Matt Rhule analyzes if Nebraska matched Michigan's intensity

Matt Rhule had to admit after Nebraska’s 45-7 loss to Michigan that the Wolverines were really good and simply outplayed them.

Rhule was asked if the Huskers matched Michigan’s intensity coming to Lincoln. The head coach gave an interesting answer to that question.

Basically, he summed it up as you have to play like Michigan, if you want to beat Michigan. But Rhule felt Nebraska backed up what they were selling to that point, just not well enough against the No. 2 team in the nation.

“I think they’re a really good team,” Rhule said. “I don’t want to sit here right now and say that our guys didn’t want to play hard. I don’t think that … They’re the No. 2 team in the nation, played a lot of ballgames, didn’t play great last week. I kind of alluded to it the other day with you guys like we were the No. 1 rush offensive and rush defense in the Big Ten going into here.

“He was going to come out for a run for 300 yards against us to send a message like you don’t stay the big dog in the Big Ten without sending those types of messages. So I don’t know. I don’t know that it was intensity.”

Matt Rhule analyzes Nebraska’s intensity against No. 2 team in country

Michigan running back Blake Corum didn’t have to run up and down the Husker defense to send a message. He ran for 74 yards and a touchdown while Kalel Mullings and JJ McCarthy added scores on the ground.

McCarthy also threw for two touchdowns while backup Jayden Denegal got a chance and threw a touchdown on his only pass of the game.

“I still think our guys are trying to figure out if they’re good enough to play, you know, sometimes play these teams,” Rhule said. “I didn’t feel us necessarily cutting loose and ripping and going attacking them. And that’s kind of where we have to get to, to be quite honest with you. 

“So I addressed the older guys after the game, I addressed the younger guys after the game because younger guys will play these guys again. There’s only one way to play these types of games and when these types of games and that’s to attack. But (I don’t want to take away from Michigan), they’re really good.”

Nebraska fell to 2-3 with the loss and the Huskers will have to turn around fast. They hit the road Friday to take on Illinois in a Big Ten West clash.