When your defense gives up over 200 yards on the ground, it's usually a sign that things aren't going as planned. Nebraska found themselves on the wrong side of this statistic in four of their last five games, and it wasn't pretty.
Even when Nebraska managed to keep USC's potent passing game in check, they still allowed 202 rushing yards. The story didn't get much better against Penn State with 231 yards, Iowa with 213, and Utah with 225 yards on the ground. It's clear that the Huskers' run defense was a glaring issue.
Nebraska's head coach, Matt Rhule, didn't mince words about the situation. "We have to fix our run defense, which is almost hard for me to say because I've never ever had a bad run defense before," he admitted early in the offseason. But acknowledging the problem is the first step to solving it, and the Huskers are making moves to turn things around.
Enter Rob Aurich, who's taking the reins of the defense, with Corey Brown and Roy Manning stepping in to bolster the defensive line and edges. They're introducing a new scheme, and there are some fresh faces from the transfer portal ready to make an impact.
So, what did last year's struggles look like in the stats, and how is Nebraska shaping up for a comeback this year? The numbers tell a story of a team that has recognized its weaknesses and is poised to rewrite the narrative. With these changes, the Huskers are hoping to flip the script and fortify their run defense for the battles ahead.
In Other News...
Nebraska Faces A High-Stakes Flip Battle As QB Buzz Explodes
Nebraskas recruiting board is getting a lot of attention right now, and not just because of the class the Huskers already have in hand. Quarterback commit Trae Taylor has been one of the biggest names in the cycle, and his rise has only sharpened the spotlight on Nebraskas broader pitch to elite prospects. A commitment like Taylors gives the program a headliner at the most important position, which matters when the staff is trying to build momentum with other top targets.
The bigger test is whether Nebraska can keep that momentum from turning into a tug-of-war, especially with other schools circling the same commitments and trying to change the conversation late. Taylors profile has only grown after a standout spring on the camp circuit, and Nebraska has been active in pursuing more talent on both sides of the ball to match that energy. With recruiting traffic picking up fast, the Huskers are suddenly operating in the kind of high-stakes environment where every relationship counts. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Wont Like What These New Blackshirts Ratings Suggest
EA Sports College Football 27 has started rolling out its ratings, and Nebraskas initial numbers give fans plenty to debate before the game even launches. The Huskers landed an 83 overall and checked in 24th nationally, with the big bright spot coming up front at center, where Justin Evans earned a 91 and a place among the games best at his position. On defense, transfer linebacker Owen Chambliss leads the way for Nebraska with an 89, but the early batch of ratings already hints at a unit still waiting for broader respect.
What may sting more for Nebraska supporters is how the Blackshirts are being viewed as a whole. No Husker defender cracked the top-tier player lists, and that kind of omission tends to fuel the same preseason conversation every year: whether the talent is being overlooked or whether the roster still has to prove it on the field. Even the programs home-field edge got a quieter treatment this time, with Memorial Stadium left out of the games initial toughest places to play list again. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Are Reconsidering One Uniform Change They Hated
Nebraskas new uniforms for the 2026 season did not get much love when they were first unveiled, with plenty of fans reacting as if the school had stepped too far outside its comfort zone. But the backlash started to ease once the look was shown in a sneak peek of EA Sports College Football 27, where the digital version seemed to land a little better than the real-life reveal did.
The universitys early look at the Huskers entrance and gameplay inside the game also gave fans more to talk about, from the presentation to the way the uniforms fit into the full Nebraska experience. Some supporters still are not sold, while others seem willing to give the new look a chance, which is usually how these things go when a traditional program changes something this visible. [Read more 🡒]