Matt Rhule shared after their loss to Indiana that he could typically sense when a performance like their 56-7 loss to the Hoosiers was coming, but was completely taken by surprise by that loss last weekend.
The Huskers inability to run the ball effectively (just 70 yards on the day) and convert fourth downs (0/5) were hurdles they simply could not overcome.
Indiana also nearly doubled the Huskers yards per play both on the ground and through the air with their efficient balanced attack that has helped them cement themselves as one of the pleasant surprises of the college football season under Curt Cignetti.
As Nebraska and Matt Rhule get set to take on Ohio State this weekend, Marcus Satterfield's offense has found themselves in the crosshairs of the media.
Yesterday, Satterfield took accountability for their lack of ability to run the football, widely regarded as a must-do for teams that want to win the Big Ten saying that he needs to recommit to finding the best run schemes, formations and personnel to establish their ground game.
Later in the presser, Satterfield was asked about a target number for yards per play, and the answer he provided has drawn criticism.
"That's a good [question]. Between four and six," he said with some hesitation.
"I honestly don't even know what leads the country in yards per play. What would be a top yards per play?" he added.
The reporter who asked then added that the Huskers currently sit at 5.5 yards per play, which ranks 88th nationally. That's also just marginally better than the 5.05 yards per play they finished the 2023 season with.
For some perspective, Miami currently leads all of college football with just over 8 yards per play, and on the flip side Kennesaw State is at 3.72 yards per play at 134th nationally.
In Satterfield's defense, as a play caller, offensive efficiency is what everyone keeps in mind when calling the shots on game day.
The aim is get half of what you need on base downs (5 yards on first down and then half of whatever is needed on second down). Third downs have to be a conversion, and if that happens the data shows that your play calls are efficient. So 4-6 yards per play doesn't sound as crazy as many are making it out to be.
With that said, Satterfield is a veteran college football coach with over two decades of experience with play calling stops at UT-Martin (FCS), Chattanooga (FCS), Temple, and South Carolina before joining Rhule's staff in Lincoln.
Play callers that are striving to be one of the top units in the country should realize the past eight years the top offenses in college football have been between 7.28 and 8.6 yards per play. Not saying that Nebraska's goal is to be the top offensive unit in the country, but those benchmarks are the goal for those that do have that goal.
It's worth pointing out that twice in the Scott Frost era the Huskers ended the season in the top 20 in yards per play (2018 and 2021), and we all know how those seasons ended.
So with the Huskers at 5-2 heading into this weekend, matching their win total of last year already, does yards per play really matter all that much?
Hear Satterfield's full comments in the clip.