Nebraska’s 2026 schedule already demanded a fast start, and the Maryland game on Oct. 3 was always going to matter in that opening stretch. Now, that matchup looks a little less daunting for the Huskers after the Terps lost one of their top defenders for the season.
Sophomore edge rusher Zahir Mathis suffered a lower-leg injury earlier this week, and team officials said he is expected to miss the entire 2026 campaign. That’s a major hit for Maryland, especially considering what Mathis already brought as a freshman. He finished second on the team with 6.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, and he was also a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist.
Mathis was a problem all over the field last season. Even though he missed nearly two full games because of injury, he still ranked 11th in the conference in total sacks.
Pro Football Focus credited him with 31 total pressures, which put him second among all Power Four true freshmen. The Philadelphia native also recorded at least a partial sack in seven of the 11 games he played.
That matters for Nebraska, which has spent plenty of time talking up its offensive line heading into this year. The Huskers still have to prove it on the field, but losing Mathis gives Geep Wade’s unit a clearer path when the teams meet.
And this wasn’t some abstract concern for Nebraska last season, either. In the Huskers’ 34-31 win over Maryland, Mathis made his presence felt with four tackles, all solo, and a sack. That kind of disruption is exactly what Matt Rhule’s team won’t have to deal with this time around.
Maryland will have to reshuffle its pass-rush plans without him. The Terps are expected to lean on former 5-star defender Zion Elee opposite sophomore Sidney Stewart, with DD Holmes and Nahsir Taylor also in the rotation. The loss of Mathis leaves a defensive line that was viewed as the strength of the team looking much thinner.
For Nebraska, the timing is welcome. If the Huskers want the kind of 2026 season they believe is possible, they need to come out of the gate 5-0, and Maryland is part of that run. This week’s injury news gives Rhule’s team a little more breathing room on a schedule that still demands execution.
In Other News...
Nebraska Has A Few Quiet 2026 Names Fans Should Watch Closely
A few quiet names are starting to matter in Nebraskas long view for 2026, and the interest is less about hype than about availability and fit. Demitrius Bell is still working back after injuries have kept him from a collegiate snap so far, but the staffs belief in his upside keeps him on the radar. Kwinten Ives is in a similar conversation for a different reason, with his health now opening the door for a real climb up the depth chart after showing flashes that have made him easy to notice when he is on the field.
Eric Ingwerson belongs in that same watch list, too, because the tight end room appears headed for more playing time and more chances for someone to carve out a role. None of these situations is finished yet, and that is what makes them worth tracking for Nebraska followers thinking beyond the current season. The next step for each player will say a lot about how much depth the Huskers can build when 2026 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fall Camp Is Already Creating Tough Week 1 Lineup Calls
Fall camp has already pushed Nebraska into some early decisions as the Cornhuskers sort through lineup questions before the opener against Ohio. The offense, in particular, is still taking shape, with returning players and newcomers mixing into projected groups at wide receiver, tight end, along the offensive line and across the defense as the staff tries to settle on the best first-week look.
The most visible competition is under center, where Anthony Colandrea is working to establish himself ahead of two sophomores in a quarterback room that is still being sorted out. There is a similar feel in the backfield, where Nebraska has a three-man race at running back, and those choices could shape how the offense opens the season when the details become final in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]