Nebraska got a useful tune-up Friday night, and the Huskers needed it. In their final exhibition before the real games begin, Nebraska outlasted Kansas State 88-84 behind a big night from Braden Frager and another sharp scoring effort from Pryce Sandfort.
Frager was the headline act. The junior poured in 28 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and knocked down five 3-pointers while also handing out three assists.
Sandfort wasn’t far behind, finishing with 23 points as the pair combined for 51 points and nine made triples. With Sam Orme still out, Nebraska got exactly the kind of perimeter production it wanted to see.
Damon Wilkinson added another solid piece to the mix. The South Dakota State transfer scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting and pulled down three rebounds.
Trevan Leonhardt didn’t take a shot in his 24 minutes, but he helped run the show with five assists and no turnovers. For an exhibition, it was the kind of clean, productive outing Nebraska wanted before the season opener next week.
On the football side, Matt Rhule’s bye-week injury update brought more concern to the running back room. Jamal Rule is already dealing with an ankle issue, and Mekhi Nelson is as well. Rhule said Nelson has been fighting through it, leaving Nebraska without a fully healthy back among what he called the top three options.
“I think we’ve all seen what Jamal can do when he’s rolling,” Rhule said. “This bye week comes at a really good time for Jamal and a really good time for even Mekhi (Nelson).
He doesn’t complain about it but I mean he hurt his ankle going into whatever game it was, I think maybe Maryland and he’s just fighting through it. With (Vincent) Genatone going down, Isaiah Mozee obviously went down last week, the bye week’s great for him and just kind of that whole running back room.
Seven weeks in the Big Ten, you’re gonna have some bumps and bruises but hopefully those guys will all be flying around tonight. ”
The numbers underline the issue. Rule is averaging 2.8 yards per carry in Big Ten play, while Nelson is at 3.3. Nebraska will need both backs to be more effective over the final three weeks and into November.
There’s also no answer yet on who Washington will send out at quarterback when the Huskies face Nebraska. Jedd Fisch said the team will not announce its starter before Saturday, keeping the decision under wraps until game time.
Elijah Brown started the last game at Purdue and threw for 305 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Demond Williams began the season as the starter, entered the year as one of the Big Ten’s most talented quarterbacks and was knocked out of the Iowa game with a rib injury.
Fisch said Williams is improving and that the two quarterbacks are still battling for the job. Williams has averaged 232 passing yards per game and another 30 on the ground, with 11 total touchdowns and three interceptions.
Washington’s offense has leaned on the pass. The Huskies are averaging 282 passing yards per game, but just 104 rushing yards and 3.5 per carry overall.
In Big Ten play, that ground game has dipped to 88 yards per game at 2.8 per carry. Williams remains Washington’s second-leading rusher, so his return would matter in more ways than one.
In Other News...
Holgorsen Just Made Nebraskas Offensive Priority Much Clearer
Dana Holgorsen spent part of Nebraskas bye week making the offensive priorities feel a little more straightforward. The Cornhuskers have leaned on quarterback Anthony Colandrea for steady effort and leadership even through the recent losses, and Holgorsen made it clear that he views those traits as part of the foundation. The bigger issue, at least from the coordinators perspective, is getting the offense to play cleaner and more consistently around him.
As Nebraska turns back toward game prep, the focus shifts to areas Holgorsen wants sharpened most, especially the running game and more reliable play from the receivers. Colandrea has also acknowledged he needs to elevate his own play to better help the group, which puts the burden on more than one part of the offense as the Cornhuskers try to reset coming out of the break. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Blackout Is Becoming Something Much Bigger For Husker Fans
Nebraskas Blackout is no longer just a one-night gimmick. Athletic director Troy Dannen said the Huskers will make it an annual event, and this years version against Washington is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff, giving the atmosphere a prime-time stage that should fit the look and feel the school is building around it. Dannen also pointed to new field design elements tied to the event, while tying the presentation to the bigger picture of a program he said has made competitive progress under the current coaching staff.
The Blackout announcement was part of a broader afternoon of news around Nebraska athletics, including word that longtime Husker basketball announcer Kent Pavelka will retire after this season. For football fans, though, the annual Blackout adds another layer to a home schedule that now has a defined signature game, and one that Nebraska clearly wants to turn into a recurring part of the identity around Memorial Stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Face A 2027 Schedule Shakeup They Didn't Expect
Nebraskas football calendar is headed for a reset, and not just in the abstract future-tense way schedule talk usually gets handled in January. Athletic director Troy Dannen said the plan for next year will change to fit the expected 24-team playoff model, which would require 10 games against Power Four opponents. The Big Ten is already working through the scheduling adjustments, and that means the kind of boardroom math that can quickly alter who shows up on a fall Saturday in Lincoln.
For Nebraska fans, the ripple effects could be felt well beyond the opponents list. Some nonconference games may disappear, other Power Four matchups could be added, and Memorial Stadium will also be operating with reduced seating capacity because of renovations. Put together, its a reminder that the Huskers are not only dealing with a changing postseason landscape, but also a home schedule that may look different in ways that matter to fans planning around it. [Read more 🡒]