Nebraska’s first bowl projection has the Huskers headed somewhere familiar in more ways than one.
Brett McMurphy of On3 projected Matt Rhule’s team to land in the Cactus Bowl, a matchup that would put Nebraska against UCF and former Huskers head coach Scott Frost. Frost, of course, remains the man who led the 1997 Huskers to a share of the national championship.
That kind of projection fits the range of season expectations being tossed around for Nebraska entering Rhule’s third year, especially with the 2026 schedule described as difficult. The idea of a bowl game still feels like a long way off, and there’s plenty of caution around looking too far ahead. Another projection had Nebraska in the Mayo Bowl against Florida State, which would offer a more high-profile stage and a stronger matchup.
Still, a Nebraska-UCF pairing has the kind of built-in draw bowl officials love. If they can make it happen, the source material suggests they probably will, because those games are about selling tickets and pulling TV eyes.
On the field, Nebraska still has several unsettled battles to sort through before anything like bowl talk matters. The biggest one right now is at cornerback, where the spot opposite Andrew Marshall is still “ wide open.”
Victor Evans, who started nine games for FIU last season, has impressed in camp and brings a 40-meter dash time of 4.31. Even so, he hasn’t pulled away from Jeremiah Charles and Danny Odem.
Matt Rhule said the whole cornerback room has performed well, and he also singled out Larry Tarver and Bryson Webber. Odem, though, appears more like a longer-term factor than a Week 1 starter. The belief here is that Evans should get the first crack at the job, with all three corners likely to play and Donovan Jones handling the nickel.
There’s also a sense that Nebraska may already be keeping a spot warm for Odem. The five-star freshman could end up waiting until 2027 to break into the starting lineup, which might actually be the best outcome for the Huskers if the veterans are ready to handle the job.
Cornerback isn’t the only question mark. Right tackle, running back, linebacker and safety are all still unsettled, leaving Nebraska with plenty to sort out once the first official depth chart arrives.
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Ndamukong Suh Just Brought Back Nebraskas Most Painful Source Of Pride
Ndamukong Suh has never been shy about the violent art of defense, and his latest trip down memory lane brought Nebraska fans right back to one of the most unforgettable nights of his college career. By naming the quarterbacks he most enjoyed hitting, Suh reminded everyone how overwhelming he was at the height of his powers, especially in a 2009 Big 12 championship game that still lingers in the schools memory for all the wrong reasons.
For Nebraska, that game remains a strange mix of frustration and pride. Suh was everywhere against Colt McCoy, piling up 12 tackles, 6 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, a performance so dominant it became part of his legend even in a loss. Years later, his list only reinforces what Cornhuskers fans already know: Suhs best moments were the kind that could wreck an opponent and still leave Nebraska wishing the final outcome had gone the other way. [Read more 🡒]
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For Nebraska, the interesting part is how many of those pieces are being discussed as part of a broader rotation rather than a simple starter-backup setup. That kind of depth can give the offense flexibility, especially with multiple backs in the mix and more than one tight end expected to contribute, including Eric Ingwerson and Luke Sorensen. The real question now is how all of those moving parts will fit together once the games start and the Huskers have to turn potential into production. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Is Pushing A Scheduling Shift Fans Have Wanted For Years
Nebraskas long-running gripe about September scheduling may finally be getting some traction. Athletic director Troy Dannen is working to line up future non-conference home-and-home series against Power 4 opponents, a move that would give the Cornhuskers the kind of early-season matchups fans have been asking for and bring a more familiar, regional feel back to the slate.
The target is to have Nebraska facing a Power 4 opponent every year through the 2030s, with possible foes including Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. Nothing has been announced yet, but the direction matters: for a program that still measures itself against old Big 12 neighbors and regional peers, the scheduling shift would reshape both the tone and the stakes of future non-conference play. [Read more 🡒]