Matt Rhule’s warning on Monday was worth hearing, but the matchup still points one way: Nebraska should have the edge over Maryland on a mild, sunny day in Lincoln.
Yes, the Huskers played a 3-point game with the Terrapins last season. Yes, Malik Washington is still an excellent quarterback, even after starting the second half last week with a pair of pick-sixes. And yes, Nebraska fans have seen enough odd Saturdays to know better than to get too comfortable.
But Maryland comes in off a 54-3 loss to UCLA, and the injury situation is rough enough that the Terps look like they’re waiting in line at the 4077th MAS*H- for crying out loud. Their backup running back is a transfer. On the baseball team.
That’s where the old Husker PTSD tries to creep in. The reminder that a shorthanded Minnesota team came into Lincoln during the Covid 2020 season and walked out with a 24-17 win is enough to make anybody nervous. It also raises the familiar question: could Maryland bounce back, play for Mike Locksley’s job, and steal one in Lincoln a week before the Indiana game?
No. Just no.
This feels like the right moment to trust this team a little more. Nebraska looks set up to take care of business against a Maryland group that has not done enough to suggest a real threat. The expectation is for the Huskers to get out fast with a couple of those Dana Holgorsen early drives, keep the pressure on, and never really let the Terrapins breathe.
If that happens, Nebraska heads into Indiana week at 5-0.
The latest availability report adds a few wrinkles. Rule and Nelson are now game-time decisions, while Black and Barney are out.
On Maryland’s side, the depth chart still shows five running backs. Maybe some dime today?
Randy Silver also had film of the Huskers warming up, and Anthony Colandrea just always seems chill. The feeling is Nebraska got the right guy for this team and this offense.
Elsewhere, Penn State really did deserve the sweep Thursday night. Mocking Harper with DUI chants and allegedly mocking her depression is ugly stuff, and not exactly shocking from a place that still has people believing JoePa did no wrong.
In Other News...
Nebraska Stayed Unbeaten But This Win Raised A Bigger Concern
Nebraska moved to 5-0 for the first time since 2016 with a 48-23 win over Maryland, and the record still looks as good as it has in years. The Huskers shook off an uneven first half and then rolled with 34 unanswered points after the break, getting notable contributions from Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee as the offense found its rhythm and the game got away from Maryland.
Even with the unbeaten start intact, the bigger question is what Nebraska will need to clean up before the schedule tightens again. The next test comes Oct. 10 against Indiana in a ranked game at Memorial Stadium, and the Huskers will have to show they can bring the same second-half punch from the opening whistle if they want this start to mean more than just a fast beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Defining Reality Check With National Respect At Stake
Week 6 brings a familiar kind of pressure to the college football calendar, with heavyweight matchups like Alabama against Georgia and Texas against Oklahoma drawing the biggest spotlight. Around those games, the broader board is full of tests that will help sort out where teams truly stand, from the Big Ten to other major conferences, and the betting lines reflect how tight the margins are getting as the season settles in.
For Nebraska, the wider picture matters because the Cornhuskers are still trying to turn respect into something more durable than early-season optimism. This is the point in October when a good start can start to mean something, or when a stumble can quickly reset the conversation, and the games around the country are only sharpening that reality for a program still looking to prove it belongs in the national discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska's Maryland Win Didn't Silence The Worries Fans Still Have
Nebraskas 48-23 win over Maryland offered the sort of response the Huskers needed after a rough opening stretch, and the coaching staff deserves credit for the in-game fixes that helped turn things around. The defense settled in, several players made notable contributions, and the result showed a team capable of recovering when the first half goes sideways.
Still, the victory did not erase the issues that have followed Nebraska around this fall. Penalties remain a problem, the offense can still look predictable at times, and there is a clear need for a more balanced passing attack as Indiana approaches. A win helps, but for a fan base looking for something sturdier, the bigger questions are still waiting. [Read more 🡒]