Luke Lindenmeyer still remembers the last time Nebraska lined up against Indiana, and he’s looking at Saturday as a chance to answer it.
The fifth-year tight end was on the 2024 Husker team that got rolled 56-7 in Bloomington. A year later, he’s getting the rematch in Lincoln, with Nebraska set to host the Hoosiers on Saturday afternoon after Indiana went on to win the national championship in 2025.
“That’s why you come to Nebraska, to play in these big, big Big Ten games,” Lindenmeyer said. “Big Noon Kickoff was here my freshman year, so it’s cool to have that again, just kind of the stuff outside of the actual game, but again, it’s just another game.
You’ve got to prepare. You’ve got to out-recover, out-prepare.”
This time around, both teams arrive at 5-0, but the rosters look very different. Indiana is ranked No. 7, and both programs are being guided by new quarterbacks.
Senior Anthony Colandrea is running Nebraska’s offense, while the Hoosiers have fifth-year quarterback Josh Hoover in charge.
“They’ve got new guys, new quarterback, new defensive linemen, new linebackers, a lot of different jersey numbers,” Lindenmeyer said. “We’ve got some of the guys who played in that game, but I was wearing 44 at the time, and No. 8 now.
You’ve got other guys. [Janiran Bonner] played; he was 16 at the time, now he’s 4 and now he’s a tight end.
Both teams have changed so much in the last two years, so I’m excited.”
Indiana’s coaching setup is one thing that has stayed steady. Curt Cignetti has kept nearly all of his assistants since arriving in 2024. Nebraska’s sideline has gone through more change, with different offensive and defensive coordinators in place.
Dana Holgorsen is handling the play calling for the Huskers, and Nebraska has found success under him this season. The Huskers beat Maryland 48-23 on Saturday, though they needed time to settle in before turning things up late in the first half.
Lindenmeyer said he wants to see Nebraska get rolling faster against Indiana.
“We want to start off fast, but it’s been a theme this season,” Lindenmeyer said. “We don’t get worried.
We just play our game. We just get back to who we are.”
Nebraska has done enough winning to keep its focus on the bigger picture, and Lindenmeyer said the fourth quarter is still where games get decided.
“Every game’s going to come down to the fourth quarter,” Lindenmeyer said. “That’s where most games are won, but a good start would just help us be able to win in the fourth quarter and having body blows throughout the game.”
The Huskers will keep preparing for Indiana and the return of Big Noon Kickoff, with Lindenmeyer expecting the kind of atmosphere Nebraska always prides itself on.
“It’s going to be loud,” Lindenmeyer said. “They’re the best fans in the nation, and it’s going to be fun.”
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on FOX and the Huskers Radio Network.
In Other News...
Nebraska Gets Rare Good News Before A Big Test Against Indiana
Three days before kickoff, Nebraska is getting a cleaner injury picture than it has seen in a while heading into a Big Ten test against Indiana. Only tight end Carter Nelson and linebacker Gage Stenger are listed as doubtful, while five players have remained out since the start of league play. On the other side, Indiana is dealing with its own mix of availability, though cornerback A.J. Harris and defensive end David Ndukwe are back in the fold.
That matters for a Nebraska team that has spent much of the season managing personnel issues and trying to keep its depth intact. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said running backs Jamal Rule and Mekhi Nelson have been practicing and could be available if needed, which at least gives the Cornhuskers some flexibility as they prepare for a game that could hinge on who is able to suit up and who can handle an expanded role. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Defining Test Against Indiana In Brutal Conditions
Nebraska gets a measuring-stick opportunity in Lincoln on Saturday morning, with Indiana coming in as the defending national champion and FOX carrying the game to a national audience. The matchup arrives with wind expected to be a major factor, which should put an even bigger spotlight on Nebraskas improved offensive line and how well the Huskers can handle a disciplined Indiana team that has earned plenty of respect for the way it plays.
For Nebraska, the challenge is as much about structure as star power, because this is the kind of game that can expose flaws quickly in rough conditions. Indiana arrives favored at the betting window, but the early kickoff and the weather figure to make this feel less like a standard Big Ten showcase and more like a test of poise, execution and coaching at every level. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Defining Week With One Big Roster Concern
Nebraska heads into this week with some clarity on the injury front, even if not complete comfort. Jamal Rule and Andrew Marshall are available as the Cornhuskers prepare to face Indiana, which helps stabilize a roster that has been trying to get itself organized at just the right time. It is the kind of update coaches and fans can at least build around, especially with conference play continuing to demand depth and flexibility.
Carter Nelson remains doubtful, though, and that is the detail Nebraska will keep monitoring as the matchup approaches. For a team trying to stack together enough healthy pieces to handle a meaningful stretch, availability can be as important as game plan. There is also broader Nebraska interest elsewhere this week, with former Husker Cam Jurgens landing in a trade from the Eagles to the Ravens, a reminder that the states football storylines rarely stay in one place for long. [Read more 🡒]