Year 4 under Matt Rhule has arrived, and Nebraska is walking into it with the same familiar challenge: prove it first, get credit later.
The preseason chatter hasn’t done the Huskers any favors. They’ve been slotted 11th in the Big Ten and in the mid-30s nationally, and that kind of outside skepticism is nothing new. The bigger question is whether this group can finally turn the usual promise into something that looks and feels like real progress.
Camp has wrapped, and Anthony Colandrea is the quarterback. That wasn’t exactly a shock, but Rhule saying it out loud on Saturday still mattered.
Colandrea brings the kind of edge Nebraska has been missing at times - he’s competitive, he’s fiery and he can hurt defenses with his legs. If the offensive line does its part, and the deeper group built through portal additions holds together, he has a chance to be the piece that separates another 7-6 type season from something more meaningful.
The backfield, though, remains unsettled. It’s still a committee, and that’s not usually a phrase that inspires confidence.
Mozee appears to be the early frontrunner, but the job won’t feel settled until somebody claims it with the kind of workload that matters - 18 to 20 carries a game. Until then, Nebraska is still talking about possibility instead of results.
On defense, Rob Aurich is pushing a much cleaner message: “simple, fast, violent.” That sounds better than the 3-3-5 look that, according to the source reporting, left Nebraska vulnerable against the run last season.
Owen Chambliss, who transferred in from San Diego State, is one of the more useful additions to that side of the ball. Still, none of it means much until the Huskers show it in live action against teams like Indiana and Ohio State.
And the schedule is no soft landing. Nebraska opens with three nonconference home games, and those are the ones it needs to handle to get out to 3-0 with some momentum.
After that, the road tightens fast: Michigan State away, Maryland at home, Indiana in Lincoln and Oregon in Eugene. That four-game run is the real checkpoint.
If Nebraska comes out of it at 5-2 or 4-3, it’s in the conversation. If it’s sitting at 3-4, the season starts tilting toward another long November.
Nobody is talking conference title here. Nobody is selling playoff dreams.
The case being made is simpler than that: this roster is better built than any Rhule has had so far. There’s more experience, more size up front and a quarterback who can make plays on his own.
The same question still hangs over everything, though - can Nebraska finish?
Black Friday at Iowa is the game that will probably shape the way this season is remembered. It usually does.
But before that, the formula is straightforward: take care of the games you’re supposed to win, battle hard in the rest and stop acting like next year is the only year that matters. The opener is coming.
Nebraska is on the clock.
In Other News...
Ndamukong Suh Just Brought Back Nebraskas Most Painful Source Of Pride
Ndamukong Suh has never been shy about the violent art of defense, and his latest trip down memory lane brought Nebraska fans right back to one of the most unforgettable nights of his college career. By naming the quarterbacks he most enjoyed hitting, Suh reminded everyone how overwhelming he was at the height of his powers, especially in a 2009 Big 12 championship game that still lingers in the schools memory for all the wrong reasons.
For Nebraska, that game remains a strange mix of frustration and pride. Suh was everywhere against Colt McCoy, piling up 12 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, a performance so dominant it became part of his legend even in a loss. Years later, his list only reinforces what Cornhuskers fans already know: Suhs best moments were the kind that could wreck an opponent and still leave Nebraska wishing the final outcome had gone the other way. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska's Offense Is Creating A New Debate Fans Didn't Expect
Nebraskas offense is taking shape in a way that feels a little different from the usual camp depth-chart conversation. Running backs coach E.J. Barthel made it clear the Huskers are planning to lean on more than one option at the position, with Mekhi Nelson, Jamal Rule and Isaiah Mozee all expected to play meaningful roles this season. At quarterback, Anthony Colandreas reported $2.5 million price tag only adds to the attention around the offense, while tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield said junior Carter Nelson is continuing to improve behind starter Luke Lindenmeyer.
For Nebraska, the interesting part is how many of those pieces are being discussed as part of a broader rotation rather than a simple starter-backup setup. That kind of depth can give the offense flexibility, especially with multiple backs in the mix and more than one tight end expected to contribute, including Eric Ingwerson and Luke Sorensen. The real question now is how all of those moving parts will fit together once the games start and the Huskers have to turn potential into production. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Is Pushing A Scheduling Shift Fans Have Wanted For Years
Nebraskas long-running gripe about September scheduling may finally be getting some traction. Athletic director Troy Dannen is working to line up future non-conference home-and-home series against Power 4 opponents, a move that would give the Cornhuskers the kind of early-season matchups fans have been asking for and bring a more familiar, regional feel back to the slate.
The target is to have Nebraska facing a Power 4 opponent every year through the 2030s, with possible foes including Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. Nothing has been announced yet, but the direction matters: for a program that still measures itself against old Big 12 neighbors and regional peers, the scheduling shift would reshape both the tone and the stakes of future non-conference play. [Read more 🡒]