Nebraska’s climb continued Sunday after the Huskers opened Big Ten play with a 31-13 win over Michigan State.
The bump showed up in both major polls. Nebraska picked up 67 points in the AFCA Coaches Poll, which put the Huskers essentially 31st after they had received 11 points the previous week. In the AP Poll, Nebraska drew 33 points, the equivalent of 33rd by the media, after getting just two points a week earlier.
There was movement all over the back end of the rankings as several teams lost Saturday. In the Coaches Poll, Indiana slipped one spot to No. 5, and the Big Ten presence in the rankings included Ohio State at 6, Iowa at 14, Oregon at 15, USC at 18, Penn State at 22, UCLA at 23 and Michigan at 24. Nebraska, Wisconsin, Washington, Northwestern and Minnesota were among the Big Ten teams that received votes.
The AP Poll had a similar look for Nebraska’s upcoming opponents, with Ohio State at 5, Indiana at 6, Iowa at 14 and Oregon at 15.
Other ranking systems were even kinder to the Huskers. Bill Connelly’s SP+ has Nebraska at 16th, while ESPN’s FPI places the Huskers 14th.
After Saturday night’s win, Matt Rhule kept his message pointed in one direction: the next game. He said his mindset is to go 1-0 in the game in front of him, and planned to watch the tape on the flight, then in the office, before turning to Maryland.
Maryland comes in off a 54-3 home loss to UCLA, a result that has sparked speculation about head coach Mike Locksley’s future.
Nebraska is 4-0 for the first time since 2016, and Saturday’s result was the program’s first Big Ten opening road win since 2019.
Rhule’s focus stayed locked on the present when he talked about the stretch ahead.
"And I don't want to hear too much about this game. I don't want to hear too much about last week's game.
I don't want to hear too much about Maryland's other games. It's just straight tactical ...
You know what I mean? And we're going to have to attack.
So, fired up for the guys. But you know, just like I didn't panic when everyone was saying, "Hey, I think you guys are not going to be very good this year.'
I'm not going to start saying, 'Hey, we're going to be good this year.'"
In Other News...
Nebraska Just Lost A Big Reason To Like The Illinois Matchup
Illinois defense is headed into a new era at an awkward time for Nebraskas upcoming trip to Champaign. Bobby Hauck was relieved of his duties as defensive coordinator after Illinois finished his first season as the playcaller ranked 101st nationally in points allowed, and head coach Bret Bielema said the two sides agreed a leadership change was best for the team.
For Nebraska, the timing matters because the Cornhuskers are scheduled to meet Illinois on Nov. 6, and any shake-up on that side of the ball can quickly alter the feel of a matchup. The Illini now have a defense trying to reset in-season preparations under a new voice, which means Nebraska can no longer count on seeing the same version of a unit it may have started planning for months ago. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Face A Tough Memorial Stadium Ticket Reality
Nebraska fans are going to have to get used to a different kind of ticket scramble in the coming years at Memorial Stadium. As part of the University of Nebraskas $600 million renovation project, two major changes to the stadium will force season ticketholders to pick new seats for the 2027 and 2028 football seasons, adding a real layer of uncertainty to a process many supporters have followed for decades.
The project is expected to be finished before the 2028 season, but the road to get there will not be simple. The Holland Computing Center will be relocated, and fans should also expect temporary concessions arrangements during the rebuild, another reminder that this is a sweeping overhaul, not just a facelift. For longtime ticketholders, the next couple of seasons may come with a lot more seat selection stress than game-day comfort. [Read more 🡒]
Andrew Marshall Is Turning Nebraskas Secondary Into A National Story
Andrew Marshall has gone from a transfer addition to one of the biggest reasons Nebraskas defense is getting national attention. After the Week 4 win over Michigan State, he owned the highest PFN Impact Grade among cornerbacks, a fitting snapshot of how disruptive he has been during the Cornhuskers 4-0 start. The former Idaho defensive back has quickly settled into Nebraskas secondary and become a key part of a pass defense that is playing at a high level.
Against Michigan State, Marshall didnt allow a completion on any of the three passes thrown his way and came away with an interception, the kind of outing that reinforces why he has already picked up conference recognition. For Nebraska, the bigger question is how far this secondary can carry a team that looks increasingly legitimate on the national stage, with Marshall now at the center of that conversation. [Read more 🡒]