Nebraska’s injury picture got a little clearer Tuesday, and the headline names are two starters the Huskers would love to have back for Friday night’s matchup with Illinois.
Both teams enter at 5-3, with Illinois holding a one-game edge over Nebraska in the Big Ten standings. After three straight losses, the Huskers are looking for any boost they can get, and the initial availability report offered at least some hope.
Senior safety Jamir Conn is listed as questionable. He started Nebraska’s first six games and was one of the team’s most active defenders, piling up 26 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. His injury came early in the second half against Indiana on Oct. 10, and that forced junior defensive back Caleb Benning into a bigger role.
Benning had a rough outing against Indiana, but he settled in over the next two games. He played 73 snaps against Oregon and earned a team-high overall PFF grade of 84.2, then followed that with another team-high mark, posting a 76.8 overall grade on 67 defensive snaps against Washington.
Defensive coordinator Rob Aurich said Tuesday of Conn, “He was at practice this week.” Aurich also said the senior still has to “go through a couple more check marks” before he can return. He added, “When we do get him back, he’ll be welcomed.”
Nebraska’s offensive line could also get a lift if Gunnar Gottula is cleared. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman started the Huskers’ first seven games before suffering a head injury against Oregon. He sat out the Washington game, likely because he had not cleared concussion protocol, but his move to questionable Tuesday suggests a return is at least possible.
If Gottula is available, Nebraska would likely use him in some capacity Friday night. The Huskers’ starting five of Elijah Pritchett, Paul Mubenga, Justin Evans, Brendan Black and Tree Babalade played every offensive snap against Washington, with each logging 77 snaps. Gottula has played 362 offensive snaps this season and has allowed just one sack and four quarterback hurries, according to PFF.
The report also confirmed that fifth-year running back Vincent Genatone remains out for the year. The North Platte native played in Nebraska’s first six games before season-ending surgery. He carried seven times for 10 yards and two touchdowns, and also caught one pass for 13 yards and another score.
Fifth-year edge rusher Anthony Jones Jr. is still out as well. The UCLA transfer has started all seven games he’s appeared in for Nebraska and has been a steady piece of a defense that has already produced 23 sacks.
Jones has not recorded a sack himself, but he has 19 tackles and a pass deflection this season. He is expected to return before the end of the year despite a broken foot.
Larry Miles, Kahmir Prescott, Jase Reynolds, Jacob Bower and Gabe Moore have been listed out since the start of the season.
In Other News...
Nebraska Football Has A Brutal Problem Fans Are Tired Of Watching
Matt Rhule spent part of his latest media session looking back at Washington and part of it turning the page to Illinois, with Nebraska still trying to shake off the frustration of a season that keeps slipping away late. The Cornhuskers have been in position to win every game this year, carrying a lead into the fourth quarter each time, only to come up short when it matters most. It has become the kind of pattern that wears on a fan base, especially when the head coach keeps having to answer for the same ending.
Rhule said he intends to keep pushing through the criticism and the losses, but the challenge now is less about effort than finishing. Nebraska has shown enough early in games to suggest it can hang with opponents, and that is what makes the string of missed opportunities sting even more. Elsewhere on campus, both the mens and womens basketball teams opened their seasons with wins, giving Nebraska fans a little relief while the football team searches for a way to close out a game. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Colandrea Owns Nebraskas Costly Mistakes Before Illinois
Anthony Colandrea didnt hide from the damage after Nebraskas 17-10 loss to Washington, pointing to his three interceptions as a major reason the game slipped away. The quarterback also talked through the larger offensive issues that showed up in the loss, from staying on schedule to keeping the unit in rhythm, and made clear he understands how costly those mistakes can be for a team trying to find its footing.
Colandrea also said he intends to return to Nebraska in 2027, a note that adds some long-range stability to a season still searching for cleaner execution. For now, though, the focus is on getting the offense to function as one group, especially with the environment around the game and the pressure of the moment exposing how thin the margin is when Nebraska gives away possessions. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Late-Game Problem Just Got A Lot More Costly
Nebraskas slide at the wrong time has made the margin for error feel awfully thin. At 5-3 and left out of the initial College Football Playoff Top 25, the Huskers found themselves on the outside looking in while other teams with similar records earned spots in the rankings, a reminder that reputation only goes so far when the losses start piling up.
The bigger issue is the way the last three games have unfolded, with defeats to Indiana and Oregon only adding to the pressure around a team still trying to steady itself. With Illinois, Ohio State and Iowa still ahead, Nebraskas path to a bowl bid is intact, but the next stretch now carries far more weight than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]