NEBRASKA CITY – Husker Radio analyst Damon Benning said Nebraska has two winnable games to finish the season and he expects the offense to be in better shape mentally to undergo a late-season transformation compared to the defensive unit.

Benning: “In the locker room, with the staff, I think around the office, Nebraska is going through a little bit of a --  I wouldn’t call it, it’s not a purge necessarily – but I do think now is a good time for them and you’re thinking ‘oh, there’s two games left’  but they are two very winnable games so sometimes you feel like now is a good time to put your foot down if you feel something good on the other end is coming.”

Benning: “They are making some strides in some areas that they really need to firm up. It’s not necessarily just discipline, right? It’s just getting a different vantage point for seasoning these guys up.”

Benning: “I think the defense psychologically is not in as advantageous place as the offense.”

He said the offense can come away from the 28 to 20 loss at USC with an expectation of making improvement under the second week of a new offensive coordinator. He said coach Dana Holgorsen and the quarterback communicated well and the running game is starting to look like it has some promise.

Benning: “If you really make big strides between week one and week two, which is the age-old adage for coaching, then the offense feels like the sky is the limit.”

He said upheaval could be more difficult for the defense.

Benning: “They are in a little precarious spot because they are good enough to keep you in it and not make wholesale changes, but the tweaks they need to make are fairly … I mean, they are important players. Right? From a psychological standpoint.”

Benning told his Big Red Buzz audience at Valentino’s Restaurant that Nebraska’s front-end defense is solid, but Coach Matt Rhule referenced the defensive backs at a press conference when he said players in a “cover two” have to play “cover two.” (Safeties cover the deepest part of the field in two deep zones)

He said Nebraska's final two opponents may make it possible for Nebraska to incrementally inject changes in its backfield.

He said Wisconsin quarterback Braedyn Locke has thrown as many interceptions as he has touchdowns this season and now will deal with the firing of his influential offensive coordinator.  Likewise, Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz says the quarterback situation is cloudy. An injured Cade McNamara was replaced by Brendan Sullivan after eight games, but now Sullivan is out with an injury.

Both Nebraska and Wisconsin are 5-5 on the season, but Wisconsin has beat Nebraska in 10 straight games.

Benning says Nebraska’s breaks that streak at home Saturday.

Benning: “You may not see a couple of guys. Who ever is playing, rest assured they’ll want to be out there.”

24-13, 24-14 (somewhere in there)

GBR