Matt Rhule speaks ahead of Washington

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule met with the media for his weekly press conference at the Hawks Championship Center on Monday morning.

Rhule reflected on the bye week and previewed the team’s Week 9 matchup against Washington.

“Dana (Holgorsen) has to be better, I have to be better, the players have to be better,” Rhule said. “Everyone has to be better.”

Jamir Conn was one of a handful of players absent in the team’s 17-14 loss at Oregon. Rhule says that he will be listed as questionable going into this weekend’s game against the Huskies.

An update on Anthony Jones Jr. was also provided after he played on a broken foot against the Ducks. Rhule told media members that he had surgery but isn’t ruled out for the rest of the season. According to Rhule, Jones hopes to be back before the regular season’s conclusion.

Big Red now sets its sights on Washington, who is currently ranked 14th in the Big Ten with a 4-3 record. The last time these teams met was on Sep. 17, 2011, when the Huskers beat the Huskies 51-38 in a high scoring affair. Nebraska leads the series all-time with a 5-4-1 record.

Watch Matt Rhule’s full press conference here:

Scouting Washington

The Jedd Fisch-led Huskies are also coming off their bye week and enter with a 4-3 record, as well as a 1-3 tally in Big Ten play. But, this Washington team has been banged up, including starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr. leaving the loss against Iowa on Oct. 9 with a rib injury. Williams did not play in Washington’s most recent win at Purdue and his status for Saturday’s game is unknown right now.

Filling in for Williams has been backup Elijah Brown, who in over a game of action has thrown for 7 touchdowns, 578 yards and three interceptions (all of which against Purdue). Williams has thrown for 1,396 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions in his six games started.

Look for the Nebraska run game to try and have a big day against Washington’s run defense, which allows 131.1 yards on the ground per game.

But, the Washington defense has forced 11 turnovers, including nine interceptions. A trio of Huskies in Alex McLaughlin, Rylon Dillard-Allen and Jeron Jones all have two picked-off passes. McLaughlin also leads Washington with 2.5 sacks, alongside Jacob Manu who has the same total. Washington has also only held opposing quarterbacks to 205 yards through the air this season.

The Huskies have not shown a whole lot of success with their running backs, Brian Bonner Jr. averages 49.3 yards on the ground per game, and if Williams does suit up, he will be a threat on the ground as well (30.5 rush yards per game). Jayden Limar served as one of their primary backs heading into the year, but left the season opener against Washington State with an injury and has not played since.

Washington owns one of the best passing offenses in all of college football, No. 20 nationally,  featuring a pair of wide outs who average 69 yards per game through the air. Dezmen Roebuck and Chris Lawson serve as the main threats for Nebraska’s secondary, which may be without Jamir Conn once again, who Rhule said is questionable for Saturday.

Score predictions

Nick Eriksen: 31-21, Nebraska

Will Charlton: 31-14, Nebraska

Evan Hummel: 34-19, Nebraska

Seth Householder: 33-13, Nebraska

Noelle Adams: 27-14, Nebraska