Caught up with Noah Boyed, an athletic but raw 7-footer who's playing his final season at McCook (Neb.) Community College this year. He officially visited Lincoln this past weekend and stayed for the exhibition win over Doane.

Here's more on the big man:

Login to view embedded media
Absolute stud. 4 INTs in last 5 weeks.

I'm over here at the Hawks for Rhule's final presser ahead of Friday's game. We're expected to have Rhule for about 10-15 minutes a little after 3pm.

Edit: Here's the transcript I just finished up + full press conference video from Rhule today:


Login to view embedded media

Nebraska def. Illinois (25-14, 25-14, 24-26, 25-22)
Minnesota def. Indiana (13-25, 32-30, 19-25, 25-23, 15-12)
Northwestern def. Iowa (26-24, 25-21, 25-21)
Maryland def. Ohio State (25-23, 25-19, 25-23)
Michigan def. Rutgers (25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18)
Purdue def. Michigan State (23-25, 30-28, 25-23, 25-18)

Standings
1. Nebraska (25-0, 16-0)
2. Wisconsin (23-2, 14-2)
---------------------------------
3. Penn State (17-8, 11-5)
3. Purdue (17-8, 11-5)
5. Illinois (14-12, 9-7)
5. Minnesota (13-11, 9-7)
7. Indiana (18-11, 8-8)
7. Michigan State (16-11, 8-8)
9. Ohio State (10-15, 7-9)
10. Maryland (16-12, 6-10)
10. Northwestern (12-14, 6-10)
12. Michigan (7-18, 5-11)
13. Rutgers (10-16, 2-14)
14. Iowa (8-20, 0-16)

Nebraska and Wisconsin are the only two teams left in contention for the Big Ten championship

Matches for Wednesday, November 15
Ohio State at Illinois

Matches for Friday, November 17
Iowa at Minnesota
Maryland at Indiana
Michigan State at Penn State
Northwestern at Rutgers
Wisconsin at Purdue
Michigan at Nebraska (8:00 PM - BTN)

Which of you have fantasy games riding in this one?

"Win now or develop for the future" seems to be one question Nebraska's coaching staff has been facing this season. Debated over that, the play-calling and decision-making by Rhule and Satt against Maryland and all season, plus the Husker QB conundrum and plenty more:

Login to view embedded media

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

I'd like to see Purdy given an opportunity to start a game. I hope whoever is going to start is decided early this week and given a vast majority of the #1 practice reps.

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

nfm

Anyone else having issues accessing the board on their computer? I had it bookmarked and the bookmark stopped working. Tried the web address in a different browser and it worked for a week or so but now isn't working. Still works on my phone.

Weird.

Northwestern ran for 5.4 yards a carry versus Wisconsin...

We should not throw a pass past the line of scrimmage

Player of the Week
G - Caitlin Clark, Iowa (SR)
- Averaged 32.0 points, 9.0 assists, and 8.3 rebounds per game last week as No. 3/3 Iowa tipped off the 2023-24 campaign with three wins in as many outings
- Became Iowa's all-time leading scorer with 2,813 career points, passing Megan Gustafson's previous record (2,804)
- Recorded her 12th career triple-double (24 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) against Northern Iowa, joining Sabrina Ionescu as the only players in Division I women's basketball history to record a triple-double in four different seasons
- Had 44 points, six assists, and eight rebounds against No. 8/5 Virginia Tech, the fifth time in her career registering at least 40 points, five assists and five rebounds
- Earns her 19th career Big Ten Player of the Week award, which is tied for the second-most in conference history
- Last Iowa Player of the Week: Caitlin Clark (Feb. 27, 2023)

Freshman of the Week
F - Natalie Potts, Nebraska (FR)
- Averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks to help Nebraska open its season with triumphs over Northwestern State and Wyoming
- Put up 10 points, five rebounds and two steals in her collegiate debut against Northwestern State
- Added 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting with two rebounds, two steals and a block at Wyoming
- Collects her first career Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor
- Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: Alexis Markowski (Feb. 28, 2022)

Big Ten Women's Weekly Honor Roll

G - Mara Braun, Minnesota (SO): Registered 25.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 steals and 3.0 rebounds per game in wins over LIU and Chicago State…Became the third-fastest player in Minnesota history to reach 500 points (31 games)

C/F - Alexis Markowski, Nebraska (JR): Averaged a double-double (15.0 points, 10.5 rebounds) during Nebraska’s opening week victories over Northwestern State and Wyoming

G - Shyanne Sellers, Maryland (JR): Paced the No. 14/11 Terrapins’ offense with 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals during a win over Harvard and setback to No. 6/4 South Carolina

Player of the Week
MB - Raven Colvin, Purdue (JR)
- Averaged a .500 attack percentage in Purdue's 2-0 weekend over Minnesota and Michigan State
- Posted a season-high 14 kills at Minnesota, recording just one error on 22 swings for a .591 hitting percentage, a Big Ten season-high for Colvin
- Followed the season-best with 12 kills and two errors in a 24-attempt performance for a .417 hitting percentage vs. Michigan State
- Colvin added six blocks in each of the matches, averaging 1.50 blocks per set in the 2-0 weekend for the Boilermakers
- Last Purdue Player of the Week: Chloe Chicoine (Sept. 11, 2023)

Defensive Player of the Week
MB - Lourdes Myers, Purdue (JR)
- Tallied a career-high nine total blocks in the Boilermakers' four-set win vs. Michigan State
- Posted six block assists at Minnesota to help Purdue secure a series sweep vs. the Gophers
- Helped limit opponents to a .144 hitting percentage, the second-best mark in Big Ten play last week
- Led the league with 1.88 blocks per set in Week 12 and helped Purdue to the most team blocks per set margin in the conference last week at 3.63 blocks/set
- Last Purdue Defensive Player of the Week: Raven Colvin (Oct. 30, 2023)

Setter of the Week
Mac Podraza, Penn State (GR)
- Averaged 11.86 assists per set, 2.43 digs per set and 1.00 blocks per set in No. 19 Penn State's wins over Michigan (3-0) and No. 2 Wisconsin (3-1)
- Podraza tallied a season-high 51 assists in the win over the Badgers, adding 13 digs and four blocks in the Nittany Lions' highest-ranked win since 2017
- Last Penn State Setter of the Week: Mac Podraza (Oct. 2, 2023)

Co-Freshmen of the Week
MB - Andi Jackson, Nebraska (FR)
- Jackson averaged 2.13 kills per set, 1.13 blocks per set and a .714 hitting percentage, helping Nebraska remain perfect on the season and move to 16-0 in conference play with wins over Northwestern and Illinois
- Jackson had eight kills and six blocks while hitting .600 in a 3-1 win over Northwestern and followed that performance with nine kills and three blocks behind a career-best .818 hitting percentage against Illinois
- Last Nebraska Freshman of the Week: Bergen Reilly (Oct. 30, 2023)

OH - Chloe Chicoine, Purdue (FR)
- Led Purdue with 18 kills in the Boilermakers' win over Michigan State. Totaled 14 kills at Minnesota to record 32 kills and average 4.00 kills/set in Purdue's 2-0 week
- Led all Big Ten freshmen in Week 12 averaging 4.00 kills per set and is currently fifth in the league with 4.94 points per set, a mark which also leads all freshmen.
- Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Chloe Chicoine (Oct. 23, 2023)

From Nebraska Athletics Communications:

Nebraska's Natalie Potts captured the initial Big Ten Freshman of the Week award of the 2023-24 season, when the conference announced its women's basketball awards on Monday, Nov. 13.

Potts, a 6-2 forward from O'Fallon, Mo., averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block while making a pair of starts in the first week of the regular season. Potts helped the Huskers to a 2-0 record by providing a disruptive presence on defense and efficiency on the offensive end.

In Nebraska's 71-52 victory at Wyoming (Nov. 10), Potts hit 6-of-7 shots from the field, including a three-pointer, on her way to 15 points. The two-time Missouri High School Player of the Year was a major contributor to an 18-0 first-half run that put the Huskers in control, and a decisive 19-2 second-half surge that sealed the victory.

In the Big Red's season-opening win over Northwestern State, Potts put up 10 points, five rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block in less than 20 minutes of action. She was on the court for almost the entirety of Nebraska runs of 16-0 (1st quarter), 12-0 (2nd quarter) and 10-0 (3rd) quarter against the Lady Demons. She also connected on 5-for-7 shots from the field.

For the week, Potts hit 11-of-14 field goal attempts (.786), including 10-of-11 two-point tries (.909).

In addition to Potts being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, junior center Alexis Markowski earned mention on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll. Markowski averaged 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds, including game highs of 17 points and 13 boards in the win at Wyoming. Markowski scored the first 10 points of Nebraska's decisive 19-2 second-half surge against the Cowgirls.

Potts, Markowski and the rest of the Huskers will be back in action at home on Tuesday night, when Nebraska plays host to Alcorn State. Tip-off between the Big Red and Lady Braves is set for 7 p.m. with tickets available at Huskers.com.

From Nebraska Athletics Communications:

Nebraska middle blocker Andi Jackson was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday, the conference office announced.

Jackson averaged 2.13 kills per set and 1.13 blocks per set with a blistering .714 hitting percentage in Nebraska's 3-1 wins over Northwestern and Illinois last week.

The Brighton, Colo., native had eight kills and six blocks while hitting .600 in the win over the Wildcats last Wednesday. She followed that performance on Sunday with nine kills and three blocks and a career-best .818 hitting percentage against the Fighting Illini on Sunday.

For the season, Jackson is averaging 2.16 kills per set and 1.10 digs per set with a .423 hitting percentage, which ranks second among Big Ten players and 11th in the nation.

Jackson is the third different Husker freshman to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week this season, joining Harper Murray and Bergen Reilly.

Big Ten Weekly Awards (Nov. 13)
Player: Raven Colvin – Purdue
Defensive: Lourdès Myers – Purdue
Setter: Mac Podraza – Penn State
Co-Freshman: Andi Jackson – Nebraska
Co-Freshman: Chloe Chicoine – Purdue

Women's AP Top 25 (11/13)
1. South Carolina (23) (2-0)
2. Iowa (13) (3-0)
3. UCLA (3-0)
4. Utah (2-0)
5. Colorado (3-0)
6. Stanford (2-0)
7. LSU (2-1)
8. Connecticut (1-1)
9. Virginia Tech (1-1)
10. USC (2-0)
11. Texas (2-0)
12. Florida State (2-0)
13. Ohio State (1-1)
14. North Carolina State (2-0)
15. Tennessee (1-1)
16. Notre Dame (1-1)
17. North Carolina (2-0)
18. Indiana (1-1)
19. Louisville (2-0)
20. Maryland (1-1)
21. Baylor (1-0)
22. Creighton (2-0)
23. Mississippi (1-1)
24. Washington State (3-0)
25. Oklahoma (3-0)

Others Receiving Votes
Mississippi State, Kansas State, Kansas, Texas A&M, Duke, Marquette, Miami (FL), UNLV, Drake, Illinois, Arizona

Dropped Out
Illinois (#23), Mississippi State (#25)

====================================

Women's Coaches Top 25 Poll (11/14)
(released on Tuesday, November 14)

AP Top 25 (11/13)
1. Kansas (51) (2-0)
2. Purdue (7) (2-0)
3. Arizona (3) (2-0)
4. Marquette (2-0)
5. Connecticut (1) (2-0)
6. Houston (2-0)
7. Tennessee (2-0)
8. Creighton (2-0)
9. Duke (1-1)
10. Florida Atlantic (1-0)
11. Gonzaga (1-0)
12. Miami (FL) (2-0)
13. Texas A&M (2-0)
14. Arkansas (2-0)
15. Baylor (3-0)
16. USC (2-0)
17. Kentucky (2-0)
18. Michigan State (1-1)
19. Texas (2-0)
20. North Carolina (2-0)
21. Villanova (2-0)
22. Alabama (2-0)
23. Illinois (2-0)
24. James Madison (3-0)
25. Colorado (2-0)

Others Receiving Votes
Memphis, Virginia, St. John's, UCLA, TCU, San Diego State, BYU, St. Mary's, Mississippi State, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Auburn, Weber State, Michigan, Drake, Clemson, Boise State

Dropped Out
San Diego State (#17), St. Mary's (#23)

===================================

Coaches Top 25 Poll (11/13)
1. Kansas (25) (2-0)
2. Purdue (3) (2-0)
3. Arizona (3) (2-0)
4. Connecticut (2-0)
5. Marquette (2-0)
6. Houston (2-0)
7. Creighton (2-0)
8. Tennessee (2-0)
9. Duke (1-1)
10. Florida Atlantic (1-0)
11. Miami (FL) (2-0)
12. Gonzaga (1-0)
13. Baylor (3-0)
14. Arkansas (2-0)
15. Texas A&M (2-0)
16. Kentucky (2-0)
17. Texas (2-0)
18. North Carolina (2-0)
19. Michigan State (1-1)
20. USC (2-0)
21. Villanova (2-0)
22. Alabama (2-0)
23. Illinois (2-0)
24. St. Mary's (2-1)
25t. Virginia (2-0)
25t. UCLA (2-0)

Others Receiving Votes
Colorado, Memphis, San Diego State, James Madison, Michigan, TCU, Mississippi State, Iowa State, Xavier, BYU, Auburn, St. John's, Clemson, Princeton, Wisconsin, Oregon, Iowa, North Carolina State, Boise State

Dropped Out
San Diego State (#15)

Matt Rhule will be speaking to the media at around noon. I'll provide live updates on what he says.

Login to view embedded media
And a bonus hurdle from this RB

Login to view embedded media

A gimped Haarberg negates his primary strength of running the football. I thought Purdy looked decent enough in his limited time. Sims is just a turnover machine. The most important thing a QB can do is to not make boneheaded decisions. He cannot avoid these it seems.

Matt Rhule explains the first- and third-down play calls at the end of the Huskers' final drive:

Play D, limit mistake(turnovers/flags), run on first down. Give the crappy offense a chance at 2nd and 5,6,7,8,9 at minimum. Play field position.

UCLA lost 17-7 at home to a pathetic ASU team last night.

Misery Index

As always, tons to unpack in Monday's UFR: 3 things that caught my eye, 3 things to watch this week, 5 best quotes of the week

Among them all:
– Nebraska is in danger of setting a new program "record" for worst all-time TO margin
– Emmett Johnson, who ever since his 4Q fumble at ILL is nearly matching all other ball carriers' production on less than 1/2 the carries and hasn't fumbled once (compared to THIRTEEN fumbles by the others)
– Chance to exorcize another demon as the Rhule vs. Fick tenure comparisons officially begin in earnest

Was saying if you can't take care of the ball, you can't play for us. Haarberg can't and Sims can't. That means if he doesn't give Purdy,
Jack Woche, or Longval a shot next week he is full of shit and playing favorites. The main reason all the coaches since Osborne failed is because they played favorites and it ruined the team chemistry. Hey Matt, I got news for you, every other player on the team knows HH is a poor QB. They also know if they screwed up constantly like him they would lose their spots, but Heinrich doesn't because he is a favorite. You and your staff go on ad nauseum about "standards". How about applying the same standards to the QB room as you allege you do to the rest of the team?