Nebraska
A Look at Nebraska’s Best-in-Nation Numbers on Pass Defense
Not only is Nebraska leading the nation in pass defense, it’s not even close.
The Huskers are No. 1 by a mile, allowing only 91.8 passing yards per game. Alabama is second, 26.6 yards behind, with 118.4 yards per game.
Yards allowed per game is how the NCAA pass-defense rankings are determined.
Another impressive Nebraska stat: The Huskers have allowed only one touchdown pass all season — the same number of touchdown passes thrown by Nebraska backup quarterback TJ Lateef. Michigan State backup quarterback Alessio Milivojevic completed a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Jack Veiling to cut Nebraska’s lead to 14-7 in the second quarter of a 38-27 Huskers win.
Huskers cornerback Ceyair Wright talked about what makes Nebraska’s pass defense click: “I think it’s just every week, being intentional about development.
“I think we’re a very tight-knit group. We always make sure to get extra work in whenever we can, go over film, concepts, stuff like that. It’s just about trying to get better every week.”
In addition to Nebraska’s imposing numbers, its secondary saved the Huskers in Week One when Malcolm Hartzog Jr. intercepted a likely game-winning pass in the end zone with less than a minute to play to hold off Cincinnati, 20-15.
Nebraska (4-1) ranks 11th in total defense with 247.4 yards allowed per game. The Huskers have allowed 10 offensive touchdowns in five games. Oklahoma leads the nation at 193 yards per game.
Nebraska also is 11th in yards allowed per play with 4.25. Oklahoma leads the nation at 3.50 yards per play.
The Huskers have intercepted seven passes, tied for 73rd nationally, a low number of picks for a team ranked No. 1 in pass defense.
Nebraska is fourth in the nation in third-down conversion rate, holding opponents to 14 first downs in 64 attempts, a .219 percentage. Again, Oklahoma is No. 1 at .174.
Nebraska, stung by three long Michigan touchdown runs in September, is tied for 88th in rushing defense at 115.6 yards per game. Missouri leads the nation at 62.4 yards per game.
Excellent pass defense doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The stronger a team’s pass rush, generally, the better the pass defense. If a defense corners an opponent into obvious passing downs, that sometimes plays into the hands of a good, opportunistic pass defense.
Nebraska’s defensive schemes obviously are causing problems for offenses.
Another factor: Quarterbacks don’t like being hit. After taking a few shots, many quarterbacks get happy feet, look to bail out on plays and sometimes fling the ball haphazardly.
On rattling the quarterback, Nebraska redshirt freshman defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri said: “You can really just tell by the energy on the field. By their language. How he’s reacting in the pocket. How he’s moving and how the ball’s coming off his hand.
“You know we’ve affected him just by those things. After the first drive, we got to him [Michigan State’s Aiden Chiles]. I feel like that’s really all it takes. Get to him and keep getting to him as much as we can.”
The Huskers have 10 sacks for 89 yards on the season. Nwaneri has 1.5 sacks, second on the team, and 15 tackles, seventh on the team.
On the pass rush, Nwaneri said: “Really just focusing on it in the bye week we had. Focusing on getting to the passer, getting off the ball, and affecting the quarterback.
“We really just emphasized it in practice. I feel like it translated to the game.”
Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler came to Lincoln in 2024 after six seasons as the Buffalo Bills’ defensive backs coach. Before Buffalo, Butler was the Houston Texans’ secondary coach from 2014-17.
He knows ball. He knows a dominant defensive line can help the entire defense to flourish.
“I think they continue to improve,” Butler said about the Huskers’ defensive line.
“Obviously the results show that we hit the quarterback. We created more havoc and made more plays. So, from a results standpoint, you can see that we got some rewards there.”
Butler last week said three of his defensive backs were “our better players on defense.” Butler specifically cited Wright, Andrew Marshall and Donovan Jones.
Against Michigan State, DeShon Singleton had two interceptions, earning the East-West Shrine Bowl Defensive Player of the Week, and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week.
Against Michigan State, here are Nebraska’s snap counts for the secondary:
* Andrew Marshall: 72
* Donovan Jones: 68
* DeShon Singleton: 64
* Ceyair Wright: 61
* Rex Guthrie: 58
* Marques Buford: 22
* Justyn Rhett: 15
* Jamir Conn: 4
Here’s how each starting quarterback has fared against Nebraska this season:
Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati:
13-of-25 for 69 yards, 1 interception, 0 sacks
Ben Finley, Akron:
7-of-21 for 54 yards, 1 interception, 0 sacks
Jake Weir, Houston Christian:
11-of-18 for 67 yards, 0 interceptions, 3 sacks
Bryce Underwood, Michigan:
11-of-22 for 105 yards, 0 interceptions, 1 sack
Aidan Chiles, Michigan State:
9-of-23 for 85 yards, 2 interceptions, 4 sacks
Chiles’ backup, Alessio Milivojevic, was 6-of-7 for 71 yards, 0 interceptions, 0 sacks and 1 touchdown pass.
The Huskers next face Maryland (4-1) and talented freshman quarterback Malik Washington.
Washington leads the Big Ten in pass attempts with 183. His stats: 110-of-183 passes (60.1 percent) for 1,257 yards, nine touchdowns and only two interceptions.
“He looks like he’s very well coached,” Butler said. “He obviously hasn’t been sacked and he really hasn’t made many mistakes on tape so he knows where to go with the ball based on what the coverage looks like pre-snap and what the coverage looks like post-snap.
“Looks like he has some really good blitz answers. He’s a decisive kid and makes the throws. You just look at the numbers through the year. Every game he’s throwing for over 200 yards.
“He throws a nice ball. I think it’s definitely a challenge. And then he has some skill around him at receiver, some skill guys that can run. A tight end that can get open and catch the ball.
“So, it’s definitely a challenge for us. Probably one of our biggest challenges at this point in terms of the overall passing game, the operation of the passing game, how well he’s coached by their offensive staff. It’s definitely a huge challenge.”
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Nebraska
This Southeast Nebraska Town Mixes A Historic Downtown With Quirky Museums And Native Roots – Islands
Nebraska is best known for college football and some stellar homegrown agriculture, hence why the state has been nicknamed “the Cornhusker State.” But while many visitors are busy cheering on Herbie Husker and enjoying high-quality corn and beef, they might be missing out on this state’s interesting hidden gems.
Think of Valentine, the underrated city that is an adventurer’s paradise of hikes, rivers, and canyons, or the Sandhills Scenic Byway, which is one of the most beautiful roads in America. And nestled in Pawnee County, you’ll find Pawnee City, renowned for its historic downtown, eccentric museums, and Indigenous heritage. Located about 80 miles from the capital city of Lincoln, Pawnee City is home to the Pawnee City Historic Business District, a cluster of almost 60 buildings spread across a six-block area, which includes the County Courthouse that dates back to 1911.
The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and for those keen on exploring the borough, the Pawnee City Public Library provides a self-guided itinerary. In 1881, a fire almost destroyed the town, though it was later reconstructed. If you are a history buff, pay a visit to the Historical Society & Museum to learn more about the city’s courageous past. If you are also curious about your family history, head to one of its edifices, the Genealogy Center, where you can unearth your family line.
Unconventional museums in Pawnee City
Austin, Texas, may be popular for its Museum of the Weird, but Pawnee City, Nebraska, has its own eccentric museums to offer. Larry and Jeanne Rinne brought to life a private museum — called the Rinne’s Private Toys and Dolls Collectibles Museum — that displays a collection of 2,000 dolls and more than 1,000 replica vehicles. Visitors are welcome to visit their quirky museum, just be sure to book an appointment ahead of time.
Jerry’s Dream Museum conjures up memories of an old-school Phillips 66 gas station and a 1950s Valentine Diner. Plus, the story behind this museum is incredibly heartfelt. When Pawnee City local Jerry Stephens passed away, his friends wanted to make his dream of reconstructing this 1937 gas station a reality. Several years after his death, the museum finally opened, and it now welcomes car enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Besides memorabilia from the past, visitors can also attend car shows and car-themed events, some of which include exciting car races.
Discover Indigenous history in Pawnee City
The name Pawnee originates from the Indigenous community that once lived in the region. The Pawnee were divided into four tribes — the Kitkahahki, Chaui, Skidi, and Pitahawira. They lived in earth lodges, grew corn, hunted buffalo, and crafted weapons and pottery. Following battles with the nearby Sioux tribes and the arrival of European settlers, the Pawnee were obliged to surrender some of their territories, leaving Nebraska, and creating their own colony in Oklahoma between 1874 and 1875.
Around Pawnee City, you can find historical markers that commemorate important events related to these Indigenous people, but if you want to delve even deeper into the history, head to the Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site in Kansas, located about two hours from Pawnee City. The museum offers a chance to see an authentic Indigenous dwelling, understand the Pawnee culture, and acquire further knowledge from archaeological finds.
Should you wish to visit Pawnee City, the best way to reach your destination is to fly into the nearby Lincoln Airport, which is only about an hour and a half away from this charming little locale. Other major airports are located in Kansas City and Omaha. The former is two hours away from the town, while the latter is about an hour and 40 minutes.
A former recruiting target for the Kansas State Wildcats, Dveyoun Bonwell-Witte, is back in the cycle after decommitting from the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Tuesday. The Class of 2026 wide receiver had been committed to Nebraska since Oct. 7, 2024, spending almost a year out of the recruiting eye.
However, the writing was on the wall for a potential split. The Cornhuskers never brought him in for an official visit after his commitment, and the team moved on from former offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield and wide receivers coach Garret McGuire, who was involved in his commitment.
“After much thought and prayerful consideration, I’ve decided to reopen my recruitment,” shared the senior wide receiver on X. After reopening his recruitment, this opens the door for some schools that were involved in the early stages of his recruiting process.
After much thought and prayerful consideration, Jeremiah 29:11 — Dveyoun (Showtime) Bonwell-Witte (@Dveyoun11) September 23, 2025
I’ve decided to reopen my recruitment.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.” pic.twitter.com/NNHW74qpoZ
Bonwell-Witte is a three-star prospect from Sioux Falls, S.D. He is the No. 3 recruit in the state, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, and is just outside the top 100 wide receivers in the country.
Given his location, it would be no surprise if some of the top FCS programs began to pursue the 6-1, 190-pound wideout, but he had five Power Four offers before making his commitment to Nebraska last October.
The Kansas State Wildcats were the first team to extend an offer to Bonwell-Witte on June 7, 2024. They were joined by Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with the latter bringing him in for two unofficial visits and a camp last summer.
Bonwell-Witte suffered a leg injury a year ago that ended his junior year early. However, he is back on the field and making plays for Washington High School.
WASHINGTON TAKES THE LEAD!
Dveyoun Bonwell-Witte gives the Warriors their first lead of the game! pic.twitter.com/OzH6gDg7C9
— Midwest Sports+ (@midwestsportstv) September 13, 2025
The Wildcats only have two wide receiver commits so far in the 2026 cycle — Maxwell Lovett from Englewood, Colo., and Tanner West from Fulshear, Texas — so there is room to pursue the speedy wide receiver from South Dakota.
Kansas State wide receivers coach Matthew Middleton, who is entering his third season with Kansas State, was listed as Bonwell-Witte’s lead recruiter by 247Sports. The Kansas City native has found success in Manhattan, Kan., coaching wide receiver Jayce Brown to an impressive start to his career in royal purple and white.
Furthermore, Middleton has some ties to South Dakota already. He coached the South Dakota Coyotes, serving as the wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator from 2013-17.
It is not clear who has an inside path with the Class of 2026 wide receiver, especially with his commitment coming so soon in the process, but there is an opportunity for the Wildcats to pounce on a familiar name.
The Nebraska football team delivered its second overpowering performance in as many weeks, dominating Houston Christian in every phase of the game and, more importantly, getting through another non-conference tune-up game without any major injuries. The Huskers cruised to a 59-7 win against the overmatched Huskies in front of another sold out Memorial Stadium crowd.
As the Huskers gear up for Big Ten play, the team is exactly where it wanted–and needed–to be after three non-conference games. We cover it all in the Topline Takeaways.
CHEERS TO THAT
Bringing Your Own Energy. Coming off of a dominating win over Akron, facing an FCS opponent, and kicking off at 11am can be a recipe for a slow start. While no one doubted the ultimate outcome, there was some chatter from various corners of the Husker universe about Nebraska coming out flat. Those concerns were quickly put to bed.
The Memorial Stadium crowd was juiced from the get-go, and the Big Red scored on their first five possessions of the game. They led 17-0 after the first quarter, and 38-0 at halftime. Is this what a team like Nebraska is supposed to do against a lesser opponent? Yes, it is. But, we have too many examples in recent years of the Huskers struggling with–and even losing to–lower conference and lower division opponents. So far through three games, Matt Rhule’s team has showed up ready to play.
More Reps for the Young Guys. Dylan Raiola, Emmett Johnson, and several other starters didn’t even take the field in the 2nd half, and that’s the way it should be against an FCS school. Three quarterbacks took snaps for the boys in red, 11 different players caught passes, and 27 different players had tackles. That’ll do just fine.
Husker fans of a certain age remember the days when it was commonplace–even during conference games–for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th stringers to see the field after the team had established a big enough lead. It was one part of Tom Osborne’s secret sauce, as younger players received valuable game reps, allowing TO to build experienced depth year over year. It won’t happen every game for Matt Rhule’s squad, but for an extremely young team, these last two weeks have been extremely valuable.
TJ Lateef Shines Again. I don’t know if it’s just social media chatter or if it’s a conversation among a broader segment of the fan base, but any suggestion that Dylan Raiola is not the #1 guy at quarterback is nonsense. Raiola was excellent again, completing 15 of 22 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in only one half of play. Dylan is the guy, plain and simple.
That said, it sure is nice to see how good backup QB TJ Lateef–a true freshman–has looked these last two weeks. Lateef was a perfect five for five for 126 yards, completing a beautiful deep ball to fellow true freshman Cortez Mills for a touchdown, and rushing for another TD. Lateef has looked outstanding the last two weeks, and you have to tip your hat to Matt Rhule and Dana Holgorsen for the quarterback room they are building.
Dane Key Coming Out Party. Upon transferring from Kentucky, Key was the headliner for Nebraska’s transfer portal class. And, don’t get me wrong, he had a solid first two weeks for the Huskers, hauling in nine catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. But Saturday was the breakout we’ve been waiting for. Key had four receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown, and he would have had a second touchdown if not for a slightly under-thrown ball from Raiola early in the game (not nit-picking here; it was still a completion after all!). With Key, fellow transfer Nyziah Hunter, and Jacorey Barney, the Huskers have multiple impact players leading the way at wide receiver, which is supplemented by tight ends Luke Lindenmeyer and Heinrich Haarberg and young talent like Cortez Mills.
You have to assume offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen hasn’t shown anywhere close to all the cards he’s holding for the Nebraska offense this season; I’m excited to see what else he has in store for these playmakers.
Pass Defense. The Blackshirts have not given up 100 yards passing in a single game this season. Nebraska currently ranks #1 in the nation in passing defense, allowing an average of 66 yards per game and holding opposing teams to a 50% completion rating. This is particularly notable when you factor in that Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby–held by the Big Red to 69 yards and a 52% completion percentage–has completed 82% of his passes and thrown for 586 yards and eight touchdowns since being stifled by Nebraska. The Huskers’ passing defense has been absolutely elite through three games.
REASONS FOR CONCERN
Rushing Defense. For the second week in a row, there’s not much to complain about. But if I had to pick something, I do worry a bit about how Nebraska will fare in stopping the run once Big Ten play begins. There’s a lot of young talent in the front seven on defense, but we were spoiled over the last few years watching guys like Ty Robinson, Nash Hutmacher, and John Bullock anchor the defense. How will the young guys fare against the Big Ten heavies?
For now though, there is plenty to celebrate with John Butler’s defense. While the rushing defense ranks 75th nationally, the Huskers currently sit at #6 in the nation in total defense and #7 in scoring defense, to go along with the aforementioned excellence on passing defense. The last two weeks have been critical for the overall development of the defense, and this team looks poised for bigger things.
BOTTOM LINE
All eyes on the Wolverines.
The Huskers have taken care of business so far, and they have as much promise as any Nebraska team in recent memory. But of course conference play is the great equalizer, and the Big Red will have to continue to prove it on the field. This week’s matchup against Michigan will tell us a lot. Nebraska has not won against an opponent ranked in the AP poll in their last 27 tries. Now is as good a time as any to break that streak.
As always, GBR for LIFE.
Tell us what you think, Common Fans. We’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at commonfangbr@gmail.com or find us on YouTube.
Houston Christian and Michigan game pages.
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
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