Nebraska football may be down a key piece for the stretch run, while the rest of Husker athletics keeps rolling.
The biggest injury note out of Lincoln is Andrew Marshall, who appears finished for the season after undergoing foot surgery this week, according to Sean Callahan’s report to Husker Online. The two-year starter has been one of Nebraska’s best players this year, even if last week brought some rough moments with a few big pass plays allowed. Even so, Marshall has done enough to put himself in the first-round conversation, and this injury won’t help his case.
With three games left, there doesn’t seem to be much reason to expect a return. Owen Chambliss is also out, while Dexter Foster and Vincent Shavers are expected to be fine. At cornerback, Danny Odem looks like the next man who should get a real shot, and the sense is that he’s the only corner with the kind of talent to replicate what Marshall has provided this season.
On the volleyball side, Nebraska just keeps stacking wins against top competition. The Huskers took down Illinois in straight sets Thursday night, 25-23, 25-20 and 25-12, to lock up the outright Big Ten title for the second straight year. It was Nebraska’s fourth straight win over a ranked opponent, and this one never really felt in doubt once the match settled in.
The numbers told the story of a team firing on all cylinders. Nebraska hit a season-high .483, while Illinois finished at .200, well below its season mark of .279.
Teraya Sigler led the attack with 13 kills and hit .684. She was part of a blistering night at the net, with Manaia Ogbechie posting nine kills on a .750 clip and Andi Jackson adding nine kills at .643.
Bergen Reilly ran the offense with 40 assists and seven digs, her eighth match this season with at least 40 assists. Olivia Mauch led Nebraska with 13 digs, and Ogbechie finished with five blocks to pace the Huskers there as well.
Now the focus shifts to wrestling, where Nebraska is headed into one of the biggest duals of the early season. The Huskers, fresh off a 28-9 win over ranked Wyoming, will travel to Stillwater for a top-three showdown with Oklahoma State.
The dual is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPNU, with live stats available at okstate.statbroadcast.com. Huskers.com noted the matchup could feature five bouts between ranked wrestlers, and Oklahoma State brings two No. 1-ranked competitors into the mix.
Nebraska’s projected lineup lists No. 8 Jacob Van Dee at 133, No.
5 Anthony Echemendia or Scott Robertson at 149, No. 3 Antrell Taylor at 157, Meyer Shapiro at 165, No.
2 Christopher Minto at 174, No. 18 Lucas Cochran or Ethan DeLeon at 184, No.
5 Camden McDanel at 197 and No. 14 Cade Ziola at heavyweight.
Oklahoma State’s projected lineup includes No. 7 Troy Spratley or Rocklin Zinkin at 125, No.
1 Jax Forrest at 133, No. 15 Jayden Raney or Tagen Jamison at 141, No.
2 Sergio Vega or Jordyn Raney at 149, No. 1 Landon Robideau at 157, No.
3 Casey Swiderski or LaDarion Lockett at 165, No. 12 Alex Facundo or Lorenzon Norman at 174, No.
11 Michael White or Bennett Berge at 184, No. 2 Cody Merrill at 197 and Dreshaun Ross at heavyweight.
In Other News...
Nebraska May Have Found A Sneaky Coordinator Fit For Matt Rhule
Nebraskas search for a new offensive coordinator has already started to take on a familiar Matt Rhule flavor, with the Huskers looking for someone who can pair structure with flexibility and help steady the offense after Dana Holgorsens firing. One name that fits that profile is Landon Keopple, who has been running the offense at Texas State since January 2025 and has helped produce a unit that has shown up near the top of national rushing categories.
Keopples appeal goes beyond the numbers. He has coordinated offenses before at Southern Arkansas and has spent multiple stops working alongside GJ Kinne, giving him a background in systems that ask quarterbacks to operate efficiently while keeping the run game central. For Nebraska, that kind of rsum makes him a sneaky fit on paper, especially if Rhule wants a coordinator who can bring some continuity, development and a clear identity to the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska's Next OC Hire Feels Bigger Than Fans Expected
Nebraskas upcoming offensive coordinator search already feels like more than a routine staff move, because it is tied directly to the larger uncertainty around Matt Rhules future in Lincoln. The program still has the kind of resources and financial backing that can make a real splash, and recent contract business, including defensive coordinator Rob Aurichs extension, only underscores that the Huskers are willing to invest where they think it matters.
The search itself is shaping up to be a meaningful test of what Nebraska wants its offense to look like next, with six potential candidates identified who fit Rhules preferred philosophy. That gives the Huskers a real pool to work from, but it also raises the stakes, since the next hire will have to navigate both the expectations that come with the job and the uncertainty hanging over the programs direction. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Got A Huge Break In A Game Matt Rhule Needs
Rutgers took a major hit this week with wide receiver KJ Duff going under the knife for season-ending high-ankle surgery, a loss that changes the look of its offense heading into a matchup Nebraska has been circling. Duff had already established himself as one of the more dangerous pieces in the Rutgers passing game this season, and his rise had even put him on the radar as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
For Nebraska, the timing matters. Matt Rhules team needs every edge it can find in a game that could shape the conversation around the Huskers, and facing Rutgers without one of its top playmakers is a meaningful break. The Scarlet Knights still have enough talent to make things interesting, but losing a receiver with Duffs production and upside removes a layer of danger Nebraska would have had to account for. [Read more 🡒]