Breaking from Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Bowl just turned into a program check for both sides. Utah opens the Morgan Scalley era today. Nebraska hands the keys to a freshman quarterback on New Year’s Eve. The stakes are clear, the lights are bright, and the edges are real.
The stage and the stakes
Utah, 10-2 and ranked No. 15, meets Nebraska, 7-5, inside Allegiant Stadium. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. It feels fitting. New Year’s Eve, a fast track, and two fan bases that travel hard.
Utah is a two touchdown favorite at most books. The total sits near 51. That reflects more than reputation. It reflects where these rosters are today.
Nebraska is without quarterback Dylan Raiola and running back Emmett Johnson. True freshman TJ Lateef starts behind center. Utah is down both starting tackles, Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, plus edge threat Logan Fano and defensive end John Henry Daley. Star power is out. Identity still matters.
Kickoff 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. Radio on Huskers Radio Network and the Huskers app.
Utah’s new era, same blunt force
Scalley is a defensive mind, but Utah’s path still starts on the ground. Wayshawn Parker gives them burst, contact balance, and patience. Quarterback Devon Dampier changes the math with designed runs and option keepers. Utah seldom flinches in bowl settings. Even with new pieces, the plan is to lean on tempo control and field position.
The tackles being out will shape that plan. Expect more quick game and option looks. Expect chip help for young linemen. Utah can still move people inside. The interior combo blocks have been consistent all year. That supports Parker and protects Dampier from long-developing plays.
Defensively, the Utes lose juice off the edge. Logan Fano’s opt out and Daley’s injury remove easy pressure. I expect Scalley to heat with simulated pressure, creepers, and late movement. He trusts his safeties to trigger downhill. Nebraska’s passing menu is limited today. Utah can squeeze windows and dare the freshman to make layered throws.
Nebraska’s blueprint under bright lights
Matt Rhule’s team has grown up in tough games. The offense is thin, but the defense punches. Nebraska has tackled better in space over the second half. The front has held up against heavy sets. That gives them a chance to drag this into the fourth quarter.
Lateef’s job is to keep the ball safe and stay on schedule. I expect heavy quarterback run, quick outs, and play action shots on second and short. Nebraska must win with patience. They cannot chase this game. The Huskers need special teams hits and a turnover or two to flip the math.
- What I am watching: Nebraska’s edge setting against option looks. Utah’s protection on obvious pass downs. Lateef’s poise on third and medium. Explosive returns in a perfect dome.
Where the edges live
Utah’s run efficiency against a sturdy, but thin, Nebraska front is the hinge. If Parker is living at four and five yards, the Utes will control the script. That opens Dampier on keeper reads and bootlegs. It also keeps Utah in manageable third downs where their motions and bunch sets win.
Nebraska’s best counter is early down disruption. First down tackles for loss will put Utah into longer third downs. Then the Huskers can dial simulated pressure without exposing the secondary. If Nebraska must crowd the box with safeties on every snap, Dampier will find crossers behind it.
Ball security will decide the upset window. Utah has the better floor. Nebraska must spike variance. Punch at the ball. Steal a possession on special teams. Short fields turn a field goal game into a coin flip.
The market has Utah by about 14, with a total near 51. My read leans to a lower scoring grind, which favors Utah’s depth and situational defense.
Utah’s offensive tackles are out, so timing matters. Expect Scalley to keep Dampier on rhythm, reduce five step drops, and use the back to slow Nebraska’s rush. On the other side, Utah’s front seven still has enough length and power to compress Nebraska’s run lanes. If the Utes force third and long, the Huskers are in trouble.
This is also a culture test. Utah wins by being the more physical team, week after week. Nebraska, under Rhule, is trying to reclaim that as its DNA. In a bowl, with opt outs and new roles, culture travels. The team that blocks and tackles best usually walks.
Nebraska’s upset path is simple. Win turnover margin by two, hit one explosive on a trick or return, and keep Lateef out of third and long.
The bottom line
This Las Vegas Bowl is more than a sendoff. It is a debut and a barometer. Utah starts the Scalley era with the same attitude, a heavy run game and smart defense. Nebraska looks to prove its growth with a freshman at quarterback in a big moment. The desert is ready. The lights are on. The next era begins at 3:30 p.m. ET. 🏈
