Matt Rhule on Indiana: 'I Will Ride or Die With Anthony Colandrea'

Matt Rhule did not spend Monday hiding from Saturday’s 20 to 17 loss to Indiana. He spent it owning the biggest call of the day and telling Husker Nation exactly who he trusts heading into Nebraska vs Oregon.

“I will ride or die with Anthony Colandrea all day, every day,” Rhule said Monday.

That is the question for Saturday night in Eugene. Can a team that let one get away turn anger into a road win against a ranked opponent?

The call

Rhule did not dodge the fourth down decision. “I followed the analytics,” he said. The math told him to go, and so did the film. He pointed to a third down where Jacory Barney Jr. was working open across the field. “If you catch that ball, it’s a touchdown,” Rhule said.

He also admitted he does not always lean on the numbers. This time, the numbers and his gut said the same thing … put it in his quarterback’s hands. “I felt like I needed to put this ball in my guy’s hands,” he said.

Agree with the call or not, you know where the head coach stands. Anthony Colandrea is his guy.

Angry, not broken

Rhule called Saturday disappointing and gave Indiana its due. “My credit goes to Indiana,” he said. “I thought they made the plays they had to make to win a battle like that.”

The film session hit hard. Rhule said the tape showed “a team that’s angry and knows they let one get away.”

Then came the line that should define this week. “We were certainly disappointed, but not discouraged.” His standard is simple. Playing well for most of a game is not enough. “You have to play well for 60,” he said, and every coach, staffer and player has to be “one or two plays better.”

The kicking question

Field goals were the other sore spot. Rhule said he has “tremendous confidence” in kicker Kyle Cunanan, but listed the recent issues, including a missed extra point and a bad snap against Maryland.

The result? Nebraska is leaning toward four down football. Rhule framed it as belief in the offense, not a lack of faith in the kicking game. “We believe in the weapons we have on offense,” he said. He also said it “has to be something that gets cleaned up this week before we go to Oregon.”

The threat in Eugene

Oregon comes in as the No. 25 team in the country, and Rhule did not soften it. He called the Ducks an “unbelievably talented team” coached by Dan Lanning, with back to back College Football Playoff trips behind them.

Nebraska is preparing for three different quarterbacks. “We’re preparing for all three quarterbacks,” Rhule said. He also said he hopes Oregon starter Dante Moore is alright. What worries him more is the skill around the quarterback. He called receivers Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart great, and said Oregon has “elite skill.”

Here is the honest part. Rhule said his defense has “done a good job on stopping the run,” but has “given up explosive passes,” and Oregon has explosive receivers.

Add a late kickoff in a loud stadium (Rhule said he has never coached a game that late!) and this is as tough a road test as the schedule offers.

Saturday night

Nebraska plays at Oregon on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 p.m. CT on FOX.

Husker Nation, Saturday in Eugene tells us whether this team’s anger turns into a win, or whether Indiana was one more that got away.