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.
Advertisement
“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.”
Nebraska’s Malcolm Hartzog Jr. breaks up a fourth-quarter Cincinnati pass. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN
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.
Advertisement
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.
Advertisement
Nebraska defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri (96) and teammates celebrate the redshirt freshman’s scoop-and-score touchdown vs. Houston Christian. / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
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.”
Advertisement
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.
Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler came to Lincoln after coaching with the Buffalo Bills. / Kenny Larabee, KLIN
“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.
Advertisement
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:
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.
Advertisement
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.
The third matchup this weekend between No. 9 Nebraska and No. 21 Oklahoma State was canceled Sunday due to expected bad weather in the Stillwater, Okla., area. The Cowgirls won the first matchup Thursday, 2-1 in 11 innings, while the Cornhuskers won Saturday, 4-3. The game will not be made up.
Nebraska now prepares for its home opener Thursday at Bowlin Stadium as the Huskers take on South Dakota State in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
MINDEN, Neb. (KSNB) – The Nebraska State Patrol, with assistance from the Kearney County Sheriff’s Office and Kearney County Attorney’s Office, is investigating an attempted murder/suicide in rural Kearney County.
The Kearney County Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene Saturday afternoon.
According to NSP, three children and a woman had gunshot wounds, with the woman found dead.
The three children were transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and treated for their injuries. Two of the children have since been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
Advertisement
NSP said all three children are expected to survive. The children are all under the age of 12.
This investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
According to NSP, names are not being released at this time to protect the identities of the victims.
Click here to subscribe to our KSNB Local4 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Ten UNK students will perform with other outstanding instrumentalists from across the state as part of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band. Front row, from left: Olivia Kohmetscher, Kaia Johnson, Douglas Davidchik, Micah Feddersen and Avery Reitz. Back row, from left: Evan Porter, Ike Smith, Kaitlyn Obrecht, Cameron Grafel and Chloe Harms. (Courtesy UNK, Click to enlarge)
KEARNEY, Neb – Ten students will represent the University of Nebraska at Kearney as members of the 2026 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band.
They’ll perform 11:30 a.m. March 7 in Kimball Recital Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus as part of the 65th annual Nebraska State Bandmasters Association convention. The concert is free and open to the public.
Advertisement
The Nebraska Intercollegiate Band includes outstanding instrumentalists from colleges and universities across the state. Students selected for the honor spend time rehearsing together in Lincoln before performing for the public. This year’s ensemble is led by guest conductor Donald McKinney, director of bands at Indiana University.
“Rehearsing and performing in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Band will be an excellent opportunity for experiential learning,” said professor Duane Bierman, director of bands at UNK. “Not only will these students get a great musical experience but they will also get a chance to expand their network and grow their interpersonal skills.”
Students representing UNK include: Broken Bow – Cameron Grafel, horn Columbus – Douglas Davidchik, clarinet Elm Creek – Chloe Harms, euphonium Grand Island – Olivia Kohmetscher, tenor saxophone Kearney – Ike Smith, trumpet Kearney – Micah Feddersen, trumpet Kearney – Avery Reitz, string bass and tuba La Vista – Kaitlyn Obrecht, piano Minden – Evan Porter, percussion Ravenna – Kaia Johnson, flute
