Nebraska
HuskerMax Predictions: Nebraska Football at USC
The Nebraska Cornhuskers and head coach Matt Rhule used its second bye week to spice things up in hopes of snapping NU’s four-game losing streak after starting 5-1.
Rhule phoned former Houston and West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen to take a look at the struggle Husker offense.
Holgorsen’s suggestions was enough for Rhule to demote Marcus Satterfield and elevate Holgorsen to offensive coordinator ahead of Saturday’s afternoon battle against USC. A win would be momumental for Nebraska, securing its first berth in a bowl game since 2016. A fourth-straight loss would send the program into further peril and raise further questions in Rhule’s second season.
The HuskerMax and Nebraska Cornhuskers on SI crew make their predictions for Saturday. The average score is 24-22 USC.
The closest prediction two weeks ago belonged to Matt McMaster with a 24-21 Nebraska win. That was 10 points off the actual 27-20 UCLA victory.
*Indicates closest in previous week’s prediction and how many “wins” over the season. Ties will result in wins for all parties.
|
Prediction |
Predictor |
|---|---|
|
USC 27-17 |
Kaleb Henry* |
|
Nebraska 23-21 |
Austin Jacobsen* |
|
Nebraska 24-7 |
Eric Hess |
|
USC 34-28 |
Geoff Exstrom* |
|
USC 27-24 |
Josh Peterson* |
|
USC 31-17 |
Joe Hudson* |
|
Nebraska 24-21 |
ThotDoc* |
|
USC 38-31 |
Enrique Alvarez-Clary |
|
Nebraska 17-14 |
Matt McMaster* |
|
USC 27-23 |
Cole Stukenholtz |
|
Nebraska 21-14 |
Jay Stockwell |
|
Nebraska 28-21 |
Bob Frady |
|
Nebraska 27-24 |
Middle-Aged Ball Coach |
|
USC 24-17 |
Tad Stryker |
|
USC 31-21 |
Caleb Sisk |
|
USC 31-21 |
Tanner Johnson* |
|
USC 27-24 |
Chris Fort |
|
USC 28-20 |
Jeremy Pernell |
The Why
Austin Jacobsen: I have liked Nebraska’s chances in this game since the start of the season – I still am curious why USC has always been assumed to be a heavy favorite in the contest. My favoritism may show, but new wrinkles for both offenses will showcase big plays and big mistakes. I would lean towards a more motivated defense making stops when asked, so I’ll grant Nebraska a new lease on the year with a win.
Eric Hess: Both teams made some big changes during the bye week. Holgorsen’s playcalling gives some rhythm to the Husker’s offense while the Blackshirts force some mistakes out of the young USC QB.
Josh Peterson: Nebraska’s offense finds more rhythm than it has since September but Jordan Maiava picks up some big plays on the ground and Nebraska wins the game on a walk-off FG.
Joe Hudson: This offense cannot be fixed in two weeks’ time. Please prove me wrong, Mr. Holgorsen!
ThotDoc: This score prediction may be more aspirational than reality based given that the Huskers are almost a double digit underdog. But, USC seems more beatable now than at the beginning of the year and has struggled with the rigors of the Big Ten. I’m hoping the new offensive coordinator helps the Huskers be less predictable and more productive. A late field goal by the Huskers is the winning difference.
Enrique Alvarez-Clary: The QB change for USC will trump the OC change for the Huskers.
Cole Stukenholtz: A little juice for the offense with Holgorsen calling plays, Blackshirts struggle early, Huskers give a valiant effort but must play from behind and can’t quite get over the hump.
Jay Stockwell: Satterfield’s demotion will hopefully remove the offensive constraints. Expect the defense to be inspired as it was in Columbus. This team plays well on the road. Get ready for some excitement from Dana Holgerson as he unleashes Raiola (assuming he is not hurt) on the Coliseum.
Bob Frady: Our long national bowl game nightmare will end with a 28-21 victory over the Men from Troy.
Middle-Aged Ball Coach: Nebraska has the better linemen on both sides. I don’t know what else Holgorsen will be doing, but I have to believe that he can help gameplan a way to attack USC’s defense with the run, then use RPOs to adjust to their adjustments.
Tad Stryker: Will Holgorsen help the offense play with more confidence and pace? It will look somewhat better, but kicking game problems persist and a critical turnover sets up the Trojans for the game-winning score.
Chris Fort: The Huskers come out with more gusto than they showed against UCLA along with some inventive offensive plays but USC crawls back and wins a close one.
Jeremy Pernell: I’ll actually be at the LA Coliseum for this game with my best friend and one of my brothers on a guys trip. Both teams have seen their seasons go off the rails after the calendar flipped to October, so I anticipate having to apologize to them for suggesting we sandwich this game in between trips to Universal Studios and Disneyland.
Find more predictions at HuskerMax.com.
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(InvestigateTV) — Sometimes sports are about more than the final score.
For Jack Burke, a high school football player in Nebraska, a medical diagnosis at birth has never stopped him from competing — and a touchdown catch in his first play back from open heart surgery proved it.
Born with a rare heart defect
Burke was born with Scimitar syndrome, a rare heart defect in which babies are born with an underdeveloped right lung and pulmonary artery. The condition also affects blood flow to the right lung. Treatment often includes surgery, and many adults with the condition go on to live healthy lives.
“As a kid, I never really understood,” Burke said. “It was always natural for me that I had to push myself harder to keep up.”
His mother, Bridget Burke, says the condition was not initially considered dangerous for sports participation.
“His Scimitar Syndrome never really came into play as being dangerous for him to play sports,” she said.
The decision to operate
That changed in the spring of 2025, when Burke’s family and doctors decided it was time for a surgery that had been anticipated for years.
“I’ve kind of known I’ve had to get surgery my whole life,” Burke said. “Once I knew I could get the surgery sooner, I was all in. I wanted to get it so I could get back to sports.”
His father, Ryan Burke, says the timing was deliberate.
“This will be done before school gets started, and still have a chance to do almost everything you want to do,” Ryan Burke said.
Jack Burke underwent open-heart surgery, leaving a visible reminder of what he went through.
“There’s a six-inch scar in the middle of his chest that represents a pretty big thing that happened,” Ryan Burke said.
For Bridget Burke, the moment her son was taken to the operating room was difficult.
“When the rubber hits the road and your kid is being wheeled back to the OR, it is scary and emotional,” she said.
The comeback
Burke eased back into football following his cardiologist’s recommended recovery timeline. His return came in week three of the season.
“Before the Schuyler game I talked to his dad and he’s like, ‘I think we might be ready,’” said coach Jay Landstrom.
Bridget Burke says the family approached the return with caution.
“I mean, I was nervous. We didn’t really know how much he would play. It was going to be some cautious situations,” she said.
Those concerns were set aside — at least for a moment — when Burke caught a touchdown pass on his very first play back.
“All the parents were high-fiving everybody and they were like, ‘Was that really Jack?’” Bridget Burke said.
Landstrom called it a special moment.
“It was just meant to be and that was really special,” he said.
For Burke, the touchdown meant something beyond the scoreboard.
“I just remember one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘He’s back. He’s back,’” Burke said. “It kind of shows something that tried to stop me — I hurdled that obstacle.”
Burke says the surgery has given him a new sense of freedom.
“Now I can do whatever I want. Nothing can hold me back,” he said.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
4-3-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
14-19-24-30-34
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 19 drawing
Red Balls: 01-02, White Balls: 09-26
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from April 19 drawing
Month: 08, Day: 16, Year: 61
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing
32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Nebraska Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, 5: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- 2 By 2: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- MyDaY: By 10 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The New Orleans Saints made a big splash in free agency when they signed Travis Etienne Jr. to pair with Alvin Kamara in the backfield. Etienne’s addition probably means that the Saints won’t select a back with an early choice in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, don’t be surprised if the team adds another back with a later pick. If that’s the case, Emmett Johnson of the Nebraska Cornhuskers could be someone on their radar.
Etienne will likely be the featured back, but Kamara’s future beyond 2026 is in some doubt. Kamara turns 31 in July and is entering his 10th season with a big contract after already showing some possible decline. Behind them, Kendre Miller has proven he shouldn’t be relied on and 2025 sixth round choice Devin Neal has flashed potential but remains unproven. The Saints may be wise to add more talent to their backfield with a middle or later round pick.
Emmett Johnson bio
- Position: Running back
- College: Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Height: 5-feet, 10 inches
- Weight: 202 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.56 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.59 seconds
- 3-cone drill: 7.32 seconds
- 20-yard shuttle: 4.29 seconds
- Vertical jump: 35.5″
- Broad jump: 10′
Recipient of the 2021 Minnesota Mr. Football award at Academy of Holy Angels High School, Johnson began with the Nebraska Cornhuskers as a three-star recruit. He’d take a redshirt in 2022 then rushed for 411 yards with 2 scores in 2023 as part of a backfield committee. In 2024, Johnson picked up 598 yards on the ground and caught 39 passes for 286 yards with 3 total scores.
By 2025, Johnson was the Cornhuskers featured weapon and exploded onto the national radar. Johnson’s 1,451 rushing yards and 251 carries both led the Big Ten and were among the NCAA leaders. He also caught a team-high 46 passes and scored 15 touchdowns, as his 1,821 yards from scrimmage were second across the NCAA. Those eye-popping numbers earned him 1st Team All-American honors as well as the 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year.
Strengths
- Hits rushing lanes with authority
- Makes sharp cuts at top speed
- Decisive north-south runner
- Good acceleration into the second level
- Legitimate receiving threat
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t have breakaway speed
- Has trouble creating yards when the hole isn’t there
- Must maintain balance better through contact
- Doesn’t break many tackles
- Only one year of high-level production
Emmett Johnson 2026 draft outlook
Johnson’s 2025 tape and production are worthy of a high pick, but teams looking for a featured back might be wary of his lack of power. Still, Johnson has a strong chance of being picked somewhere on the second day and shouldn’t last later than the fourth round. His decisive one-cut and go style and receiving ability gives him a strong chance to be an instant contributor with an incredibly high upside of a potential starter.
New Orleans has had success with late-round picks and undrafted players at running back. Emmett Johnson won’t last that long. But, if Johnson slips into Day 3, the Saints could be tempted to add him and bolster their backfield in multiple ways.
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