Two weeks away from game action didn’t soften Nebraska’s frustration. It only gave everyone more time to sit with the same ugly feeling: the Huskers let fourth-quarter leads slip against Indiana and Oregon, and now they’re back on the field with the spotlight fixed on what happens when the game gets tight.
Washington arrives in Lincoln on Halloween night at 4-3, a record that makes the Huskies look vulnerable without making them harmless. Nebraska and Washington both had byes, so there’s no built-in preparation advantage for either side. The one edge Nebraska does get is the home crowd, and the setting should be loud enough to make the night uncomfortable for the Huskies.
Still, the bigger issue isn’t whether Nebraska can hang with Washington. The players already showed that against Indiana and Oregon. The real question is whether the coaching staff can close the deal.
That starts in the run game, where Nebraska is dealing with injuries in the backfield. Jamal Rule and Mekhi Nelson are hurting, with Isaiah Mozee in the mix.
The Huskers can’t just assume the ground game will sort itself out. They also can’t keep making the same mistake of treating running the football like some optional side quest.
The recipe is plain enough: give the backs chances, take the safe yards, and keep the defense from having to bail everyone out snap after snap. Stay on schedule.
Keep the clock moving. If something is working, force Washington to stop it.
Instead, Nebraska has spent the last two fourth quarters making life harder than it needed to be. Dana Holgorsen, not the fan base, is the one responsible for the play calls.
Quarterback chatter added another wrinkle, with a rumored $7 million price tag for Anthony Colandria next season. For that kind of money, Bob joked, maybe he could call plays and block defensive ends too. Bob isn’t interested in spending the roster budget on one player, especially with rumors about Matt Rhule and Baylor circulating.
But Washington is the game in front of Nebraska right now. Bob said a loss should put coaching changes on the table.
Jay went the other direction and predicted a 42-21 Nebraska win. George was in the 30-10 or 30-13 range.
Bob settled on 31-14, though he likes the under more than a shootout.
So the group is aligned on one thing: Nebraska should win. The disagreement is mostly about how clean it will look.
Elsewhere, SMQ drifted into last week’s games by mistake, and memory care was suggested more than once.
Nebraska is 5-2, and there’s still a lot left to play for. But this one isn’t about celebrating how close the Huskers have been.
The players have done their part to get Nebraska here. On Halloween, the coaches need to finish the job.
Go Big Red. And please, check the schedule.
In Other News...
Ryan Walters Just Handed Nebraska Fans More Fuel For Memorial Stadium
Ryan Walters may have done Nebraska a favor without meaning to. The Washington defensive coordinator and former Purdue coach revisited Memorial Stadium in comments that acknowledged the places passionate fan base and the way it can go quiet when the Huskers make plays, a reminder of just how much the environment matters when Nebraska is at home.
Given Walters history with the program and his previous critical remarks, it is no surprise his latest take has landed in Lincoln. Nebraskas athletic department now has fresh material to work with, and fans can probably expect those comments to be hanging around the stadium atmosphere when the next game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Gets A Timely Boost As Washington Injury Questions Grow
Matt Rhule said Riley Van Poppel will be back for Nebraskas game against Washington after missing the last two contests with an injury, a welcome development for a defense that can use all the help it can get heading into a tricky matchup. The latest injury report still leaves some moving parts, though, with Gunnar Gottula ruled out and Vincent Shavers listed as questionable.
The timing matters for more than just Saturdays lineup. Nebraska is also set to host more than 50 recruits this weekend, including five-star offensive tackle Antijuan Wilkes Jr., giving the program a big-stage chance to sell its momentum in person while the Huskers try to keep stacking positive news on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Colandrea Just Changed Nebraskas Entire Offseason Plan
A quick round of retention talks ended with Nebraska locking down a major piece of its future, as quarterback Anthony Colandrea agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Lincoln through the 2027 season. The move comes after speculation around the transfer market, but Colandrea made it clear he wanted to stay with the Huskers, giving the program an important bit of certainty at a position that can shape everything else in an offseason.
For Nebraska, the timing matters just as much as the agreement itself. With Colandrea settled in, the coaching staff can turn its full attention to other roster needs instead of wondering whether it would have to replace its quarterback plan, and that kind of stability changes how the rest of the winter can unfold. It also gives the Huskers a clearer foundation heading into the next stretch, even if the bigger roster questions still have to be answered. [Read more 🡒]