Nebraska comes out of the bye week with Washington headed to Lincoln Memorial Stadium on Saturday, and both teams used the break in different ways. Jedd Fisch pushed his group like it was another training camp. Nebraska took a lighter approach and focused on getting healthy.
That health piece matters. Anthony Jones won’t play this week, while Jamir Conn could return.
If Conn is available, that would be a major boost for the defense. Getting Jamal Rule closer to full strength would mean a lot for the offense, too.
At 5-2, Nebraska is in a spot that makes this one feel pretty important.
The Huskers are listed as a 7.5-point favorite. The over/under sits at 49.5 points, with Washington at +255 on the moneyline and Nebraska at -320.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Central on Big Ten Network. Huskers.com will carry the radio broadcast for free.
Washington has not leaned heavily on the run this season. The Huskies are tied for 17th in the Big Ten in rushing attempts and are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and 104 yards per game overall. The ground game has been even quieter in conference play, where Washington is averaging 66 rushing yards per game and 2.8 yards per attempt.
The passing game has carried more of the load. Washington is throwing for 266 yards per game in Big Ten play, and both quarterbacks have found some success through the air. Demond Williams is also a threat as a runner, though a rib injury may make him less eager to leave the pocket and take hits.
That plays into Nebraska’s strength. The Huskers are giving up only 99 rushing yards per game and 3.2 yards per attempt, numbers that have helped Rob Aurich’s defense make offenses one-dimensional. Washington may already be close to that point, and the pass rush will need to make that advantage count.
Nebraska also has to get its own run game moving.
Washington has allowed 4.5 yards per carry this season and is giving up 381 yards per game overall, including 231 through the air. Anthony Colandrea should be in line for a strong outing, and Nebraska would benefit from getting more out of the zone read.
Mekhi Nelson and Jamal Rule need to get rolling. In Big Ten play, the Huskers are getting just 3.3 yards per carry from their backs.
Rule is averaging 2.8, though leaving the Michigan State and Oregon games early after a few carries obviously hurt those numbers.
Third down could be another big swing point.
Nebraska owns the best third-down defense in college football and the Big Ten, holding opponents to a 19.1 percent conversion rate. Indiana and Oregon combined to go 4-for-28 on third down over the past two games. Washington’s third-down offense converts at 33.3 percent, which ranks 18th in the Big Ten and 117th nationally.
The Huskies also rank 116th nationally in red-zone defense, which only adds to how favorable this matchup looks for Nebraska.
Matt Rhule’s team probably knows what’s in front of it: a game it needs to win.
In Other News...
Holgorsen Just Made Nebraskas Offensive Priority Much Clearer
Dana Holgorsen spent part of Nebraskas bye week making the offensive priorities feel a little more straightforward. The Cornhuskers have leaned on quarterback Anthony Colandrea for steady effort and leadership even through the recent losses, and Holgorsen made it clear that he views those traits as part of the foundation. The bigger issue, at least from the coordinators perspective, is getting the offense to play cleaner and more consistently around him.
As Nebraska turns back toward game prep, the focus shifts to areas Holgorsen wants sharpened most, especially the running game and more reliable play from the receivers. Colandrea has also acknowledged he needs to elevate his own play to better help the group, which puts the burden on more than one part of the offense as the Cornhuskers try to reset coming out of the break. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Blackout Is Becoming Something Much Bigger For Husker Fans
Nebraskas Blackout is no longer just a one-night gimmick. Athletic director Troy Dannen said the Huskers will make it an annual event, and this years version against Washington is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff, giving the atmosphere a prime-time stage that should fit the look and feel the school is building around it. Dannen also pointed to new field design elements tied to the event, while tying the presentation to the bigger picture of a program he said has made competitive progress under the current coaching staff.
The Blackout announcement was part of a broader afternoon of news around Nebraska athletics, including word that longtime Husker basketball announcer Kent Pavelka will retire after this season. For football fans, though, the annual Blackout adds another layer to a home schedule that now has a defined signature game, and one that Nebraska clearly wants to turn into a recurring part of the identity around Memorial Stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Face A 2027 Schedule Shakeup They Didn't Expect
Nebraskas football calendar is headed for a reset, and not just in the abstract future-tense way schedule talk usually gets handled in January. Athletic director Troy Dannen said the plan for next year will change to fit the expected 24-team playoff model, which would require 10 games against Power Four opponents. The Big Ten is already working through the scheduling adjustments, and that means the kind of boardroom math that can quickly alter who shows up on a fall Saturday in Lincoln.
For Nebraska fans, the ripple effects could be felt well beyond the opponents list. Some nonconference games may disappear, other Power Four matchups could be added, and Memorial Stadium will also be operating with reduced seating capacity because of renovations. Put together, its a reminder that the Huskers are not only dealing with a changing postseason landscape, but also a home schedule that may look different in ways that matter to fans planning around it. [Read more 🡒]