Nebraska enters Matt Rhule’s fourth season with real reasons for optimism, but the caution lights are still flashing.
The Huskers have gotten older. They’ve added important help along the offensive line, defensive line, at quarterback and on the coaching staff.
That’s the kind of offseason movement that usually points to progress. Rhule has clearly pushed the program forward.
The issue is whether that progress will actually show up where it matters most: in the win column.
That’s where the concern starts.
For one, the upgrades could end up looking better on paper than on the field. Nebraska fans have heard this kind of pitch before - that Dylan Raiola was the answer, that John Butler could clean up the defense.
The ideas sounded good. The results never quite caught up.
Now the Huskers are banking on Geep Wade to help the offensive line, and that group does bring nearly 60 starts of experience into the mix. The defensive line also picked up some important pieces, and the scheme is supposed to squeeze more production out of a room that looks talented by recruiting standards.
Even then, the gains may only be modest. And while Anthony Colandrea is expected to bring something different, there’s also a chance the jump to the Big Ten won’t be nearly as smooth.
Schedule is another problem. Rhule has said this is his best team, but that doesn’t automatically translate to a better record.
Nebraska’s slate is brutal enough that improvement could get buried. The Huskers will face six Big Ten teams that won at least nine games last season and three that made the playoff.
Indiana, Washington and Ohio State are set to visit Lincoln, while trips to Illinois, Oregon and Iowa are waiting on the road.
That leaves little room for error. Six wins are still in play, but Nebraska may need to end its losing streak against ranked teams just to stay away from a .500 finish. On top of that, the Huskers can’t afford slip-ups against Maryland, Michigan State or Rutgers.
There’s also the turnover issue, and that one has haunted Nebraska for years. Colandrea brings real talent.
He can really throw it, and as the Mountain West Player of the Year (offense), he arrives as a true dual-threat who can add an element this offense has been missing. But he has also thrown at least nine interceptions in each of his three college seasons.
That kind of profile comes with risk. Nebraska can live with some mistakes, but not many. This team hasn’t been good enough to survive losing the turnover battle, and that’s not likely to change this season.
In Other News...
Nebraska Fans Are Split Over What The Sellout Streak Still Means
Nebraskas home sellout streak has become one of those traditions that means different things depending on whom you ask. To some fans, it still signals a packed stadium and the kind of game-day atmosphere that once defined the program. To others, the fine print matters too much, with not every seat occupied and donor-driven bulk buys helping keep the streak alive on paper.
The debate has only grown louder because the streak has become tied to more than bragging rights. It remains a source of revenue for the athletic department and a useful part of the Huskers brand, even as the program deals with financial realities that look nothing like the powers it is often measured against. Ending it might satisfy critics for a moment, but it would not address the broader problems surrounding Nebraska football, and it would only shift the spotlight onto the next person asked to explain the mess. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Running Back Question Suddenly Has A Freshman Answer Pushing Through
A true freshman has quietly become one of the more intriguing names in Nebraskas running back room. Jamal Rule has turned heads in both spring practices and fall camp, earning praise from offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and position coach E.J. Barthel for the way he carries himself and handles the work, while also showing the kind of maturity that can separate a newcomer from the rest of the pack.
Rules rise matters because the Huskers are trying to sort out a backfield without last seasons leading rusher, Emmett Johnson, and the competition is wide open enough for a young player to force the issue. Reporter Steven Sipple has already suggested Rule could push veteran backs for playing time, and with camp still shaping the depth chart, Nebraska has a freshman who is making the conversation about the position more interesting than anyone might have expected this early. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fall Camp Is Turning Up Pressure On A Few Starting Jobs
Nebraska is deep into its third week of fall camp, and a few starting jobs are starting to feel a lot less settled as the home opener gets closer. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and offensive line coach Geep Wade have both singled out Quinn Clark and Gunnar Gottula as players making a strong case, a sign that the competition up front is still very much alive as the Huskers sort through their best combinations.
The spotlight is not limited to the offensive line, either. Freshman Jamal Rule and senior Jeremiah Charles have also emerged as names to watch, with both players positioned for bigger roles this season and a chance to work their way into the lineup. For Nebraska, that kind of late-summer pressure can be a good problem to have, but it also means the next stretch of camp should reveal a lot about how the depth chart is going to shake out. [Read more 🡒]