The comparisons with former Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier are nice, but Eric Crouch could be the more versatile of the two. He has yet to win a national championship, but Crouch has already passed for 2,971 yards and run for 2,319 in his career.

With those qualifications, it’s little wonder that Crouch will be the critical player for NU’s linebackers to stop if the Wildcats hope to hang with the Huskers. It won’t be easy, though, as Crouch boasts 4.47 speed in the 40 and directed the Huskers’ option attack as it led the country in rushing offense, at almost 350 yards per game.

Not to mention that the last time NU faced such a dangerous option team, it gave up 387 yards to Texas Christian, including 243 to tailback LaDainian Tomlinson. After the game, Randy Walker said he wasn’t prepared for the Horned Frogs to run so much option. Against Nebraska, there will be no such mystery.

For the season, NU is 81st nationally in rushing defense, giving up more than 180 yards per game. But NU has shown that it can shut down explosive quarterbacks, as it held Indiana’s Antwaan Randle El to just 80 yards on 18 carries Oct. 7.

To enjoy similar success against Crouch, linebacker Kevin Bentley will have to recover from an ankle injury and NU will need to contain the perimeter of the field. If that doesn’t happen, Crouch could show what happens when the Big Red Machine runs amok.