Nebraska walked into fall camp with a noticeably upbeat tone on Tuesday, and that mood was already in place before the first practice of the 2026 season even got rolling.
The players who spoke with the media sounded aligned with what Matt Rhule projected last week in Chicago at Big Ten Media Days: confidence, belief and a clear sense that this group expects more than just another middling season. Anthony Colandrea set the tone by calling the offensive line “ elite “ and saying it was the best group he’s been around in his college career.
That kind of praise matters, especially with Colandrea looking like a strong fit for Dana Holgorsen’s offense. The 2025 Mountain West Player of the Year brings the sort of dual-threat ability Rhule has been searching for - a quarterback who can hurt defenses with both his legs and his arm.
The optimism didn’t stop there. Nebraska’s roster looks built to sell that message, whether you’re talking about the receivers, the offensive line, the new defensive coordinator, or the fact that the Huskers are bringing back 14 starters. Riley Van Poppel made the attitude plain, saying they didn’t come to Nebraska to win seven games.
That kind of talk is refreshing, even if the real answer still has to come on the field. Rhule is entering year four, and the big question remains whether he can finally push the program over the hump.
What isn’t in question, at least right now, is how much confidence is in that locker room. The Huskers believe in themselves.
The season will decide whether that belief is earned.
There was also a notable comment from former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was asked why he chose to leave for Oregon. His answer was direct:
“There’s not cornfields here. There’s mountains and trees, and I love the nature.
As far as football, it’s different, you know, with coaches and players, we have a lot more talent than we did at Nebraska. And I don’t say that to knock on them, but I think everybody will know that.
“But I’m very grateful for my time there. Learned a lot from my coaches, teammates - still have those relationships - but I think that I’m really excited for what Oregon’s going to bring.”
Nebraska also picked up some preseason recognition in the Coaches Poll, receiving votes in the Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll but landing outside the top 25.
Even so, the schedule leaves room for statement chances. Five ranked teams are on it: No.
1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No.
6 Indiana, No. 19 Washington and No.
23 Iowa. For Nebraska, that means plenty of opportunities to finally land a ranked win under Rhule.
In Other News...
Dylan Raiola Addressed Leaving Nebraska In A Way Fans Need To Hear
Dylan Raiolas first public comments since moving on from Nebraska came with the kind of blunt honesty that tends to stick with fans in Lincoln. Speaking at Oregon Football Media Day, the former Husker quarterback talked through his transition to Eugene by comparing the two settings and the roster around him, making clear he noticed real differences while still trying to frame the conversation carefully. It was the sort of answer that acknowledged where he came from without turning it into a public breakup speech.
Raiola also made it plain he is settling into whatever role Oregon needs from him, even as Dante Moore enters camp as the Ducks starter. For Nebraska fans, that part matters just as much as the comparison itself, because it shows Raiola is not spending time looking backward. He sounded like a player ready to accept a smaller piece of the puzzle if it helps the whole group, and that is the part of his exit from Nebraska that will linger for the Huskers audience. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Brutal Big Ten Reality Is Already Coming Into Focus
Nebraskas place in the first USA Today Coaches poll offered an early snapshot of where the program stands heading into fall camp, and it was a reminder that respect still has to be earned the hard way. The Huskers received 12 points, which leaves them outside the top 25 and roughly in the 41st spot, even before a ball is snapped in anger. For a team trying to keep building under Matt Rhule, it is a useful gauge of how much work remains before the Big Ten schedule starts demanding answers.
And the schedule offers little room for easing into things. Nebraska will have to navigate a slate that includes Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana, a stretch that already looks unforgiving on paper. Rhule has pointed to the difficulty of that kind of test and the added uncertainty that comes with the transfer portal, which can make the week-to-week landscape shift quickly. For the Huskers, the early polling number is one thing, but the reality of proving they belong will arrive soon enough. [Read more 🡒]