Nebraska’s path to another bowl game is there, but it won’t come easy.
CBS Sports is projecting the Huskers to land in the Mayo Bowl and face Florida State, a pairing that would send Nebraska fans straight back to one of the program’s most painful memories. The two teams have not met since the 1994 Orange Bowl, when the Seminoles beat Nebraska 18-16 to claim the national championship after the Big Red’s game-winning field-goal try on the final play drifted wide.
A trip to the Mayo Bowl would also give Nebraska its first appearance in that game. The Huskers were in the Las Vegas Bowl last season and lost, after winning the Pinstripe Bowl in 2024.
That projection comes with the understanding that six wins will be hard to stack up. Matt Rhule has called this his best Nebraska team, but the schedule is packed with trouble: six Big Ten opponents won at least nine games last season, and three playoff teams are on the slate.
There’s also a possible piece of individual history brewing on the offensive line. The Athletic listed Nebraska center Justin Evans as a second-team preseason All-American, a nod that reflects how far he has come. If Evans turns that preseason recognition into postseason honors, he would become the first Nebraska offensive lineman in 25 years to earn All-American status.
On the volleyball side, Nebraska is loading up with elite talent again. Harper Murray, Andi Jackson and Bergen Reilly were all named among the Big Ten Network’s top five players in the conference.
Reilly was ranked No. 1, Jackson No. 2 and Murray No. 4, which helps explain why the Huskers are expected to chase a fourth straight Big Ten title.
The preseason No. 1 volleyball team opens next Thursday against Florida, then gets a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown with Texas next Sunday.
The first volleyball match is six days away. The first football game is 15 days away. We have almost made it.
In Other News...
Nebraska Fans Are Split Over What The Sellout Streak Still Means
For years, Nebraskas home sellout streak has been one of the sports defining oddities, a point of pride that also comes with an asterisk. Not every seat is actually filled, and bulk purchases from donors have helped keep the run alive, which has only deepened the split among fans who see it either as a badge of honor or a relic the program would be better off leaving behind.
Still, the bigger question around the streak is whether ending it would change anything meaningful for the Cornhuskers. Nebraskas financial position is not the same as programs such as Ohio State, and the departments broader challenges go well beyond attendance counts. In that sense, scrapping the streak would be less a solution than another flashpoint, one that would put more scrutiny on Troy Dannen without addressing the real fixes the program still needs. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fall Camp Is Turning Up Pressure On A Few Starting Jobs
Nebraska is deep into the third week of fall camp, and the competition is starting to sharpen around a few jobs that still feel very much up for grabs heading into the home opener. On offense, coordinator Dana Holgorsen and line coach Geep Wade have both singled out Quinn Clark and Gunnar Gottula, a sign that each has put himself in position to factor into the starting mix as the Huskers keep sorting out the best combinations.
There are other names pushing for more than just reserve work, too. Freshman Jamal Rule and senior Jeremiah Charles have been mentioned as players who could see larger roles this season, whether that means earning starts or simply carving out more meaningful snaps. For a roster still being tested in camp, the next stretch should tell a lot about which players are ready to turn praise into real responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Has An Unexpected Position Problem On Offense
As Nebraska moves toward the 2026 season, one of the quieter concerns on offense has become the tight end room. Former offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield was reportedly dissatisfied with what he saw in practice, and Dana Holgorsen has also singled out the group for its play over the summer, especially as a passing-game outlet. For a team trying to stabilize its offense, that is not the kind of position battle the Huskers can afford to let drift.
The pressure now falls on a handful of players to turn that group into a more dependable part of the attack. Luke Lindenmeyer and Carter Nelson are among the names Nebraska is counting on to bring more production and consistency, while true freshman Luke Sorensen arrives with real promise as a recruit. The talent is there for the room to help the offense in a meaningful way, but the gap between potential and reliability is what Nebraska still has to close. [Read more 🡒]