Dana Holgorsen Finds Flaw in Huskers’ 68-0 Blowout
Nebraska’s 68-0 demolition of Akron this past weekend looked like the kind of performance that fans dream about. Seven hundred and twenty-eight yards of total offense, the most points in more than a decade, and complete dominance from start to finish. But for offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, the win wasn’t quite perfect.
Yes, he praised the “ton of awesome stuff” that the offense put together. The Huskers strung together eight straight touchdown drives at one point. Quarterback Dylan Raiola had his first 300-yard passing game, and young players like Quinn Clark, Isaiah Mozee, Keelan Smith, and Carter Nelson all showed growth. Freshman quarterback TJ Lateef also impressed in limited action, bringing a running element that gave Nebraska a different offensive look. Holgorsen admitted the lights weren’t too bright for the freshman, and he sees real potential there.
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Still, despite the fireworks, Holgorsen couldn’t get past one detail that bothered him. Early in the game, Nebraska’s fourth drive began at the Akron 21-yard line. With the short field, a touchdown seemed inevitable, yet the Huskers stalled and settled for a field goal. That, in Holgorsen’s words, was “irritating.” The second and third drives weren’t much better — one ended on a fumble, the other on downs, with zero points to show for them.
For Holgorsen, the standard isn’t just about piling up stats or blowing out an inferior opponent. Nebraska’s offense is chasing consistency at a level where touchdowns should be the outcome on 70% of their drives. Against Akron, the Huskers finished at 64%. Impressive to many, but not enough for a coordinator with high expectations.
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator John Butler shared a similar mindset. Nebraska’s first shutout since the 2009 Holiday Bowl didn’t move him much. When asked about the significance, his answer was blunt: “Nothing, honestly.” For Butler, it’s not about one scoreboard result — it’s about playing to a standard every week. He acknowledged the defense is still a “work in progress,” especially in run defense, but he liked the overall execution against Akron.
He also singled out freshman defensive lineman Kade Pietrzak, calling him a player with “great DNA” and the right mentality to thrive in the trenches. Butler, who has spent a decade coaching in the NFL, said the best defensive linemen he’s seen always carried a certain edge, and Pietrzak seems to have it.
So while fans may look back on this game as a pure celebration, inside the program, the message is different. A shutout is nice, scoring 68 points is fun, but perfection is the real goal. For Holgorsen and Butler, the Akron game was proof that progress is being made — and also proof that there’s still plenty of work ahead.
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