Nebraska’s 4-0 start has the Huskers trending in the right direction, and the latest bowl projections reflect that momentum after a 31-13 win over Michigan State to open Big Ten play on Saturday.
The Huskers are now two wins away from bowl eligibility for a third straight season, and they’ve already stacked up some eye-catching numbers. Nebraska sits in the top 20 nationally in both total offense and total defense. Against the Spartans, the defense did serious damage, piling up six sacks, three takeaways and holding Michigan State to just 39 rushing yards.
With that in mind, the early bowl chatter is starting to take shape. ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura has Nebraska in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Tennessee, while ESPN’s Mark Schlabach slots the Huskers into the Music City Bowl against Kentucky.
CBS Sports projects Nebraska to the Cactus Bowl against TCU, and Athlon Sports also has the Huskers in the Cactus Bowl, this time against Kansas State. On3’s Brett McMurphy puts Nebraska in the Reliaquest Bowl against Miss St, College Football News has the Huskers in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Duke, Sports Illustrated projects the Cactus Bowl against UCF, and RotoWire has Nebraska headed to the Sun Bowl against SMU.
There was also movement on the recruiting front. Four-star defensive back Corey Hadley, one of Nebraska’s highest-rated commitments in the 2027 class, did not take his planned visit to Georgia after it was cancelled, according to Chad Simmons of Rivals. Georgia had been trying to flip the blue-chip prospect, who is ranked No. 147 overall in the 2027 class by the 247 Sports composite rankings, but Hadley has shut down his recruitment and will sign with the Huskers.
And on the volleyball side, Nebraska middle blocker Andi Jackson picked up another major honor after the top-ranked Huskers went 3-0 last week, including a 2-0 start in Big Ten play. Jackson was named Big Ten Player of the Week.
From Huskers.com: “It is Jackson’s second career Big Ten Player of the Week selection and Nebraska’s second of the season after Manaia Ogbechie received recognition on Sept. 13.
Jackson’s all-around performance led the top-ranked Huskers to a 3-0 week against Missouri, Rutgers and Ohio State. On the week, the senior averaged 3.33 kills/set and 1.56 blocks/set.
Across the three matches, Jackson totaled 30 kills and hit .578 on 45 swings while adding 14 blocks on the defensive end to help the NU defense hold opponents to a .048 hitting percentage.
In Other News...
Nebraska Suddenly Faces A Dylan Raiola Twist Matt Rhule Didnt Hide
Dylan Raiolas name has suddenly come back into Nebraskas orbit in a way few around the program probably expected. During Oregons game against USC, starter Dante Moore went down with an injury and Raiola stepped in, then helped push the Ducks to a 41-27 win. For Nebraska, it adds another layer to a matchup that already carried plenty of interest, especially with Raiola having once been part of the Cornhuskers future before ending up in Eugene.
Matt Rhule didnt try to hide his regard for Raiola when the topic came up, and that only sharpens the intrigue around what comes next. Raiola has looked strong in his Oregon appearances, and there is a real possibility he could be the one lining up against Nebraska in the upcoming game. For the Huskers, it would turn a familiar name into a very different kind of problem, and one they may have to prepare for quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhule Just Shut Down One Nebraska Oregon Storyline
Matt Rhule pushed back on the chatter surrounding Dylan Raiola after the former Nebraska quarterback transferred to Oregon, making it clear there is no lingering issue between them. Rhule said he continues to support his former players and even praised Raiola for how he handled the job after stepping in for an injured Dante Moore, a reminder that the Nebraska-Oregon matchup has more than one storyline attached to it.
The timing makes the whole thing feel even more relevant, with Nebraska set to face Oregon and Raiola potentially in line to start if Moore is still recovering. For Husker fans, it adds another layer to a game that already had plenty of interest, but Rhules comments helped shut down the idea that this one needs to come with personal baggage attached. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska QB Commit Just Delivered One Of The Weeks Wildest Highlights
A busy week of high school football produced plenty of clips worth slowing down for, and Nebraskas quarterback commit was right in the middle of the conversation. The roundup also spotlighted several other highly rated prospects, including quarterbacks Trae Taylor and Chase Grove, running back David Gabriel Georges and wide receiver Dakota Guerrant, a reminder that the Huskers are tracking a deep group of playmakers as the fall schedule starts to heat up.
Among the biggest moments was a game-winning Hail Mary catch by Braylen Gibbs, the kind of finish that tends to travel fast across recruiting circles. For Nebraska fans, the headline grab from a future signal-caller is the obvious hook, but the larger takeaway is that the Cornhuskers continue to have a presence in a weekly showcase loaded with committed talent and late-game drama. [Read more 🡒]