After a frustrating season in Lincoln, Matt Rhule isn’t waiting around to see if things will magically turn around. He’s hit the reset button - hard.
The Cornhuskers saw roughly 17 players exit through the transfer portal, but more than 20 new faces are coming in, signaling a full-scale roster overhaul. It’s a dramatic shift, and Rhule is treating it like one.
Nebraska’s spring football camp is set to kick off in late February - much earlier than usual - with the spring game scheduled for March 28, likely airing on BTN.
Why the early start? Rhule put it plainly: “I want us to see where our team’s at.”
And with so many new pieces in play, it’s a smart move. This isn’t just about getting reps - it’s about figuring out who this team is before the real bullets start flying in the fall.
The most high-profile departure, of course, was five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, who’s now headed to Oregon. That one stung.
Raiola was expected to be a cornerstone for the program, and his exit leaves a clear void under center. Nebraska hasn’t landed a replacement of that caliber, but Rhule is moving forward with what he has - and that starts with TJ Lateef.
Lateef appears poised to take over as QB1. He’s not Raiola, and no one’s pretending otherwise, but there’s a quiet confidence about what he could become.
In seven games this past season, Lateef threw for 904 yards, five touchdowns, and just one interception. Those aren’t numbers that jump off the page, but they’re steady - and more importantly, they suggest a foundation to build on.
He’s shown flashes, and now it’s about turning those flashes into consistency.
To bolster the quarterback room, Rhule also brought in Tanner Vibabul, a dual-threat option who adds a layer of insurance behind Lateef. It’s clear Rhule is preparing for multiple scenarios - a smart approach given the uncertainty that comes with a roster this new.
Make no mistake, this is going to be a very different Nebraska team in 2026. The roster turnover alone guarantees that.
But Rhule isn’t shying away from the challenge. He’s embracing it, using the early spring slate as a proving ground.
It’s not just about evaluating talent - it’s about setting the tone.
There are still more questions than answers right now, especially at quarterback. Can Lateef grow into the leader this team needs?
Can the offense be tailored to highlight his strengths and accelerate his development? Those answers won’t come overnight, but Rhule’s approach shows he’s not waiting until the fall to start finding out.
This spring will be about more than just practice - it’ll be about identity. And for a program that’s been searching for stability, that’s exactly the kind of urgency Nebraska needs.