Oklahoma-Nebraska: Can new Huskers coach make an impact?

No. 6 Oklahoma heads to Lincoln to take on Nebraska in this week’s “Big Noon Kickoff” matchup (noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app).

There are several interesting storylines around the game, which features one of the oldest rivalries in the sport.

RJ Young, an Oklahoma native and host of “The Number One College Football Show,” broke down the matchup with special guest Geoff Schwartz.

What impact will Mickey Joseph have on Nebraska?

Joseph, who played quarterback for the Huskers from 1988-91, was promoted from receivers coach to interim head coach after the school fired Scott Frost following a 45-42 loss to Georgia Southern that dropped the Huskers to 1-2.

Could Joseph bring a new spirit to the Huskers’ attack? Schwartz said it’s something he wants to see.

“Nebraska needed a new energy,” he said. “They needed a new voice in the room. They were willing to swallow the [Frost] buyout, which I think was the right thing to do — they have plenty of money, that’s not a problem for them.”

Related: Scott Frost fired as Nebraska coach following 1-2 start

Schwartz pointed out that the uncertainty around gauging what Joseph will do, and how the Nebraska players will react to him, adds an element of intrigue to the game.

“We don’t know what Nebraska is going to be this weekend, which makes this game even more exciting,” he said. “… what are [the Huskers] going to be without Scott Frost? They could go in two directions. They could either fire themselves up, play over their skis, or maybe they’re just not good. It’s also possible that they get this burst in the first quarter and just return back to what they’ve been.

“So that to me is the most fascinating part of this game — what is Nebraska without Scott Frost?”

Joseph has said that offensive coordinator Mark Whipple will call plays, though he has shuffled some roles on his coaching staff.

Another interesting thing, Young said, is that Joseph plans to have his players hit more in practice, as tackling has been a problem.

“That has been one of the real Achilles’ heels of this team,” he said. “They haven’t been able to put people down on the ground.”

Can Oklahoma get its offense going?

The Sooners have scored 78 points in their first two games, not exactly a sign of struggle. But in Week 2, they nearly went scoreless in the first half against Kent State before ultimately pulling away for a 33-3 victory.

Because Oklahoma moves at such a fast pace and does not hold the ball — the Sooners rank second-to-last among FBS teams in time of possession — a similarly-slow start against Nebraska could lead to problems.

“If you go up to Lincoln, Nebraska and you don’t immediately get on top of Nebraska, they’re just going to hold the ball,” Young said, “Why wouldn’t Nebraska just try to run the ball and run the ball with authority?”

But that’s easier said than done, and Schwartz warned that the Huskers should not anticipate being in such a position.

“Nebraska can game plan all they want to slow things down, of running the football, of pacing things out,” he said. “But if you allow two touchdowns on Oklahoma’s first two drives, you’re down 14-0 now, that pace is going to pick up a little bit. There’s going to be a sense of urgency now.”

Interview with Oklahoma coach Brent Venables

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables talks about the Sooners’ strong start to the season and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s impact on the offense.

In the end, is Nebraska in a good position to pull off an upset?

Ultimately, neither Young nor Schwartz said they expect Nebraska, a 10.5-point underdog according to FOX Bet, to beat Oklahoma, even while playing at home under a new coach.

“I would be shocked if the Schooner does not cut through Nebraska like an International harvester in a high-yield cornfield,” Young said. “It’s just how it’s supposed to be.”

In addition to Oklahoma-Nebraska, the pair also broke down BYU–Oregon, Miami–Texas A&M and Penn State–Auburn.

You can catch more of the conversation from “The Number One College Football Show” on YouTube, or by subscribing to the show on Apple podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

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