Nebraska’s trip to Oregon got a little more complicated for the Ducks on Thursday night.
On the Wednesday injury report, quarterback Dante Moore was ruled out for Saturday’s game against Nebraska football. Then came another hit: star wide receiver Evan Stewart was downgraded to doubtful. Stewart has 27 receptions for 312 yards this season.
Oregon still hasn’t named a starting quarterback, and Stewart’s status is not fully settled either. A similar situation played out before Maryland, when Jamal Rule was listed as doubtful and later moved to questionable. Nebraska held him out, though Dana Holgorsen said he could have played.
Even with the injury news, this is still a tough road assignment for Nebraska. Oregon remains one of the country’s most talented teams, and it has already shown plenty of fight. The defense has delivered some strong stretches, and the offense flashed against USC with Dylan Raiola at quarterback.
Nebraska volleyball kept rolling Thursday night, too, and in convincing fashion.
The Huskers swept Northwestern on the road, 25-17, 25-14, 25-15, to move to 18-0. It also pushed their regular-season winning streak to 49 matches. Nebraska’s defense was suffocating, limiting the Wildcats to a .030 hitting percentage, while the Huskers hit .287.
Andi Jackson led the way with 10 kills, six blocks and four digs. Jackson hit .600, her fifth straight match above .500.
Harper Murray added nine kills, four digs and three blocks. Kenna Cogill had seven blocks, and Bergen Reilly finished with 39 assists, four digs and three blocks.
Back on the hardwood, Nebraska basketball is officially back in action.
Fred Hoiberg’s team will play for the first time since its Sweet 16 loss to Iowa, and it brings back Pryce Sandfort and Braden Frager for what could be one of the most highly anticipated seasons in Nebraska basketball history.
The Huskers will hit the road to face BYU in an exhibition game. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CST on ESPN+.
In Other News...
Nebraska Faces A Real Road Test As Oregon Prep Gets Complicated
Matt Rhule said Nebraska is spending the week not just on Oregon, but on the logistics that come with a late kickoff and a difficult road environment. The Cornhuskers have had to adjust their routine for the unusual start time while keeping the emphasis on football, and Rhule pointed to the kind of details that can decide a game away from home, including crowd noise and cleaner communication.
Jamir Conn has been ruled out, which opens the door for other Nebraska players to take on more leadership as the Huskers get ready for one of their tougher tests of the season. Oregons quarterback situation is still unsettled, adding another layer of preparation for Nebraska, but Rhules message has been straightforward: stay locked in, handle the noise, and be ready for whatever version of the Ducks shows up. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Has A Real Shot To End Its Ranked-Game Misery
Nebraska heads into the Oregon matchup with more reason for optimism than it usually carries into a ranked showdown. The Huskers know quarterback Dylan Raiola well enough to at least feel comfortable with the challenge, and they have some offensive answers of their own if Anthony Colandrea can help keep the offense moving and the rushing game does its part.
Oregons recent turnover issues give Nebraska a path to stay in the game, and maybe more than that if the Huskers can capitalize when opportunities arrive. The bigger backdrop is impossible to ignore: Nebraska has spent too long coming up short against ranked opponents, and this one offers a chance to finally change that story. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Stayed Unbeaten But This Sweep Raised New Purdue Concerns
Nebraska kept its perfect record intact with a sweep of Northwestern, but this one looked a little different from the routs that had come before it. Manaia Ogbechie sat out with the flu, which pushed Kenna Cogill into the starting lineup for just the second time in her career, and the Huskers also got extended looks for several bench players as the match unfolded.
Even with some hitting errors in the mix, Nebraska still found plenty to like in its serving and the way it handled a lineup adjustment without losing control of the result. For a team carrying unbeaten momentum, the bigger takeaway may be how the Huskers responded when the margins tightened a bit, because the next stretch will likely demand that same kind of depth and composure. [Read more 🡒]