Nebraska entered this transfer portal window with clarity - and urgency. After a late-season stretch that saw the Huskers get bullied at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, Matt Rhule and his staff knew exactly where the foundation was cracking.
If the program’s identity is rooted in fourth-quarter toughness and Big Ten trench warfare, then those final three games were a harsh reality check. Nebraska wasn’t just losing battles in the trenches - they were getting overwhelmed.
The response? Swift and unapologetic.
The Huskers parted ways with their defensive coordinator and both line coaches, a clear sign that shared vision means little without execution. Rhule understands the current landscape of college football.
This isn’t just about culture and effort anymore - it’s about development, talent acquisition, and coaching that keeps pace with a sport that’s become increasingly professionalized. Nebraska didn’t just need tweaks.
They needed a reset.
Offensive Line: A Real Step Forward
Let’s start with the good news - and there’s real reason for optimism on the offensive line. Nebraska didn’t just add bodies; they added experience and competition.
Brendan Black and Tree Babalade project as immediate starters, bringing size and a physical edge that was missing down the stretch. Paul Mubenga adds another layer of competition at right guard, giving the Huskers something they lacked last year: depth.
Real, playable depth.
But the biggest upgrade might be on the headset, not the depth chart. New offensive line coach Geep Wade brings a background in physical, run-heavy systems like Georgia Tech, and more importantly, a reputation for developing talent.
Nebraska’s line hasn’t just struggled with talent - it’s struggled with growth. Wade’s arrival signals a shift from just plugging holes to building a unit.
Add in Lonnie Teasley, who brings SEC experience and recruiting chops, and suddenly Nebraska’s offensive line room feels like it has a plan. Not just for 2026, but beyond.
Young prospects like Grant Brix, Sam Sledge, and Gunnar Gotulla aren’t just waiting in the wings - they’re part of a long-term pipeline that finally looks sustainable. For the first time in a while, the future up front doesn’t feel like a guessing game.
Defensive Line: Still a Work in Progress
Now for the other side of the ball - and this is where the optimism gets a little more cautious.
Nebraska’s defensive front was exposed late in the season. Big Ten teams lined up and ran right at them, and Nebraska didn’t have an answer.
Fans were hoping for a splash in the portal - a dominant, gap-eating nose tackle who could anchor the line and force offenses to game-plan around him. That kind of player didn’t arrive.
And to be fair, those guys are rare. The true space-eaters - the ones who can eat double-teams and still disrupt plays - don’t show up in the portal very often unless there’s a catch.
Nebraska, recognizing that, has pivoted. Instead of chasing a unicorn, they’re shifting schematically toward a smaller, more agile four-man front.
It’s a calculated move, designed to mask what they don’t have rather than force a square peg into a round hole.
That doesn’t mean there’s no help coming. Andy Burburija from Iowa Western could provide immediate value, not necessarily as a game-changer, but as a stabilizer. Raising the floor - not being the weakest interior in the conference - would be a step forward.
There’s also hope in development. Riley Van Poppel, Cam Lenhardt, Williams Nwaneri, and Kade Pietrzak all stand to benefit from another offseason in the weight room, more reps, and coaching continuity.
But let’s be honest - “hope and development” is a tough sell when Michigan and Ohio State are lining up with future NFL linemen. Nebraska’s approach on the defensive line feels less like a solution and more like a calculated risk.
The Locker Room Is Holding
One of the more underrated wins of this portal cycle? Who didn’t leave.
In an era where player movement is constant and loyalty is fleeting, Nebraska managed to retain its core. No mass exodus.
No locker room fractures. That says something about the internal belief in what Rhule is building.
Buy-in matters, especially when the results aren’t immediate. And this group seems willing to weather the growing pains.
College football is filled with cautionary tales of programs undone by instability. Wisconsin’s recent turbulence stands as a warning, while Iowa continues to churn out winning seasons on the back of continuity and identity.
Nebraska, for the first time in a long time, seems to be choosing the latter path. There’s a plan.
There’s alignment. And most importantly, there’s patience - from players and coaches alike.
The Big Picture
Nebraska is better today than it was at the end of the season. That much is clear.
The offensive line looks deeper, better coached, and built for the long haul. The defensive line?
Still a question mark, but not without potential. The locker room is intact, the coaching staff has been recalibrated, and there’s a sense that the program is moving in the right direction.
But here’s the reality: in the Big Ten, improvement isn’t the same as being ready. You don’t win games in January. You earn them in November, when the weather turns, the margins shrink, and the line of scrimmage decides everything.
Nebraska’s made progress. The question now is whether progress is enough.