LINCOLN, Neb - Nebraska will try again for bowl eligibility again on Saturday when they host Maryland, having just fallen to Michigan State 20-17.

In meeting with reporters on Monday, Head Coach Matt Rhule discussed the quarterback position after Heinrich Haarberg had a less than stellar weekend, while also looking into the Terrapins. Rhule even compared Terps quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa to household NFL stars. 

“If you watch their quarterback, he is Patrick Mahomes and he looks like Kyler Murray back in college,” Rhule said. “He rolls left, goes back right. Everything his brother does he can do, he plays with a lot of flair, no look passes… We’ll need everybody to try our best to contain him.”

Huskers quarterback Heinrich Haarberg had a rough week throwing the football, tossing two interceptions, going 12 of 28 through the air on Saturday against Michigan State -- 28 passes is the most Haarberg’s attempted all season.

Despite also taking seven sacks on Saturday, Matt Rhule is still backing the Kearney native quarterback.

“To go out and be the quarterback on a team battling in close games, you have to want to do that,” Rhule said. “Not everybody wants to do that... That’s what I respect so much about Heinrich is he wants to do that… When I coach Heinrich, I’m not coaching him for right now, I’m coaching him for next year, the year after, not that we’re not trying to win now, but we’re trying to address everything as it comes, because I think he’s a winner.”

Rhule also discussed the depth of the QB room and how the coaching staff manages their reps in practice.

“We give Jeff [Sims] reps at the one’s at times… Chubba took some reps at the one’s, he gets more two reps and three reps,” Rhule said. “Jeff does get reps with the one’s as does Heinrich."

Maryland enters Saturday ranked second in passing offense, averaging 281 yards per game. They also sit third in total offense, with just shy of 400 yards per game. However, with the strength the Huskers possess on defense, Rhule says the team is preparing to play their style of football.

“They are an excellent excellent football team, but the challenge for us is to prepare for the other opponent, but never make it about the opponent,” Rhule said.

Maryland enters Saturday with an equal record to the Huskers at 5-4, but they've dropped four in a row, most recently falling to eleventh-ranked Penn State 51-15.

The Huskers and Terps kick off at 11:00 am central, 10:00 am mountain time on Peacock.

With a win, Nebraska will become bowl eligible for the first time since 2016.