hutmacher said.

Fellow defensive lineman Jimari Butler, a junior who, like Hutmacher, also earned a Blackshirt going into this season, said he believes the training and subsequent body changes over the past year have helped prepare the Huskers for the Panthers.

Butler admitted he wasn't very good against the run in past years but said Tuesday, "I'm ready for the challenge."

Nebraska also believes the Panthers will be a good primer for conference matchups, which will start next week.

“Yeah, it’s big-time. I think we need it going into Big Ten play," senior linebacker John Bullock said. "It’s a good test for us. ... “We’re looking forward to the challenge this week.”

White agreed, saying, "They’re gonna line up, they got 12 personnel, big backs, can play-action you if you put too many dudes in the box, so … that’s why I’m excited about this challenge.”

Northern Iowa can also pass a little, although the running game is obviously their bread and butter. Through two games, Panthers quarterback Aidan Dunne is just 23 of 42 (54.8%) for 215 yards but has three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He’s also added five carries for 25 yards and was extremely efficient in UNI’s season-opening win over Valparaiso.

Barring a last-minute reversal, the Huskers will also be battling the Panthers without junior linebacker Mikai Gbayor, as he was ejected for targeting late last weekend and faces a league-mandated suspension for the first half. White and the Huskers said they're having an open competition to see who will fill that spot on Saturday.

A win over the Panthers would give Nebraska a 3-0 start for the first time since 2016.

Kickoff for the game — the first-ever matchup between the two programs — is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.