Nebraska’s defense got its first real test under Rob Aurich on Saturday, and the early return was encouraging with a few rough edges still showing.
The Huskers used 34 defenders in the 49-21 win over Ohio, and over 65 plays they gave up 303 yards. The front end rotated heavily, the coverage held up well, and the overall picture was solid enough for a season opener - especially in a game played in brutal heat that pushed the on-field temperature north of 130 degrees.
The line rotation went 18 deep in Week 1, with players logging anywhere from 52 snaps down to one. Nebraska did a good job bottling up Ohio’s ground game no matter who was on the field. Outside of the quarterback run game, where the Bobcats ran 13 times for 75 yards, Ohio’s running backs were limited to 55 yards on 18 carries.
The pass rush showed flashes, too. PFF credited the Huskers with 17 pressures, including 12 from the four-man front, but Nebraska finished with only two sacks. Ohio quarterbacks were able to extend some plays, and that scramble production is one area Nebraska will have to clean up fast.
At linebacker, only five Huskers saw the field. Oregon State transfer Dexter Foster led the group with 52 snaps, and Vincent Shavers followed closely at 50. SDSU transfer Owen Chambliss did not play, though he is expected to be a key piece of the defense this season and should be back next week.
Shavers took on a bigger load with Chambliss sidelined, including the Green Dot responsibility. He ended up with the highest overall grade on the defense, a 76.7.
Dawson Merritt also made a strong impression in his return from injury. The sophomore linebacker from Stilwell, Kansas, looked like he had picked up right where he left off after appearing in eight games as a true freshman and making the first two starts of his career.
Ohio starter Nick Poulos finished with 164 passing yards, but 68 of them came on the first snap of the game. From there, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound dual-threat quarterback managed just 96 yards over the final 59 minutes and completed 43% of his throws.
In the secondary, Victor Evans III earned the top grade on the entire defense despite playing only about half the available snaps. His back-to-back pass breakups in the fourth quarter helped force a three-and-out and get Nebraska’s offense back on the field against a fading Ohio defense.
Donovan Jones and Andrew Marshall, two returning starters, were almost ever-present. Each played all but one defensive snap, and both looked like they had carried over their 2024 form.
Together, they allowed just two catches on 13 combined targets. Jones was charged with both receptions, but they went for minus-3 yards.
Marshall added a pass breakup, while Jones had two.
Rex Guthrie also made a notable play, picking off his first career interception and setting Nebraska up at Ohio’s 17-yard line. The Huskers finished that drive in the end zone, stretching the lead to 49-21 with under two minutes left.
It wasn’t a flawless debut for the new-look defense, but it was a steady start. In Addison Williams’ second year on Matt Rhule’s staff, Nebraska’s secondary looked capable of building on the momentum it showed a year ago.
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Chambliss absence forces Nebraska to lean on other players at linebacker and across the defense right out of the gate, a less-than-ideal setup in a game where early-season continuity can matter as much as talent. It is the kind of opening-week setback that does not define a season by itself, but it does make the first few defensive rotations worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Lost A 2027 Pledge That Once Felt Safe
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The list ran through 11 players, and the spread of responses underscored how little consensus exists this far out. Nebraska supporters are clearly trying to sort out where the production will come from, and for now the conversation is centered on skill-position players who could help shape the offenses identity. It is early, of course, but the survey offered a useful snapshot of where expectations are landing as the Huskers look ahead. [Read more 🡒]