Nebraska
Tad Stryker: Market Correction for Husker Football
Talk about a case of reverting to the mean.
It turns out that the likes of FOX Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt and many of his sports TV brethren who were advising the nation to “buy stock in Nebraska” were a bit premature.
The Huskers (3-1) are a better team than they were last season, but in a rare Friday night home game, it became painfully obvious they’re not ready to play a four-quarter game just yet. They fizzled badly down the stretch in a 31-24 overtime loss to an unbeaten Illinois team that will not set the world on fire, although the Illini likely will finish in the top half of the Big Ten. One thing’s for sure: it was physical enough to give the Nebraska offensive and defensive lines all kinds of problems.
On the bright side, those of you who were worried that Matt Rhule or Tony White might get poached by (fill in the name of school here) might be able to relax for at least a week.
The Huskers lost their fifth consecutive Big Ten opener and fell to a rated team for the 27th consecutive time, dating back to 2016. All this despite coming out plus-one in turnover margin.
It might’ve been different. The Huskers could have — and very likely would have — won the game if Dylan Raiola hits wide-open tight end Luke Lindenmeier in the end zone on third-and-three from the 21-yard line with about three minutes left in regulation.
Or the Huskers win it if Isaiah Neyor could’ve hung onto what appeared to be a touchdown pass thrown beautifully by Raiola and high-pointed in the end zone by Neyor midway through the second quarter. Instead, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior receiver let defensive back Torrie Cox wrestle away the ball as the two players hit the ground, giving Raiola his second questionably-ruled interception in two games. It was an effective but frustrating game for Raiola, who three plays earlier failed to notice Neyor all alone down the middle for an easy touchdown, and threw an incomplete pass to a different portion of the field. The true freshman fell below the 70 percent mark for the first time, completing 24 of 35 passes for 297 yards, three touchdowns and the one interception, bringing his season totals to eight TDs and two picks.
Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry spent much of the night flooding the box with tacklers and gambling that Raiola couldn’t consistently beat him with his arm. It turned out to be a winning move. The Husker rushing game was disappointing, generating only 48 yards on 33 carries, when five sacks of Raiola for 46 yards were subtracted from the total. If a largely effective passing performance can’t get a Big Ten defense to loosen up against the run, the Nebraska offensive front will have to ramp it up a notch. Is the veteran Husker line able to do that? Not on this night.
Defensive back Tommi Hill and left tackle Turner Corcoran left the game with injuries that were not specified after the game. Hill’s injury, if serious, would be very costly. As for Corcoran, the Huskers moved the ball as well or better with redshirt freshman Gunner Gottula filling in, but they are now paper-thin at that position if Corcoran cannot return.
The main problem for the Big Red was that as the second half wore on, they started absorbing body blows instead of handing them out. The Illini started doing to Nebraska exactly what Rhule said he wants to do to other teams.
“We didn’t seem to be the more physical team,” said Rhule in the understatement of the evening. “The moment showed up and we didn’t make the plays you need to make to win the game.”
It was not a proud night for the Blackshirts, who gave up more than 24 points for the first time in 10 games and could manage only two tackles for loss. Illinois ran the ball down their throat in the fourth quarter, getting an astounding 100 of their 166 rushing yards down the stretch. Four different Illinois ball carriers gashed the Huskers for gains of 11, 16, 7, 9, 8, 21 and 21 yards as they ran the ball 15 times in the fourth quarter and once more in overtime.
The outing against Northern Iowa that supposedly helped prepare Nebraska for a physical team turned out to be fool’s gold. The Huskers could not run the football Friday night against Illinois, and they could not stop Bret Bielema’s crew from running the ball, either, at least not when the game was on the line.
It was uncanny. It wasn’t a matter of Illinois wearing down the Blackshirts. Nebraska actually had a slight advantage in time of possession at the end of the fourth quarter. It was more an erosion of confidence and will. Never was it more apparent than the first play of overtime, when Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer sent three receivers to the right side of the field, sent one in motion to the left who sealed off defensive end Ty Robinson, who got sucked inside on a simple outside zone handoff, which Kaden Feagin carried 21 yards to the 4-yard line, just before Altmyer hit a wide-open Pat Bryant for his second touchdown catch of the evening, giving Illinois the win. Child’s play for Bielema and his offensive staff.
When Illinois turned up the pressure late in the game, the Huskers had no answer. One short completion, three sacks and a penalty was all they could bring to the table when they got the ball the final time. It was the worst in a long series of ugly overtimes for Nebraska football, which has now lost eight consecutive overtime games since Bo Pelini was dismissed. The Husker offense, defense and coaching staff took turns looking utterly confused.
It might have been the heat. It might have been the bright lights. It might have been the pressure. Whatever it was, the result was this: in the biggest moments, the Huskers folded. Try as they might, the 86,936 fans who sold out Memorial Stadium for the 400th consecutive time could not coax their Huskers into making big plays on defense in big moments. That will have to wait for another day.
It was not only a breakdown of physicality, it was a breakdown of discipline for Nebraska, which committed nine penalties for 89 yards. Two major fouls set up a first-quarter field goal for Illinois, A personal foul helped along a third-quarter touchdown drive for the Illini. A facemask penalty extended the Illini’s fourth-quarter touchdown drive as the Blackshirts simply could not get off the field when they needed to.
The Huskers don’t have an dependable field goal kicker right now. John Hohl, who filled in for an apparently injured Tristan Alvano, had a chance to give the Huskers a lead but he pulled his 39-yarder from the left hashmark about 12 inches too far left, leaving the game tied with 2:59 left and the Huskers never got another realistic chance in regulation.
And other pieces of the Husker kicking game fell flat as well. Besides missing the potnential game-winning field goal, the Huskers couldn’t cover a 50-yard Brian Buschini punt that sailed to the Illinois 6, giving up a 37-yard return to Hank Beatty to set up a 57-yard touchdown drive that tied the game at 17 late in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Nebraska had no punt return yardage.
Right now, despite a highly visible mishap at the end of the game, a true freshman quarterback seems the most prepared Husker for the rigors of Big Ten play. It shouldn’t be that way. It’s not healthy for the Huskers’ overall portfolio.
MORE: Gallery: No. 22 Nebraska Falls to No. 24 Illinois in Overtime
MORE: Carriker Gut Reaction: Nebraska’s Gut Punch of a Loss
WATCH: Nebraska Football Quarterback Dylan Raiola Postgame; Cornhuskers Fall to Illini in Overtime
MORE: WATCH: Nebraska Football Coach Matt Rhule Postgame; Cornhuskers Fall to Illini in Overtime
MORE: No. 24 Illinois Tops No. 22 Nebraska in Overtime
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Is Nebraska for real? That’s the million-dollar question at the midway point of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season.
The Cornhuskers sit at 16-0 heading into a home matchup against Oregon on Tuesday night. They’re one of just five remaining undefeated teams in Division 1, but is that enough for Fred Hoiberg’s team to be pegged as a No. 1 seed?
With a loaded week of college basketball on deck, FOX Sports bracket forecaster Mike DeCourcy is here to share his latest NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament projections.
Here’s where DeCourcy’s projected bracket stands on Jan. 13.
EAST REGION
SOUTH REGION
MIDWEST REGION
WEST REGION
And it’s never too early to check in on the bubble.
According to DeCourcy’s projections, Texas A&M, Indiana, Missouri and Virginia Tech are the last four teams in the tournament, while UCLA, Ohio State, NC State and TCU are the first four out.
As for conference representation, the SEC leads the way with 10 teams in DeCourcy’s latest tournament projections, followed by the Big Ten and ACC with nine teams, the Big 12 with eight teams and the Big East with four teams. The West Coast Conference and Atlantic 10 also have two teams each.
Selection Sunday is two months away, and these projections will inevitably evolve. But for now, DeCourcy’s latest bracket forecast offers a clear snapshot of who’s rising, who’s falling, and which programs are already building the résumés they’ll need when March arrives.
Michael DeCourcy covers college basketball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on NCAA Tournament bracket projections. He has appeared on FOX Sports college basketball game broadcasts, while also serving as a college basketball studio analyst with Big Ten Network. He has been covering college basketball for nearly three decades at the Sporting News. You can follow him at @tsnmike.
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Heading into the 2026 season, there are question marks about who will be the starting quarterback for the Oregon Ducks. Will it be Dante Moore returning, a transfer, or another quarterback that is already on the roster?
In the transfer portal, Oregon has landed former Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola. Current Ducks quarterback Akili Smith Jr. will be in his second season with the Ducks come the fall and posted on social media after this news.
Akili Smith Jr. Reaction to Dylan Raiola Transfer
Akila Smith Jr. signed with Oregon as a member of their 2025 recruiting class. The four-star quarterback didn’t play in his freshman season in 2025, but there is a chance for him to play in 2026 if Dante Moore declares for the draft.
However, the news of Oregon getting Raiola could change things. Shortly after the news that Raiola would be coming to Oregon, Smith posted this message on social media.
“Trust the process,” Smith said with a 100 emoji and a duck emoji at the end.
Trust the process 💯🦆
— Akili Smith Jr (@Akilismithjr) January 12, 2026
It may just be one post, but this doesn’t exactly scream that Smith is thinking about entering the transfer portal. It more so says that it may take time, but his shot at Oregon will come eventually.
MORE: Fernando Mendoza’s Classy Move After Beating The Ducks Is Turning Heads
MORE: Two Massive Defensive Players Forgo the NFL Draft to Return to Oregon
MORE: Another Oregon Ducks Quarterback Enters Transfer Portal
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Dylan Raiola Commits to Oregon
Coming out of high school in the class of 2024 as a five-star recruit, Dylan Raiola signed with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. In his two seasons there, Raiola threw for 4,819 yards and 31 touchdowns. Raiola’s 2025 season was cut short after he suffered a season ending fibula injury. His recovery timetable is still up in the air. He could end up having to miss time next season.
Following the 2025 season, Raiola entered the transfer portal. After going on a visit to Eugene, Raiola is now committed to Dan Lanning and the Ducks.
The Dante Moore Question
The biggest factor for who will start next season at quarterback will be based around what Dante Moore decides to do. Moore started all 15 games this year for the Ducks and played well. He threw for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Moore is currently slated as the No. 2 overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft per ESPN and CBS Sports mocks drafts. That is if he ends up declaring. The New York Jets have the No. 2 pick.
Moore has not yet made a decision. With Oregon’s season coming to a close against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff semifinal, a decision should be made in the coming days for Moore.
If he were to return to Eugene, there is no doubt that he would be the 2026 starter. If he declares, that would open the door for someone like Raiola or the highly recruited Akili Smith Jr.
The writing was on the wall that the magical start to the 2025-2026 season was over for the Nebraska men’s basketball team.
Indiana’s sharpshooting Lamar Wilkerson and MVC Player of the Year Tucker DeVries had the Huskers in a bind, shooting over 57% in the first 20 minutes to eventually build a 16-point lead with just under 18 minutes left in the game. Starring defeat in the face, NU didn’t blink, piling up 53 second-half points, including eight three-pointers to shock the Hoosiers and silence a packed Assembly Hall Saturday in Bloomington.
Jamarques Lawrence poured in 27 points while Rienk Mast (13), Pryce Sandfort (12) and Braden Frager (11) each joined their teammate in double figures. The Huskers nailed 14 three-pointers while committing six fewer turnovers, winning in areas that are key to taking victories in the Big Ten.
Standing at 16-0, Nebraska returns to Lincoln to face a conference newcomer facing their own difficulties. Here’s all you need to know for Tuesday’s late-night tip against Oregon.
How to Follow Along
- Matchup: No. 8 Nebraska (16-0, 5-0 B1G) vs. Oregon (8-8, 1-4 B1G)
- When: Tuesday, January 13
- Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Neb.
- Time: 8 p.m. CST
- Watch: Big Ten Network
- Listen: Huskers Radio Network and Affiliates
Oregon Scout
Head Coach
- Dana Altman | 16th season at Oregon; 37th as Division I HC
- 378-170 (.690) at Oregon; 788-413 (.656) Career DI Record
- 17x NCAA Tournament Apps., 1x Final Four (2017), 1x Elite Eight, 3x Sweet 16, CBI Title (2011)
- 4x Pac-12 Regular Season & Tournament, 6x MVC Tournament, 3x MVC Regular Season
- Jim Phelan Award (2013), 3x Pac-12 Coach OTY, 2x MVC Coach OTY, Big Eight Coach OTY (1993), SoCon Coach OTY (1990)
- Previous head coach at Creighton, Kansas State, Marshall, Moberly CC, Southeast CC
- Previous assistant at Kansas State and Western Colorado
2024-2025 Record & Awards
- Record: 25-10 (12-8 B1G, T-7th)
- All-B1G: 2x Third Team, 2x All-Defensive
All-Time Series
- Nebraska leads 8-6
- Feb. 2, 2025, last matchup, 77-71 Nebraska
Key Returners
- Nate Bittle | C | Sr. | Returning All-Big Ten center that’s leading the Ducks with 16.8 points and second on the squad with seven rebounds per contest.
- Jackson Shelstad | G | Jr. | The second of two All-Big Ten honorees returning for Oregon this year, and he’s improved his production to over 15 points per game while leading the team in assists (59) and second in three-pointers made (33).
- Kwame Evans Jr. | F | Jr. | Key reserve last season, but has turned into an instrumental piece of the starting lineup with 13.3 PPG and 7.6 RPG, which are both nearly double the average from last year.
- Dezdrick Lindsay | F | Sr. | Missed all of last season due to injury and has returned to score 5.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in starting six of his 16 appearances this year.
Key Departures
- TJ Bamba | G | Graduated | Ended his college career by averaging over 10 points per game and three rebounds as a 35-game starter for Oregon in 2024-2025.
- Keeshawn Barthelemy | G | Sr. | Part-time starter that mostly played as the premier scorer off the bench with 10 PPG and Oregon’s top three-pointer shooter with 63 made.
- Brandon Angel | F | Graduated | Starting forward who chipped in over eight points and nearly four rebounds per game.
- Jadrian Tracey | G | Graduated | Another part-time starter that contributed solid minutes and added 6.9 PPG in 35 appearances.
- Supreme Cook | F | Graduated | Depth forward that scored 4.7 points and grabbed 2.6 rebounds per game in 32 appearances off the bench.
- Ra’Heim Moss | G | Graduated | Another bench contributor that averaged 10 minutes per game as a senior.
Impact Transfers/Newcomers
- Takai Simpkins | G | Sr. | Second Team All-CAA at Elon last season, and his game has translated to the Big Ten, adding 12.6 points per game as a full-time starter for the Ducks.
- Sean Stewart | F | Jr. | Transfer from Ohio State, where he was a 30-game starter, but has produced similar numbers with 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
- Wei Lin | G | Soph. | Chinese guard who put up 21 points a game last year for the Chinese Basketball Association, but has only added 5.9 PPG in 15 contests this season.
- Devon Pryor | F | Jr. | Transfer from Texas, who’s been productive with three points and rebounds per game, but has played in only 11 of 15 games this season.
- Ege Demir | C | Jr. | 6-foot-11 center and Nigeria native who’s now at Oregon after playing in the Turkish Basketball Super League over the past couple of seasons.
Outlook
If anything, Oregon head coach Dana Altman is mighty consistent. Dating back to the 1998-1999 season when the Nebraska native was at Creighton, his teams have reached 20 wins or more in 26 of the past 27 years, which includes a Final Four appearance for the Ducks in 2017.
Oregon more than held their own in their first season in the Big Ten, compiling a 25-10 record before bowing out in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Altman and the Ducks returned the core of that group this season as All-Big Ten Third Team selections Nate Bittle (16.8 PPG) and Jackson Shelstad (15.6 PPG) are back — averaging a combined 32.4 points per game. 6-foot-10 forward Kwame Evans Jr. was a bench piece last season, but he’s grown to average 13.3 points and a team-leading 7.6 rebounds per contest to give the Ducks a trio of key returners.
UO still lost talent over the offseason, including double-digit scorers TJ Bama, who was a starter, and Keeshawn Barthelemy. Plus, they saw a quartet of key reserves all graduate. Reinforcements have come in the form of Elon transfer Takai Simpkins, who has added 12.6 points per game in all 16 contests. Ohio State transfer Sean Stewart brings plenty of experience after starting in all 30 contests last year with the Buckeyes, while Chinese import Wei Lin (5.9 PPG), Texas transfer Devon Pryor (3.4 PPG), and Nigerian center Ege Demir all replace the depth that was depleted.
Oregon’s 8-8 record could easily be more in the Ducks favor with half of its losses coming by single digits, including a three-point loss to Rutgers on Jan. 5 and a nine-point defeat to No. 7 Gonzaga on Dec. 21. Offense has been an issue for Oregon as they sit in the bottom five of the conference in scoring, field goal percentage and free throw percentage. The Ducks will want to make this a rock fight, especially if they can run the offense through seven-foot and All-Big Ten center Nate Brittles. However, with NU returning to Pinnacle Bank Arena, I don’t see Nebraska dropping its first game of the season to the Ducks.
More From Nebraska On SI
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