Nebraska’s Halloween Blackout is about a lot more than the uniforms and the balloons.
When the Huskers line up against Washington on Halloween night, they’ll be chasing the sixth win of the regular season. But the game is also set up as one of Nebraska’s biggest recruiting showcases of the year, with a heavy emphasis on the 2028 class.
This is the second straight season NU has turned its Blackout game into a major recruiting event, and the guest list is loaded. Nebraska is bringing in 35 prospects for the matchup, a group that includes both commits and uncommitted recruits. Among them are 22 players who are rated four stars or better.
That follows the more than 25 visitors Nebraska hosted for the Indiana game earlier this month, giving the Huskers back-to-back recruiting weekends with more than 20 blue-chip prospects in the building.
The 2027 class is well represented, with 12 Nebraska targets on hand. The headliner is five-star quarterback Trae Taylor. He’s joined by four-star safety Tory Pittman, four-star interior lineman Jordan Agbonoma, four-star running back Amir Brown, four-star defensive lineman Nehemiah Ombati, and four-star cornerback Jailen Hill.
Six three-star commits are also expected in Lincoln: Barrett Kitrell, Matt Erickson, Jayden Travers, Eli Harris, Ma’atoe Moe, and Joey Hunter.
The bigger spotlight, though, is on 2028. Nebraska’s visitor list includes 15 four-star prospects in that class, and the offensive line group is especially notable. Geep Wade will have a lot of eyes on him as the Huskers host tackles Vincent Shields (CA), Declan Heying (IA), Kajus Muralis (IL), and Amaree Joshua (GA), along with interior lineman Josiah Eney (MD).
Nebraska is also set to welcome four-star defensive linemen Isaac Kalubi Lukini (ON) and Brynnen Thompson (DE), edge rushers Steven McClendon (GA) and Owen Price (NE), linebacker Nazeree Guy (TX), tight ends Xevien Brinson (GA) and Israel Johnigan (MO), wide receiver Ryan Richmond-McDavis (CO), running back Noel Washington (CA), and cornerback Kia Jones Jr. (PA).
Last season, Nebraska used its Blackout weekend against USC as a recruiting driver, and even though the Huskers lost that game, the visit list paid off. This time, they’ll be hoping for a better result on the field and another strong recruiting haul, with a win that would help NU clinch a bowl berth coming out of its bye week.
In Other News...
Nebraska Still Has One Late-Game Problem A Former Champion Didn't Ignore
Clester Johnson has seen enough Nebraska football to know when a team is leaving something on the table, and in a recent podcast interview the former wingback and national champion returned to a familiar theme: finishing. Johnson talked about the importance of closing out games and the accountability that comes with it, while also looking back on how Tom Osbornes staffs handled those moments when the pressure tightened and the details mattered most.
Johnson also framed the challenge in a more modern light, noting that todays Nebraska has to navigate a different college football reality with retention and recruiting adding another layer of difficulty. He pointed to quarterback Anthony Colandreas ability, but said the offense still needs more balance around him, a reminder that the late-game issues are rarely about one player alone and usually come back to whether the whole operation can hold up when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Found Another Brutal Way To Waste A Winnable Game
For most of the afternoon, Nebraska and Washington played the kind of tight, low-scoring game that leaves every possession feeling heavier than the last. The Cornhuskers had chances to keep control of it, but quarterback Anthony Colandreas interceptions and a missed field goal from Kyle Cunanan kept turning manageable moments into wasted ones.
Washington finally broke it open late with a touchdown, then slammed the door with a pick-six off Colandrea to seal a 17-10 win. For Nebraska, it was another frustrating reminder that in a game there to be won, the biggest damage often came from self-inflicted mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Could Get A Huge Boost Before Its Blackout Showdown
Nebraska is getting healthier at just the right time, with defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel expected back for the Washington game after missing recent action because of injury. Running back Isaiah Mozee is also likely to be available, giving the Cornhuskers a little more depth as they prepare for a marquee blackout matchup that should draw plenty of attention.
The injury report still leaves some holes, though, with offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula and safety Jamir Conn ruled out. Washington is dealing with its own uncertainty as quarterback Demond Williams has gone from doubtful to probable, even if the Huskies have not yet announced a starter, so Nebraska may still have to wait until kickoff to see exactly what kind of challenge it is facing. [Read more 🡒]