Can Nebraska Football Handle the Crowd at The Horseshoe?

This will be the most difficult environment the Huskers will see all season. How will they deal with it?

Oct 5, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

So far this season, Nebraska has had the advantage of playing a few of its biggest games at home.

It hosted Colorado and Illinois at home in Memorial Stadium and has played on the road at Purdue and Indiana. The game against the Hoosiers got ugly quickly, casting doubt on whether Nebraska can win big games on the road, or at all, for that matter. After that 56–7 embarrassment at Indiana, the Huskers are about to face their biggest test of the season.

On Saturday, they will play at Ohio Stadium, also known as “The Horseshoe,” which is one of the most intimidating atmospheres in all of college football. The Buckeyes almost never lose at home and are known for having one of the loudest crowds in the country. Nebraska will be in for an incredible challenge as the Huskers try to win in that stadium.

Having a true freshman quarterback does not help in a game like this. Dylan Raiola is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country, but he is still very young and learning every single week. Agaisnt a team like Ohio State, there is no more time for learning. The Buckeyes' defense will take advantage of any mistake he makes.

The bludgeoning that the Huskers took last week at the hands of Indiana is a bad sign for what might happen Saturday. As good as the Hoosiers are, it is likely that Ohio State is even better. Additionally, the 53,082 people at the Indiana game cannot compare to the 100K-plus that will be at The Horseshoe when Nebraska rolls in.

In another layer of difficulty, Ohio State has not played since its loss to Oregon two weeks ago. The players and fans have had time to think about that loss and are likely motivated to bounce back in a big way. The Huskers need to be ready to take a huge punch early. The Buckeyes and their fans will likely be fired up for a chance to redeem themselves after that heartbreaker at Oregon.

Nebraska cannot look anything like the team that was destroyed by Indiana a week ago if the Huskers want a chance of pulling off this upset. If the Huskers thought Indiana was a tough road environment, they'd better buckle up for something far more intimidating tomorrow.

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MORE: Nebraska Football Preview: No. 4 Ohio State

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