Game On: Storylines, players and matchups to watch (plus a prediction) for Huskers vs. Iowa | Football

10: Interceptions by the Hawkeyes this year, an average of two per game. 

Oliver Martin (WR | No. 89 | Jr.): Martin is still in the process of introducing himself to Husker fans, but he won’t need to wear a nametag in Iowa City. That’s his hometown, and he transferred from Iowa to Nebraska over the offseason. NU didn’t get word on his eligibility until a couple of weeks ago, but he’s ramped up fast and caught two passes for 30 yards last week against Illinois. Does he have something special in the works for this homecoming?

Casey Rogers (DL | No. 98 | So.): Rogers could be in for a heavy workload up front and Nebraska will have to hold up against a rugged Iowa offensive line and run game. NU’s rotation isn’t quite as deep as expected before the season — Keem Green and Jordon Riley have been more spot duty players the past couple of weeks — but Rogers, Ty Robinson, Ben Stille and Damion Daniels have been regulars. Rogers isn’t the biggest among that group, but he plays hard and has made some plays.

Nebraska’s quarterbacks against Iowa’s linebacking corps

We’ve written plenty about the battles in the trenches both ways this week. Iowa’s got a good, veteran group of linebackers that will have a heavy workload in trying to slow down either Adrian Martinez or Luke McCaffrey — or, heck, maybe both — in the run game. The QB pair accounts for 52% of NU’s rush attempts so far this season. Martinez churned out some yards against this defense last year, but it was tough sledding. Expect more of the same this time around.