The crew talks Scott Frost once again being the head coach at UCF and Nebraska taking on Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.

First downs and second guesses:

More neutral site games, please.

Moving the Cincinnati game to Arrowhead is brilliant. It was a road game (UC comes to Lincoln in 2032) that now becomes essentially a Husker home game in Kansas City.

Nebraska should be playing more games in Arrowhead. NU hasn't been there since 2006 and hasn't played a regular-season game there since 1998. That's too long.

I know the pressure to play home games, especially in a revenue-sharing world. But NU should play a neutral site game once every five years. Or less.

And yes, the Huskers now play coast-to-coast in the Big Ten. But neutral games in giant stadiums -- especially ones that hold College Football Playoff games -- are good for the profile.

Especially in areas where NU likes to recruit. Like Texas. Not Ireland.

Forget moving the Tennessee games. Those belong on campus. But Nebraska has a non-conference opening in 2027 (but only six home games that year). Any ideas?

Yes. Play LSU or Texas in Jerry Jones World in DFW. Play Mizzou or Kansas State in Arrowhead. Bring an SEC team up to Chicago or Indy. UCF in Atlanta (sorry, too soon?).

I especially like the idea of using Arrowhead. It's right down the street. It's in the middle of a 500-mile radius of recruiting. And it will almost always be a home game.

It's a long shot idea. We are closer to heading to a Big Ten-SEC scheduling alliance. Sponsors would have to guarantee more take-home money than a home game. But there is a sure-fire way to get a neutral site game.

Get to the second round of the College Football Playoff.

Special teams changes

I asked Matt Rhule what he thought about his special teams this year -- and if any changes were in the works. His response:

"We had a tough hit when we lost Tristan (Alvano, kicker). I thought the development that Ed (Foley) and Brett (Maher) did to get John (Hohl) where he was to where he ended up was excellent.

"I thought Brian (Buschini) was a strength all year. We had to move to a second (long) snapper. But we'll have to make an improvement in our special teams. I think part of that will come from the roster. That's the main thing we're focusing on now."

By coming from the roster, Rhule meant adding from the portal. But where would the other part of changes come from?

I assume it's better coaching.

Xavier Watts honored

There's a long list of great college football players from Omaha and that certainly includes Xavier Watts, the Notre Dame safety from Burke High. Watts is now a two-time All-American. And he won the Bronco Nagurski Award.

Keep Booth in Omaha

I don't know what Kirsten Bernthal-Booth's contract status is. The Creighton volleyball coach signed a long-term extension last June that was not disclosed.

Give her a lifetime deal.

Creighton's five-set loss

I'll never forget the image of Creighton setter Kendra Wait walking alone to the locker room after Sunday night's regional final loss to Penn State. It's haunting. Not 30 minutes before that, Wait and the Jays were on the verge of making the Final Four. Then, just like that -- a legendary career, all those memories -- are over.

The tournament is ruthless. But that's why we watch.

John Cook and Churchill Downs

John Cook, championship volleyball coach and part-time cowboy, says he has never been to Churchill Downs. He won't have time this week. But Cook says he's planning on going to the Kentucky Derby next May. Maybe he can bring a national championship trophy with him.

Louisville Slugger Museum

If you are going to the Volleyball Final Four this week in Louisville and you are a baseball fan, I recommend taking a tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum. Don't forget the gift shop. Two years ago, while covering CU in the NCAA tournament there, I got myself a bat with my name and the Dodgers logo.

When it arrived at my house, my wife and daughters laughed at me. What are you going to do with that, they asked?

I didn't even try to explain. They'd never understand.

One more and I'm outta here

Okay, two. Two predictions.

College Football Playoff: This week, I've got Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas. The quarterfinals: Georgia, Boise (got to pick one good upset!), Oregon and Texas. Semifinals: Georgia and Texas. Champ: Texas.

Volleyball Final Four: Nebraska over Louisville for the national championship.

Photos: Our favorite photos from the 2024 Nebraska football season