With kickoff in Lincoln still three days away, Nebraska and Indiana are both entering the game with injury reports that look far cleaner than they have at other points this season.
Nebraska had no starters on Wednesday night’s required availability report. The only Huskers tagged as doubtful were tight end Carter Nelson and linebacker Gage Stenger, while the five players listed as out have all been in that same category since Big Ten play began.
That’s a lighter load than the one Nebraska carried into last week, when fans were tracking the status of running backs Jamal Rule and Mekhi Nelson before the 48-23 win over Maryland. Rule did not play in that game, but offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said Tuesday the freshman was back in practice and could have been available if needed.
"He didn't practice last week. Mekhi at least practiced Monday and Tuesday and went down on Wednesday, so he got the practice reps.
They both felt fine," Holgorsen said. "We really, really, really believe in the importance of practice.
For him not to have practiced last week, we didn't feel comfortable and we didn't have to do it."
Indiana, ranked No. 7, is also mostly in good shape and could be getting healthier on defense. Cornerback A.J.
Harris is not on the injury report and is on track to play against Nebraska. Harris opened the season as a starter after transferring from Penn State, but an injury in the first quarter has kept him out since Week 1.
In his place, fifth-year Jamari Sharpe and second-year Jaylen Bell have started the last two games at cornerback.
The Hoosiers also got defensive end David Ndukwe back onto the available side of the report after he missed last week’s game against Rutgers. Through four games this season, Ndukwe has six tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and one safety.
Indiana does have three players ruled out: running back Khobie Martin, tight end Andrew Barker and cornerback Carson Williams. Barker had started the last four games before getting hurt in last week’s win over Rutgers and will not play against Nebraska. Martin hasn’t played since Week 1, and Williams has been out since Week 3.
Wide receiver LeBron Bond is listed as questionable after sitting out the last four games because of injury. The true sophomore was expected to be in Indiana’s two-deep at receiver this season, but he has not played since Week 1.
Nebraska Out: WR Larry Miles, DB Kahmir Prescott, LB Jase Reynolds, LB Jacob Bower, DL Gabe Moore Doubtful: TE Carter Nelson, LB Gage Stenger
Indiana Out: CB Carson Williams, RB Khobie Martin, TE Andrew Barker Questionable: WR LeBron Bond
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Nebraska Faces Its Biggest Test Yet With One Familiar Problem Looming
Nebraska is back in a spot it has not occupied often lately, preparing to host No. 7 Indiana with a 5-0 start in hand for the first time since 2016. The Cornhuskers have already given themselves a real platform in the Big Ten, and they will have quarterback Anthony Colandrea and running back Jamal Rule available as they take on their biggest challenge yet, one that also carries the weight of a 31-game losing streak against ranked opponents.
The matchup brings together a Nebraska team still trying to prove it can finish the job in the moments that matter and an Indiana offense that has clearly earned the attention of Matt Rhule, Rob Aurich and Dana Holgorsen. That combination makes this more than just another ranked game on the schedule, because the Huskers know they will need a cleaner performance across key quarters if they want this one to mean more than a promising start. [Read more 🡒]