Nebraska’s defense has cleared a few early-season questions, but Rob Aurich isn’t interested in grading on a curve.
The Huskers’ first-year defensive coordinator said the standard for takeaways remains high, even if the results haven’t matched it yet. Through three games, Nebraska has forced only three turnovers, and Aurich made it clear that number needs to climb.
“I certainly want to see more,” he said. “Three a game is obviously a lofty goal, but it is the goal.
It’s high for a reason. We haven’t hit that mark when it comes to takeaway generation.
There’s a number of reasons why. I think we need to target and prioritize the ball more as pass rushers when we get the opportunity to.”
He pointed to the nature of the games so far as part of the explanation.
“It’s been a low completion percentage season so far,” he continued. “So, a lot of turnover happens on catch-and-run opportunities.
Those have diminished a little bit, credit to our secondary. But we need to find a way to take those away.”
Aurich has reason to believe the ball production can improve as the season moves along. At South Dakota State in 2025, his defense produced 18 turnovers, with players such as Owen Chambliss and Dwayne McDougle playing major roles. McDougle, who forced five takeaways last fall, followed Aurich to Nebraska and is beginning to settle in for the Huskers.
“He’s playing at a level where I feel really comfortable with him on the field right now,” Aurich said. “I think he has a really high expectation for himself. So, I think we’ve seen some really good stuff from 26, and I think we’ll continue to see better stuff.”
McDougle didn’t open the season as a starter, with Rex Guthrie getting the nod in Week 1. But since Nebraska’s win against Ohio, McDougle has started and logged far more snaps than Guthrie in games against Bowling Green and North Dakota. He also enters Week 4 tied for the team lead with 16 tackles.
Nebraska’s secondary has also been getting production from newcomers Victor Evans III, the FIU transfer, and true freshman Danny Odem. McDougle brings familiarity with Aurich’s system after following him from San Diego State, but Aurich said the group as a whole has shown encouraging signs.
“They’re proceeding as we expected,” the defensive coordinator said. “I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen out of Vic and Danny these last two weeks.
Jeremiah hasn’t had as many opportunities... There were a few plays where Danny Odem, who’s 18 years old, you know, he had a couple freshman things where he looked like a freshman, and then he had a few plays where he looked like, ‘wow, this guy is going to be something special’...
I think he continues to track that way. I’ve got the utmost confidence in where those guys are at and where they’re going to be.”
The early numbers back up that confidence. Nebraska is allowing just 118.0 passing yards per game, and its top three tacklers are all defensive backs. Aurich knows the real tests are still ahead, but through three games, the secondary has given him plenty to work with.
That group will be tested again Saturday against Michigan State, which enters Week 4 at 2-1 after a 17-point loss to No. 3 Notre Dame. Aurich expects the Spartans to lean on the run game at home.
“Michigan State is dedicated to running the football; that’s their DNA,” he said. “They want to establish that, so they can open up opportunities for their quarterback in the play-action pass game… I think we’re going to see a team dedicated to running the football.”
That fits the numbers, too. Michigan State has run the ball nearly twice as often as it has thrown it, setting up a matchup that figures to challenge Nebraska’s discipline and physicality more than anything else.
Fans can watch it unfold on the Big Ten Network at 4 p.m. CDT. Nebraska enters as the favorite, but strong showings from McDougle, Odem, Evans III and the rest of the secondary may be essential if the Huskers are going to leave with another win - and maybe, just maybe, a few more takeaways.
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