Nebraska may be catching Oregon at the right time, at least on paper.
The first Big Ten availability report of the week already ruled out Ducks quarterback Dante Moore for Saturday night’s meeting in Lincoln, and that changes everything about how this game looks. Moore won’t be the one under center against the Huskers, leaving Oregon to sort through Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas as possible starters in a matchup that suddenly feels a lot less settled.
There’s more uncertainty for Oregon, too. Wide receiver Evan Stewart is questionable, and that could matter just as much if not more depending on who gets the nod at quarterback. Stewart has been Oregon’s most reliable target this season, and if he can’t go, the Ducks would be missing their leading receiver in a game that already took a hit when Moore was ruled out.
Moore’s absence is a major turn in its own right. Before the concussion he suffered against USC, he had been playing efficient football, completing 69% of his passes for 926 yards, 9 touchdowns and no interceptions.
Against the Trojans, he was 8 of 10 for 77 yards before the early exit. He also picked up 10 rushing yards, then got slammed on a helmet-to-helmet hit after sliding at the end of the run.
The quarterback spot is still murky because Raiola’s first start this season went badly against UCLA. He finished just 6 of 19 for 43 yards with 2 interceptions and got benched for Brock Thomas.
Thomas nearly pulled Oregon all the way back in a 17-15 loss, finishing 11 of 15 for 156 yards and a touchdown after leading a scoring drive late. If the Ducks are forced to turn to him again, Nebraska at least knows it won’t be seeing the same version of Oregon it expected when the season began.
The availability report wasn’t all good news for Nebraska, either. Safety Jamir Conn is out, and that is a significant loss for a Huskers defense that has had issues in pass coverage, especially with the safeties expected to help over the top. Defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel is also questionable after missing the Indiana game, so Nebraska could be thin up front again.
Stewart’s status could swing the night for Oregon in a different way. He leads the team with 352 receiving yards and has 27 catches, nine more than Dakorian Moore, the Ducks’ second-leading receiver.
Stewart works more as a possession option, while Moore is the deep threat at 17.3 yards per catch. Stewart is also tied with Moore for the team lead with 4 touchdown catches.
He was active against UCLA before leaving with a head injury, hauling in 5 catches for 77 yards. His touchdown there kept alive a streak of four straight games with a score.
In Other News...
Nebraska Just Got More Momentum From A Huge Recruiting Weekend
Nebraskas recruiting push picked up more steam during the Indiana game, when the program hosted a pair of high-end 2028 targets who gave the weekend added significance. Blue-chip safety Jordan Hicks and five-star tight end Ahmad Hudson were both on campus, a good sign for a staff trying to keep building momentum with younger classes while the on-field product continues to draw attention.
There was plenty else for recruits to take in, too, including cornerback Andrew Marshalls strong showing against Indiana, the kind of performance that can sharpen Nebraskas pitch to top defensive prospects. With analysts also starting to sort out possible bowl opponents after Week 7, the Cornhuskers have a lot of moving parts right now, but the broader picture is clear: the program is creating reasons for recruits to keep looking harder at Lincoln, and Hudsons status remains one of the more intriguing threads coming out of the visit weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Now Faces A Real Illinois Quarterback Twist
Illinois quarterback situation has turned into one of the more relevant subplot for Nebraska as the Cornhuskers look ahead to a matchup that could still shift depending on how quickly Katin Houser heals. Houser suffered a broken hand and has already undergone surgery, with a recovery window of four to six weeks, which puts his status right on the edge of the Illinois-Nebraska game four weeks from now.
Michael Clayton II is the name to watch if Houser is not cleared in time, and that possibility changes the way Nebraska has to prepare for the Illini offense. Housers availability will shape the opponent the Cornhuskers actually see, and for now that uncertainty leaves Nebraska waiting on a decision that could alter the entire feel of the game. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Colandrea Gave Nebraska Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Anthony Colandreas latest outing against Indiana gave Nebraska something it has been searching for: a quarterback performance that felt steady, urgent and worth building around. He flashed as a runner and a leader, and his presence helped the Cornhuskers play with a confidence that had been missing at times, even as the larger issues around the offense and the seasons bigger questions remain in place.
For a fan base that has spent years waiting for signs of real progress, Colandreas impact mattered beyond the box score. He helped shift the tone of the conversation around the program, showing a level of command that can travel into future weeks, even if Nebraska still has work to do before those encouraging moments start turning into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]