Why Nebraska fans should be angry; ChatterTV reaction

If I’m a Nebraska fan, I’m pretty fed up after Saturday’s college football game against Virginia Tech.

Now I’m not saying NU fans should be all-out irate because the season is far from over. And it’s not like Nebraska was going to play in the BCS Championship anyway.

But there’s no reason the Cornhuskers should have lost, 16-15, at Virginia Tech. In fact, here’s a variety of reasons why they should have won:

• The Huskers made the Hokies look anemic on offense. Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor looked lost early. The running game was OK, but the Hokies weren’t exactly moving down the field at a blazing pace.

• Ndamukong Suh had eight tackles, four batted passes and half of a sack. He made Taylor look silly at times. I was only watching the game on TV, but it was still evident the Hokies’ faithful were getting restless with Taylor’s inability to put drives together early on.

• Roy Helu Jr. rushed for 169 yards. Ah yes, vintage Nebraska football. The Huskers pounded the ball and more than doubled up the Hokies in rushing yardage, 207-86.

• The Hokies managed only one yard in the third quarter. Since the Va. Tech offense struggled, the 15-10 lead Nebraska had with 4 minutes left in the game seemed enormous.

But out of nowhere, Taylor launched an 80-yard bomb to Danny Coale, then scrambled around in the backfield a la Todd Reesing for nine seconds before finding Dyrell Roberts on the game-winning touchdown.

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Here’s what did in Nebraska, even before the two big Taylor passes: field goals and penalties.

Nebraska kicker Alex Henery did his job. He connected on all five of his field goal attempts. When you put field goals on the board instead of touchdowns, though, you know what happens.

Virginia Tech was barely in Nebraska territory, but the few times the Hokies were down there, they came away with two touchdowns. Nebraska came away with five field goals and still lost.

Credit the Va. Tech fans for being loud when Nebraska had the ball. Many of the Huskers’ nine penalties for 60 yards occurred on false starts and holding infractions on the O-line.

I finally had a good week picking some games. I’ll take 10-1 for week 3. In the latest episode of ConferenceChatterTV, I offer my analysis on Saturday’s action around the Big 12. It can be viewed here:

Onto the weekly awards from the third weekend of action in the Big 12:

Performer of the week: Landry Jones, Oklahoma

When you set a school record for passing touchdowns (six) and pass for 336 yards, it’s a pretty good day. Jones has played well for OU, which hasn’t had to rush back the injured Sam Bradford.

The Sooners are on a bye next week, then travel to Miami (Fla.) for what should be a fascinating battle on Oct. 3. I think Bradford will be back in time to face the Hurricanes. The initial prognosis had the Heisman Trophy winner missing 2-4 weeks. Oct. 3 will be four weeks.

Biggest surprise of the week: Oklahoma’s defense

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It’s only three weeks into the season, but the Sooners shut out a Tulsa offense (45-0 victory) that ranked first in the country in total offense the past two seasons. Oklahoma, with two straight shutouts, now ranks first in the country in scoring defense with only 4.67 points given up per game.

Sleeper alert: Dan Buckner, Texas

Jordan Shipley will always attract attention at receiver. Sometimes, that leaves Buckner open underneath. Buckner has found a comfort zone with the Longhorns at flex tight end. He’s steadily produced 16 receptions on the year and had a nice touchdown grab toward the back of the end zone against Texas Tech on Saturday night.

Malcolm Williams hasn’t taken charge of being the No. 2 option in the UT passing game. So far, that’s been Buckner’s responsibility.

Most significant win of the week: No. 2 Texas 34, Texas Tech 24

Not in emphatic fashion like the line suggested (Texas was favored by 16 points), but Texas temporarily erased the memory of Tech’s historic victory last season in Lubbock. UT is right where it needs to be at 3-0. In two weeks (home to UTEP, Colorado), it should be 5-0. Then, it’s on to Red River to face Oklahoma in Dallas.

Here’s the latest Sorrentino Scale to close this entry. The number in parentheses is what the team was ranked last week.

  • 1 (1). Texas (3-0): Tre Newton (20 carries) emerging as go-to RB.
  • 2 (2). Oklahoma (2-1): Jeremy Beal with three sacks against Tulsa to lead a scary defense.
  • 3 (3). Oklahoma State (2-1): Defense still needs to play better.
  • 4 (4). Kansas (3-0): For the second straight week, Max Onyegbule gets the comment here. The 48-yard INT return for a TD was brilliant.
  • 5 (7). Missouri (3-0): Furman simply a tune-up for road test at Nevada on Friday.
  • 6 (5). Nebraska (2-1): Shouldn’t have a problem vs. Louisiana-Lafayette at home next week.
  • 7 (6). Texas Tech (2-1): Taylor Potts’ 46 completions against UT two shy of TTU school record.
  • 8 (8). Baylor (1-1): Bears’ rush defense must improve.
  • 9 (9). Texas A&M (2-0): Terrible news: Aggies’ No. 1 WR Jeff Fuller out 4-6 weeks with cracked fibula.
  • 10 (12). Iowa State (2-1): RB Alexander Robinson (143 rushing yards) the spark in road win at Kent State.
  • 11 (10). Kansas State (1-2): Maybe the worst offense in the conference. Defense more respectable so far.
  • 12 (11). Colorado (1-2): Another tough one next week at West Virginia.

That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.