Matt Rhule’s Nebraska tenure has already cleared one obvious hurdle: the Huskers are no longer stuck in the postseason desert they occupied from 2017 through 2023. Back-to-back bowl trips are real progress. But Rhule has also made his standard clear - he didn’t come to Lincoln to settle in at 7-6.
That’s what makes the conversation around 2026 so different. Rhule built his reputation on Year 3 leaps at Temple and Baylor, where both rebuilds hit full stride by the third season.
Temple went from 2-10 to 6-6 to 10-4 before finishing 10-3 in Rhule’s final year. Baylor followed a similar path after a 1-11 start, jumping to 7-6 in 2018 and 11-3 in 2019.
Nebraska, though, didn’t follow that script in 2025. The Huskers opened 3-0, then took their first loss in a 30-27 defeat to Michigan.
They won two more before the 24-6 loss at Minnesota, climbed back to 6-2, then saw the season unravel with a loss to USC that ended with a season-ending injury to Dylan Raiola. Nebraska beat UCLA the following week, but closed with three straight blowout losses and finished 7-6.
There were real reasons the season went sideways. Nebraska struggled badly in the trenches, especially along the defensive line, where the roster losses were severe.
Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson both moved on after graduation, with Robinson going in the fourth round of the NFL draft. The portal also took Princewill Umanmielen, Jimari Butler, and James Williams away from the program.
That was a major hit. Umanmielen broke out, Butler was a steady edge presence from 2022 through 2024, and Williams had flashed with five sacks for Nebraska in 2024 before struggling at Florida State last season.
Even the arrival of Williams Nwaneri didn’t change the bigger picture. In Nebraska’s 3-3-5, the defensive front got pushed around, and teams like Penn State, Michigan, Minnesota, USC, Iowa, and Utah all found room to run.
The Huskers were left relying on linemen who were too inexperienced and too small to hold up consistently.
Raiola’s injury against USC only made the collapse feel final. He had already been under siege at times, taking seven sacks against Michigan and nine against Minnesota.
The offense had an inconsistent line in front of him, and Raiola himself looked overwhelmed in those games. His season-ending injury came, at least in part, from poor pocket awareness, since he was tackled from behind.
That makes Nebraska’s 2025 season hard to compare directly with Rhule’s third years at Temple and Baylor. But those issues are no longer the built-in excuse in 2026.
This year’s team still has some questions. The defensive line is not completely beyond concern, the tight end room has a few unknowns, and new quarterback Anthony Colandrea is not a sure thing.
But there is a much different feel to this roster. Nothing jumps out as a clear disaster waiting to happen.
The offense has plenty to like. Colandrea gives the Huskers a fresh start at quarterback, and the receiving corps and offensive line both bring reason for optimism.
The running back room is young and inexperienced, but it still looks promising. Tight end remains a concern, though the ceiling there is high and the talent is still notable.
The defense may be even more encouraging because of the changes in front. Nebraska is moving to a 4-2-5 under new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, and the front seven looks stronger on paper.
The line gained Anthony Jones Jr., Owen Stoudmire, and Jahsear Whittington through the portal, then added blue-chip recruit Dylan Berymon, a 6-2, 330-pound presence who could matter immediately. Depth is also a strength now, which is a major change from a year ago.
At linebacker, the outlook is especially strong. Owen Chambliss arrived via the portal, Dexter Foster joined the room, and Vincent Shavers Jr. is back. That group gives Nebraska a much better base in the middle of the defense.
The secondary could end up being the best part of the whole unit. Andrew Marshall and San Diego State transfer Dwayne McDougle III give the Huskers a strong starting point, and Donovan Jones is set at nickel. The rest of the spots are still open, but the depth gives Nebraska something it did not always have in recent years.
Put it all together, and this looks like a team with far more ammunition than the Huskers have had in the past. The returning talent is better, the transfer class is better, and the roster doesn’t carry the same obvious warning signs that haunted 2025.
That’s why the standard is rising. Rhule had explanations for some of the struggles in his first three seasons, but those explanations won’t carry him in 2026.
At this point, anything at 7-6 or worse would count as failure. Beating a ranked opponent, taking down Iowa, and maybe even reaching the College Football Playoff would define success, even if that CFP path still looks unlikely.
For a team with this kind of ceiling, 8-4 should be the floor.
In Other News...
Nebraska Has An Unexpected Position Problem On Offense
The tight end room has emerged as one of the quieter concerns around Nebraska heading into the 2026 season, and it is not hard to see why the coaching staff has been pressing the issue. Former offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield was not pleased with what he saw in practice, and Dana Holgorsen has already taken aim at the groups summer work, especially when the Huskers have tried to involve the position in the passing game.
For Nebraska, the challenge is less about whether there is talent on the roster and more about whether that talent can turn into dependable production. Luke Lindenmeyer and Carter Nelson are the obvious names to watch as the staff looks for more consistency, while true freshman Luke Sorensen adds another intriguing option to the mix. The upside is there, but this is one of those spots where the Huskers need answers before the offense can feel complete. [Read more 🡒]
Adrian Martinez Just Made His 49ers Roster Fight Even Tougher
Adrian Martinezs bid to stick with the San Francisco 49ers has hit a rough patch in the preseason, and the former Nebraska quarterback is now facing a tougher climb on the roster bubble. Through his first two exhibition games, Martinez has had trouble with accuracy and ball security, completing 24 of 47 passes while throwing two interceptions, a line that has left him behind other quarterbacks on the depth chart.
Martinez still has a path, but it is not the cleanest one. His chances could improve if injuries continue to thin the quarterback room, which would keep the door open a little longer for him to make a case in the weeks ahead. For now, though, he has work to do if he wants to turn a difficult start into a real argument for a roster spot. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Evans Is Giving Nebraska Fans Real Reason To Believe
Nebraskas offensive front has a familiar name drawing national attention heading into 2026. Justin Evans, the fifth-year senior center, has been named a second-team All-American by The Athletic, another sign that his rise has gone well beyond Lincoln. A steady presence in the middle, Evans has started 31 games for the Cornhuskers and has built a reputation as one of the better interior linemen in the country.
The appeal is easy to see for Nebraska fans. Evans started all 13 games in 2025 and was not responsible for any sacks allowed by the offensive line, a strong marker for a player whose job is often measured by what does not go wrong. With his status as a top interior prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft already established, Evans gives Nebraska both a proven anchor now and a clear pro-level storyline to watch as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]