Nebraska’s defense spent most of Saturday night doing enough against Indiana. The problem was the last part.
The Cornhuskers carried a two-possession lead into the fourth quarter before the Hoosiers finished the job, turning what had been a strong outing for the Blackshirts into a loss. On Tuesday, defensive coordinator Rob Aurich didn’t try to soften it. He called it “An opportunity missed,” then explained what the result should mean for his group as it turns to a road trip to Oregon.
“Haunting a little bit, but don’t let the game beat you twice. You take what you can; you learn from it.
First year with these guys. I think it’s an excellent opportunity for us to understand what winning time is and how we perform in those moments.”
That final stretch is now part of the lesson plan, but Aurich made clear the bigger picture isn’t all bad. Nebraska was especially sharp against Indiana’s run game, and he sees that as evidence the unit is moving in the right direction.
“I think we’ve taken steps,” he said. “Fundamentally, you’re seeing us play different coverages at a higher level and have a bunch of answers for some teams with a pretty hefty run game.”
The next test is a different kind of problem. Oregon enters the matchup with the nation’s 25th-ranked offense, and Aurich said the Ducks’ ground game will force Nebraska to be disciplined from the start.
“Gonna be another great test this week,” he continued. “I think Oregon has a lot of great tools in the run game that we’re going to have to match up with well. I’m pleased where we are, but I don’t think we’re anywhere near where I think we can be still.”
A big part of that challenge centers on Oregon running backs Jordan Davison and Dierre Hill, who have combined for 529 yards and nine rushing touchdowns through five games. The quarterback situation is also worth watching, but Aurich said Nebraska is preparing for Oregon’s core identity no matter who lines up behind center.
“At the core of who they are, they’re going to be who they are,” said Aurich. “They’re going to be 11 and 12 (personnel); they’re going to have play actions off of that.
They’re going to have a little bit of RPO free access. They want to get their playmakers involved.”
“As we navigate each quarterback, I don’t know if it’s necessarily adding this plan to here, but we pull the best matchups from what we plan against all their core stuff,” he continued. “It’s much more of a where on the call sheet are we pulling from rather than a separate plan (for each quarterback).”
Nebraska is also managing its own injury situation as it heads into the back half of its 2026 schedule, and the biggest question is safety Jamir Conn. His availability is still up in the air, and if he can’t go, Aurich said the answer may be more complicated than simply swapping in a backup.
On Monday, head coach Matt Rhule called Conn the “lifeblood” of Nebraska’s defense. Aurich said the staff may need to explore different combinations and packages if Conn is unavailable.
“As we kind of iron out what Jamir’s availability is going to be, if he’s not available, it’s going to be a great test for everybody else in that room,” said Aurich. “Who steps up and how we find the best combination of the best 11 players on the field.”
“Let’s say, for whatever reason, someone wasn’t available; it’s not always that we have to replace them with a safety or a corner,” he continued. “What’s the best 11?”
Aurich also left Tuesday encouraged by what Nebraska got from its defensive line against Indiana. He singled out Boston College transfer Owen Stoudmire and freshman defensive tackle Dylan Berymon for the work they put in.
“He’s the man,” Aurich said of Stoudmire. “He’s like a centering force of that defensive line.
There are a lot of personalities on the defensive line, in a great way, but Owen is just steady, man. He’s steady and doesn’t get moved.”
On Berymon, Aurich said, “I’m jacked up that he came and impacted us, not in garbage time, in a Big Ten game,” he said. “Really, really pleased with him. I think you’re going to see his role continue to expand.”
Nebraska and Oregon kick off at 10 p.m. CDT Saturday at Autzen Stadium, with FOX carrying the broadcast.
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Oregon Faces A Bigger Question Than Nebraska In This Big Ten Test
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Nebraska brings its own intrigue after Anthony Colandrea has thrown 13 touchdown passes this season, and the trip adds another layer to the night. It will be the Cornhuskers third straight West Coast appearance and their first night game out there, which means Oregon is dealing with more than just a matchup of teams coming off losses. The bigger question may be whether the Ducks can use this moment to settle their quarterback situation and reassert themselves before the Big Ten grind gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]
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Oregon Suddenly Has A Safety Decision That Could Test Its Season
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The next move is likely to come from inside the building, with veteran Peyton Woodyard in the mix along with younger options Trey McNutt and Jett Washington. For a team that leans on its defense to stay on track, the decision at safety is about more than one lineup card. It could shape how Oregon handles the coming stretch, and how quickly the Ducks trust unproven depth in a role that asks for communication, range, and poise. [Read more 🡒]