Nebraska heads into 2026 with the same record that has defined the last two seasons - 7-6 - and the same pressure that comes with it. Matt Rhule’s team has a lot to sort out before Week 1, but the biggest issue sits where the Huskers got exposed last year: up front on defense.
The defensive line was hit hard after the 2024 season, when the transfer portal and the NFL draft stripped away a strong unit. That left Nebraska undersized and underexperienced in 2025, and opponents eventually leaned on the run game over and over.
The secondary was elite, but it could only cover for so much. If the front doesn’t hold up this fall, Nebraska is going to feel it fast.
At the moment, the projected starters look like this: EDGE Anthony Jones, DT Owen Stoudmire/Jahsear Whittington, DT Kade Pietrzak, and EDGE Williams Nwaneri. Jones arrived through the portal as an experienced edge presence, and Nebraska is hoping that helps former five-star recruit Nwaneri take a real step forward. Nwaneri is the hinge point here - his development matters for both the pass rush and the run defense.
The Huskers also brought in two defensive tackles from the portal in Stoudmire and Whittington. Stoudmire brings experience and, when healthy, can be a difference-maker.
Whittington, the Pitt transfer, is being viewed as a possible answer to Nebraska’s sack shortage because of his talent. There are still questions about size and experience, but compared with where this group was a year ago, Nebraska looks much better on paper.
The formula is simple enough: Nebraska needs more sacks and it has to stop the run. If the first wave doesn’t do its job, the rest of the defense gets dragged into emergency mode, and that’s when the big plays start piling up.
That challenge gets even more interesting with Nebraska moving to a 4-2-5 defense. The secondary was one of the best in the country last season, and opposing offenses mostly stayed away from it. Andrew Marshall returns after an elite season at corner, Donovan Jones is back after starting plenty as a freshman, and Rex Guthrie returns as the other major holdover in the back end after starting many games at safety.
The portal added a possible playmaker in Dwayne McDougle, who had 4 interceptions at San Diego State. He has a knack for turnovers, and he also played under new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich.
Nebraska also brought in cornerback Victor Evans III, who could matter in 2026, and five-star freshman Danny Odem is another name to watch. The Huskers still need to figure out their hybrid pieces, though, and that LB/DB spot remains unsettled.
If the defense is the first major question, the offense is the reason Nebraska can believe it has a ceiling. The biggest concern there is the running back room, which has five players who could all make a case to be RB1. Even with that uncertainty, the offensive line is loaded enough to make life easier for whoever gets the carries.
Justin Evans is one of the best centers in the nation, Elijah Pritchett is an NFL draft pick, and the portal brought in Brendan Black, a highly experienced and talented guard from Iowa State. Nebraska also added Tree Babalade, another top-10 tackle. The final spot is still undecided, but the size and talent across the line are obvious.
The receiver group is just as deep. Nyziah Hunter looks like the WR1 after an excellent season and brings elite speed.
Jacory Barney is right there too, maybe even as the top option, and he’s fast and experienced. Then there’s Kwazi Gilmer, the UCLA transfer who led the Bruins in receiving yards last season.
That kind of production gives Nebraska serious depth, and Luke Lindenmeyer adds a solid tight end option for the new quarterback.
That quarterback is Anthony Colandrea, and he brings real production with him from UNLV. He threw for 3,459 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he added 649 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. With this offensive line and this receiver room, Nebraska should put him in a good spot.
So the questions are clear. Can the defensive line become sturdy enough to keep the run game in check?
Can the secondary stay elite while the front improves? And can Colandrea and the offense turn all that talent into something bigger?
Those are the issues Nebraska has to answer before Week 1.
In Other News...
Carter Nelson Faces A Huge Camp Test As Huskers Wait On Ahmad Hudson
Carter Nelson is heading into fall camp with a chance to reshape the conversation around his future in Nebraskas offense. With the Huskers carrying more help at tight end, the discussion has shifted toward whether Nelsons best path is staying there or moving wider, where his pass-catching ability could make him harder to keep off the field. For a program still sorting out how to maximize its skill talent, Nelson has become one of the more intriguing names to watch as camp opens.
Damon Benning has already gone as far as putting Nelson among his top six or seven wideouts, a notable change of heart that says plenty about how much his outlook has grown. Elsewhere, The Athletics quarterback tiers placed Anthony Colandrea in the fourth group of Big Ten passers, a reminder that Nebraskas broader personnel picture is still being sorted out on multiple fronts. For the Huskers, the next few weeks are less about labels than answers, and Nelson may be one of the clearest tests of how flexible this offense can be. [Read more 🡒]
Two Healthy Huskers Could Change More Than Fans Realize
Rex Guthrie and Carter Nelson are back in the mix for Nebraska after finishing their rehabs and moving into summer preparation for the upcoming season. Guthrie, a safety, said he feels confident in where his recovery stands and is focused on sharpening his game, while Nelson, a tight end, has been talking about the mental reset that comes with getting healthy and being ready to help the offense again.
For the Huskers, the timing matters as much as the health itself. Guthrie and Nelson are both third-year players who have already spent enough time around the program to understand what Nebraska wants from them, and their return adds more flexibility on both sides of the ball. Nelson also pointed to the value of quarterback Anthony Colandreas ability to extend plays, which can turn broken moments into opportunities if the offense is in sync, but the bigger question is how much these two can raise the ceiling once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]