Nebraska’s opener against Ohio arrives with the Huskers carrying the kind of paper advantage that usually gets a fan base feeling good before kickoff. Adam Carriker sees it that way, too. On the latest Carriker Chronicles, he laid out why Nebraska should be favored, why the matchup is still dangerous if the Huskers get sloppy, and why Week 1 is the sort of game that can turn weird in a hurry.
The line tells part of the story: Nebraska is a 23.5-point favorite. Carriker pointed to the experience and talent coming back on the Nebraska side, especially on offense, as a major edge.
Ohio, by contrast, is a different-looking team now after bringing in a new head coach and losing several of its top players from last season. Carriker’s point was simple enough: last year’s numbers only go so far when the roster and sideline both look different.
That said, he made it clear Nebraska can’t stroll into the game assuming the gap will take care of itself. Openers have a habit of dragging teams into chaos.
One bad turnover, a handful of penalties, missed tackles, or even one odd bounce can flip the feel of a game fast. Carriker wants Nebraska to set the tone early by being cleaner and more physical, while also proving the defense - led by Rob Aurich - can handle Ohio’s offense and tackle well.
There’s plenty on offense to watch, too. Carriker believes Dana Holgorsen should have room to open up the playbook, and quarterback Anthony Colandrea has a chance to make a strong first impression in a Nebraska uniform. Colandrea also brings some familiarity with Ohio after facing them while at UNLV.
Carriker also spent time on the running back battle, saying he wants to see which Husker separates himself once the real game starts. That, in his view, is where practice talk gives way to actual proof. The same goes for the rest of the roster: game day is where breakout players announce themselves.
When he boiled the opener down, Carriker came up with three big keys for a successful Nebraska win: be the cleaner team, be the more physical team, and show grit if the game turns sideways early. Beyond that, he wants the Huskers to simply look like the better football team from start to finish - the kind of group that finally has that “it” factor.
For a little extra fun, Carriker asked AI for a prediction. The result: a Nebraska win, 34-10, with Colandrea responsible for three touchdowns.
Carriker’s own call was even more confident. He picked Nebraska to win 38-14 and cover the spread.
The episode also included a personal moment involving Carriker’s daughter, Dakota, and her fight for life at age two, along with the story of Rylan earning the Hustle Award at the Carriker Chronicles Football Camp. Carriker said recognizing the kid who might not always get the spotlight is exactly what the camp is meant to do.
Game week is here, Nebraska football is back, and the Huskers now get the chance to prove whether all that offseason optimism turns into a clean start.
In Other News...
Nebraska Fans Just Got Another Painful Reminder About The Program's NFL Problem
Roster cutdowns around the NFL brought another rough reminder for Nebraska fans, as 20 former Cornhuskers were released by pro teams during the latest round of roster moves. The list spanned multiple positions and multiple organizations, including DeShon Singleton, who was let go by the Kansas City Chiefs, and it included players who were cut both on cut down day and earlier in training camp.
For Nebraska, the headline is less about one player than the bigger pattern it keeps running into. The Huskers have been producing enough pros to get them into NFL camps, but not enough of them are sticking on rosters when the league trims down, and that lingering issue has become hard to ignore for a fan base that wants to see the program turn better college careers into lasting NFL ones. [Read more 🡒]
Former Huskers Enter NFL Cutdown Day With Roster Spots On The Line
The final weekend of the NFL preseason gave several former Nebraska players one last chance to make their case, with some opening games as starters and others working in limited snaps for their teams. It was the kind of finish every fringe roster player knows well, a final audition before clubs have to trim down to 53 players and start shaping practice squads by Monday afternoon.
For the ex-Huskers, the waiting game now begins. Their preseason showings are in the books, and the next step is out of their hands as coaches and front offices sort through depth charts, special teams roles and position battles to decide who stays, who gets a practice-squad look and who has to search for the next opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Volleyball Sent A Message While Ex Huskers Face NFL Drama
Nebraska volleyball kept rolling in Las Vegas, sweeping Texas in three sets at the Players Era Challenge and backing up its strong start with a second straight sweep to open the season. For a program that expects to set the tone early, it was the kind of clean, confident win that travels well and sends a clear early-season message.
The same day brought a different kind of roster intrigue for Nebraska football alumni, with several former Huskers landing on NFL 53-man rosters after cutdown day. Emmett Johnson, Ameer Abdullah, Thomas Fidone, Cam Jurgens, Ty Robinson, Maliek Collins, Luke Gifford and Cam Taylor-Britt all survived the first wave, while others were let go, and there could still be more movement as waivers and practice squad decisions play out. [Read more 🡒]