Nebraska has another blackout on the calendar, and this one could matter well beyond Halloween night.
The Huskers announced Saturday that they’ll wear black alternate uniforms when Washington comes to Lincoln on Oct. 31, setting up a stage that could help them with recruits just as much as with the result on the field. Last season’s blackout against USC ended in a 21-17 loss, and Nebraska also lost its quarterback that night, but the atmosphere still made an impression in the recruiting world. The crowd at Memorial Stadium showed up loud, and prospects noticed.
That matters again this fall, especially because Nebraska’s 2028 class is still sitting without a commit. The 2027 group is already close to finished and sits in the nation’s top 20 or better, but the next cycle has yet to get off the ground. Even if the 2028 class is expected to be smaller by design, the empty board is still something to watch.
A few major names are already lined up for the Washington game. Cornerback Deonte Flemings Jr. of Erie, Pa., a Penn State commit, is scheduled to visit.
So are several four-star prospects: defensive tackle Zylen Little from Florida, edge defender Owen Price from Nebraska, running back Noel Washington from California, and cornerback Kia Jones Jr. from Pennsylvania. More could be added before the game arrives.
Nebraska is also expecting a heavy presence from its 2027 commits, and Trae Taylor should be one of the most important visitors in the building. The five-star quarterback, who recently moved from Illinois to Nebraska for his final high school season, has made it clear he wants to help Nebraska recruit others. That makes him a natural centerpiece for a weekend like this.
The Huskers have already seen what a blackout can do on the recruiting trail. Last year, they had 35 recruits on campus for the USC game, including multiple 2028 prospects and one from the 2030 class. Nebraska focused most of its attention on the 2027 class that weekend, bringing in 22 high school juniors.
Among the notable visitors were tight end Ahmad Hudson, safety Tory Pittman III, wide receiver Tay Ellis, and offensive linemen Timi Aliu and Matt Erickson. All but Hudson are now committed to Nebraska. Hudson’s LSU pledge has appeared shaky, and it will be worth watching whether he comes back to Lincoln for this year’s blackout.
Taylor’s social media post from that USC weekend was brief, but it hinted at the kind of peer-to-peer recruiting Nebraska was hoping for:
🤫🤫🤫@AntayviousEllis @AhmadHudson9 #GBR pic.twitter.com/FNsEJXGh4G
That post didn’t say much outright, but Taylor appeared to be pointing toward a possible trio involving Ellis, Hudson and himself. Ellis committed to Nebraska two days later, which is the sort of quick return Nebraska would love to see again.
Of course, the recruiting buzz only goes so far if the Huskers don’t back it up with a win. Nebraska is 0-5 all-time in blackout games, and this one comes against a Washington team that could arrive in Lincoln with a 6-1 record or better. The Huskers will already have played Oregon and Indiana by then, so they may be fighting to keep slim playoff hopes alive.
It also offers Nebraska a chance to finally snap its long skid against ranked teams, a streak that has stretched to nearly a decade. A win could go a long way toward salvaging the 2026 season, or even push the Huskers into the playoff conversation. Either way, the setting should be electric, and the visitors in the stands will be watching closely.
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The early signs have been encouraging on both sides of the ball. The offensive line appears improved, the running backs are carrying more confidence, and quarterback Anthony Colandrea has shown enough promise to keep the offense moving in the right direction. On defense, new coordinator Rob Aurich is expected to tighten things up, and if that carries over once the games start, Nebraska may finally have the kind of balance it has been chasing. [Read more 🡒]