Nebraska’s defense is taking heat, but the full story around the Blackshirts is a lot messier than a couple of late-game snaps.
That was the reaction after the Oregon game, when a listener on the Common Fan Podcast pushed back hard on the idea that Nebraska’s defense had actually played well despite the loss. His gripe centered on the fourth quarter and, more specifically, on the final Oregon drive, when former Husker quarterback Dylan Raiola wasn’t pressured the way he should have been. He argued that defensive coordinator Rob Aurich needed to be more aggressive, especially because Raiola has struggled in the past against defenses that bring heat.
That criticism lands. Nebraska didn’t get to Raiola when it mattered most, and the finish was ugly. But laying the loss at the defense’s feet ignores what the Blackshirts actually did over the course of the game - and over the past two weeks.
Against Oregon, Nebraska held the Ducks to six points through three quarters before giving up 11 unanswered in the fourth. The week before, the defense was good enough to keep Indiana in check for most of the afternoon, only to watch two long fourth-quarter touchdown passes flip a potential upset into another crushing loss.
In both games, Nebraska’s defense did plenty to win. In both games, it also failed to slam the door when the moment got biggest.
Still, the bigger picture matters here. Nebraska’s defense held two of the nation’s most talented teams to a combined 37 points.
That should be enough to win games. Instead, special teams mistakes and an offense that couldn’t sustain drives kept putting the defense back on the field.
Against Indiana, the missed field goal left points behind. Against Oregon, Archie Wilson’s knee touching the ground handed the Ducks excellent field position.
By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the defense had already spent much of the night carrying the load.
That’s what makes the blame game feel off. Nebraska held Oregon to 17 points on the road.
That should have been enough. The offense didn’t give the Huskers much help, and special teams remains a weekly source of frustration four years into Rhule’s tenure.
A late touchdown allowed by the defense matters, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
The numbers after seven games help explain why there’s still confidence in this unit. Following the Oregon game, Nebraska ranked among the nation’s best defensively, and the roster itself has no shortage of playmakers.
Owen Chambliss piled up 15 tackles against the Ducks. Dwayne McDougle added 13 tackles and an interception.
Caleb Benning, Vincent Shavers, and others have made their presence felt as well.
Aurich deserves credit for that. After two strong defensive seasons under Tony White, then a step back last year, Nebraska has again become one of the better defensive teams in the country. There’s a real case that this is Matt Rhule’s best defense yet.
That doesn’t make the coordinator untouchable. The strategy on Oregon’s final drive deserves a hard look, and the breakdowns against Indiana do too.
Nebraska also has to figure out how to finish. But the idea that the defense is the reason for either of these losses doesn’t hold up when you zoom out.
The offense has struggled to stay on the field and finish chances. Special teams has created too many bad spots.
And the defense keeps being asked to bail everybody out without much margin for error. That kind of formula doesn’t last, no matter how well the Blackshirts are playing.
There are still five games left - Washington, Illinois, Rutgers, Ohio State, and Iowa - and Nebraska’s defense has shown it can go toe-to-toe with anyone on that list. The offense and special teams don’t have to be flawless.
They just have to do their part. Because whatever frustration comes with a few critical plays, the larger truth is hard to miss: Nebraska’s defense has been one of the best things about this team.
In Other News...
Nebraska Fans Are Running Out Of Patience With Matt Rhule
Nebraskas frustration with Matt Rhule has been building for a while, and the latest comparison only adds to it. While the Cornhuskers keep searching for a breakthrough win, Scott Frost is already in his second season at UCF with more victories over ranked teams than Rhule has managed across four years in Lincoln, and Luke Fickell, hired the same year as Rhule, has also stacked up multiple ranked wins with Cincinnati.
The pressure only grows after a close loss to Indiana, a game that again left Nebraska without the kind of signature result fans have been waiting for this season. The Cornhuskers have stayed competitive, but until they finally get over the hump against a ranked opponent, the patience around Rhule is likely to keep wearing thin. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Bye Week Put Even More Heat On Matt Rhule
Nebraskas bye week did not bring much relief to Matt Rhule, because the longer the Cornhuskers sat without a game, the more their own situation seemed to stand out against the rest of the Big Ten. The conferences quarterback picture has been messy, with injuries and benchings creating constant turnover, while Nebraska has been forced to live with the pressure that comes from waiting, watching and measuring itself against every other storyline around the league.
Anthony Colandreas durability has been one of the few steady notes in that chaos, and it only sharpened the contrast as other programs kept dealing with instability at the most important position. Add in Scott Frosts recent win over a Top 25 team, and the broader backdrop becomes even less forgiving for Rhule, whose program could have used the bye week as a reset but instead saw the conversation drift further toward what Nebraska still needs to prove. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Looks Even More Dangerous After Another Statement Sweep
Nebraska kept rolling with another statement performance, sweeping USC 3-0 and looking as sharp as ever in the process. The Cornhuskers controlled the match from start to finish, swinging at a .400 clip while holding the Trojans to .095, a gap that said plenty about how well Nebraska was playing on both sides of the ball.
Harper Murray led the way with 14 kills and a .426 hitting percentage, while Virginia Adriano added 13 kills and was even more efficient at .500. With production like that from multiple spots, Nebraska is showing the kind of balance that makes it difficult to slow down once the matches get meaningful. [Read more 🡒]