Nebraska
Isaac Gifford returns to Nebraska with a ‘purpose’ to motivate and to win
LINCOLN, Neb. — Isaac Gifford is big on action. No amount of talk replaces work or preparation.
But he’s also a believer in using his voice to impact change.
“You speak it into existence,” Gifford said of Nebraska’s defensive focus on creating more turnovers in 2024.
Gifford is a senior safety who recorded a team-high 86 tackles last year for a defense that ranked seventh nationally in yards allowed per play. He has started 22 games the past two seasons and chose to return in 2024 for a bonus fifth year of eligibility because he felt, deep within himself, his job in Lincoln was not finished.
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He enters this season as a model for teammates young and old.
“He’s someone I want to be as a leader,” linebacker MJ Sherman said. “He’s someone I admire, his work ethic, how he plays, how he talks, how he thinks.”
Nebraska returns several leaders who could have left to make a run at the NFL — offensive linemen Ben Scott and Bryce Benhart, cornerback Tommi Hill, defensive linemen Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher.
Isaac Gifford (No. 2) had 86 tackles last year. (Dylan Widger / USA Today)
Gifford stands out among even that elite group as the one player on the roster driven most strongly by motivational forces unique to Nebraska.
“Giff motivates me,” safety DeShon Singleton said. “He plays like everything is on the line for him. He literally bleeds red and white right now. He’s a Husker through and through.”
Late this summer after the Huskers completed a grueling session of stadium stairs, strength coach Corey Campbell called on Gifford to address the team.
Cameras captured the moment for Nebraska’s documentary series, “Chasing 3.” It’s featured in the episode that premiered at the start of preseason practice last month.
Campbell said he and Gifford talked previously about purpose. “I just want you to tell the group about your purpose,” Campbell told Gifford, “why you’re here.”
Gifford reminded the Huskers that his brother, Tennessee Titans linebacker Luke Gifford, played at Nebraska. Isaac grew up watching Luke, whose senior season in 2018 coincided with the first year for former coach Scott Frost.
A group of players on that team “created a foundation,” Gifford said, as Nebraska shrugged off a slow start under Frost and won four of its final six amid tight defeats against Iowa and Ohio State. With Luke and the other foundational leaders gone a year later, the Huskers lost big against those same Buckeyes as part of five defeats in six midseason games.
The bad stretch sunk Nebraska’s season. Frost’s program never recovered.
Last year, Gifford said, a core group of veteran players built a similar foundation in coach Matt Rhule’s first season. When Gifford faced a choice about his future, he picked the option that Luke didn’t have — to come back.
Gifford had watched Nebraska in 2019, his senior season at Lincoln Southeast High School, and he saw the leadership structure crumble.
“I wasn’t doing that,” Gifford told the team. “I see a foundation, and I knew that if we got this s— right, we’re gonna f—ing win. So I didn’t come back to f—ing lose. At all. That is not my mindset. I don’t care how many times I puke on the goddamn stairs, I’ll do it again, cause I’m not losing this year. And I’m not going to watch it go to s—.
“So that’s my purpose, and that’s why I’m here.”
In the middle of this summer, Gifford and the Nebraska defensive backs learned that Evan Cooper, the secondary coach who directed them last season and recruited more than half of the players who play at a young position group, was leaving.
The timing stunk. News broke July 5 of Cooper’s exit and one day later that Rhule was set to hire John Butler, a successful assistant who left the Buffalo Bills as secondary coach this year.
Gifford and some of the older defensive backs got together and talked about their situation.
“You’ve just gotta go on,” he said. “There’s a lot of young guys recruited by coach Cooper. But they’ve stuck with us. They’re putting their heads down and grinding.”
Butler showed up later in July, his attitude toward football on display from the start. Butler said this week that he’s yet to acquire a car or a house in Lincoln.
“I’m not worried about the car,” he said. “I’m not worried about where I’m going to live.”
He’s worried about getting to know his players. And not just their strengths on the field. He can see that from game and practice film. Butler wanted to learn about the people with whom he was set to work during the next several months in tense times. He gravitated to Gifford.
Butler coached as a graduate assistant at Texas with the 1998 team that snapped the Huskers’ 47-game home winning streak. The coach came to Lincoln and lost as the Penn State linebackers coach in 2012.
He had a picture in his mind of the ideal Nebraska player.
“Giff basically fits that mold,” Butler said. “That’s the expectation when you walk in the door. And then you get it, and you’re like, ‘This dude’s a Cornhusker.’”
In his players, Butler said he’s looking for leaders who do more than make themselves better.
“Leaders by example are good,” the coach said. “But leaders that have the DNA inside of them to really bring people with them (that’s when you’ve got something).”
Gifford took note immediately of Butler’s style.
“We’re going to get along just fine,” Gifford said.
GO DEEPER
Projecting Nebraska’s 120-player roster: WRs improve, O-line lacks depth
For Gifford, the countdown to this final season in Lincoln began long before Luke put on a Nebraska jersey in 2014.
Gifford, 23, came of age as a Nebraska fan around the time Lavonte David recorded a program-record 152 tackles in 2010 and earned first-team All-America honors in 2011. Gifford studied David before he got to Lincoln Southeast, the high school program that produced Barrett Ruud, the Huskers’ all-time leading tackler and former linebackers coach.
Frank Solich coached at Southeast. Its athletic hall of fame is something of a shrine to the Huskers. Gifford can add to his legacy among the greats by driving a turnaround at Nebraska after seven consecutive losing seasons.
“The only way I can say it is, Giff’s impact on the defense is major,” Sherman said. “He’s the guy who’s always right on time with things. He knows his assignment. He knows how to execute. And that’s the standard.”
Gifford did plenty for the Blackshirts last year. His eight pass breakups ranked second on the team to Hill’s. Gifford’s 6.5 tackles for loss established a career high.
His aim? To do more this year. Nebraska generated just 14 turnovers on defense in 2023 to rank 106th nationally.
Whatever is needed to elevate that figure in this second season under defensive coordinator Tony White — if Gifford has to talk change into existence — he said he’s ready.
“My main goal since I’ve been here is to get Nebraska back to the place where everybody respected them,” he said. “That’s ultimately my goal. That’s what we’re going to get done.”
(Top photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
I recently read an article by Nate McHugh of SB Nation that stated the last two “sure things” to bring Nebraska football back failed. The first “thing” is back coaching at UCF, and the second “thing” is now wearing an Oregon uniform. Because these two “sure things” failed, McHugh points to them as reasons for Husker fan’s frustration. But did he miss the third reason? If I’m not mistaken, the hiring of Matt Rhule felt like one of those “sure things” as well. But after the ‘mythical’ year three and disappointment it became clear Rhule’s hiring was anything but a “sure thing” for success.
Because of that fans are torn how they feel about Rhule. I’m one of them. I catch myself saying Rhule is the right guy for Nebraska and then quickly point out that his overall record as a head coach is 66-62. Clearly mediocre compared to Kyle Whittingham (177-88) or James Franklin (104-45). But Rhule hasn’t stayed anywhere long enough to truly establish himself like Whittingham or Franklin either.
See what I mean, I’m quick to point out his shortcomings but still believe he can make the Huskers relevant again. Where Husker fans struggle is that Rhule has in fact taken us to back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2015-2016 yet allowed his team to get curb stomped by Penn State, Iowa, and Utah to end the season.
So, fans are leery going into the 2026 season. What are we going to get considering the schedule? The Huskers get Indiana, Washington, and Ohio State at home, and Oregon, Illinois, and Iowa on the road. While no game is a sure win, if they can’t notch victories against Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Michigan State, Maryland and Rutgers, then we’ll once again question if Rhule is the right man. Simply put, the fan base will be disappointed with another 6-6 season. Personally, with the coaching changes and improvement in talent, my expectation is a record of 7-5 or 8-4 on the season.
Tim Verghese of ‘Inside Nebraska’ got my attention last week when talking about fans giving recruits a negative vibe and possibly influencing their decision to commit to a program. He used Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M as an example. The fanbase was so negative about Fisher that it made recruits question how secure he was at A&M. Obviously recruits had reason to be worried.
Does that affect how I approach what I write or talk about? It does, but then again, I don’t think so much of myself to think it matters. I see myself as your typical fan. I’m just someone who shares their thoughts about Husker football. And frankly, like 50% or more of the fans, I’m torn between being supportive and negativity. We’ve been burned too many times and haven’t seen the things that we need to see to convince us a turnaround is about to happen. Whether it’s offense, defense, or beating the teams they are supposed to beat (Minnesota & Iowa) there just hasn’t been any consistency from Rhule’s teams. As fans we need to see Rhule’s teams win the games they are supposed to, then win the close games, and finally beat the teams they aren’t supposed to. Until we see Rhule’s teams take those steps, there will be doubt and a level of negativity.
As far as recruits are concerned, I don’t see Rhule going anywhere. He’s safe due to his contract, the investment being made on the stadium, and Trae Taylor making it clear he’s all ‘N’ as long as Matt Rhule is the head man. He may just be a senior in high school, but don’t think QB Trae Taylor doesn’t play a role here. He does. And I’m good with that. Taylor has the same expectations as the fans.
And no, those expectations aren’t too high. I’ve been a fan for over fifty years. The standard at Nebraska was set a long time ago. That standard hasn’t changed. Nebraska fans may be up and down on how they feel about Rhule, but they are consistent on their expectations. The standard is the standard and always will be.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
Photo courtesy of the Falls City Journal Home – Falls City Journal – Falls City, NE
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The results are in for the Nebraska Lottery’s draw games on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on May 8.
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 8 drawing
8-0-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from May 8 drawing
01-03-12-24-26
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning 2 By 2 numbers from May 8 drawing
Red Balls: 02-20, White Balls: 09-11
Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning MyDay numbers from May 8 drawing
Month: 01, Day: 16, Year: 17
Check MyDay payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 8 drawing
14-16-21-43-51, Bonus: 03
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.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Nebraska Athletics announced Friday that the expansion of John Cook Arena is in full swing.
The Nebraska Athletics Capital Planning and Facilities Department posted to social media that the effort to modernize amenities and provide new seating options is well underway.
According to the athletic fund, the renovation will enhance Nebraska’s home-court advantage, modernize amenities and provide new premium and general seating options. This includes adding:
- New and improved seats with cup holders in each seat.
- A new centralized student section.
- New and improved courtside seating with both end court and side court locations available. The Courtside Lounge offers access pregame and during intermission and includes private restrooms, televisions and all-inclusive gourmet food, beverage and alcohol.
- New Loge Box seating with hospitality lounge with access pregame and during intermission, including access to private restrooms, televisions and all-inclusive gourmet food and beverage with a cash bar.
- Libero Club seating replaces the VIP seats. Located in the back row of the 100 level, seats include access to the Libero Club Lounge pregame and during intermission complete with televisions and all-inclusive gourmet food and soft drinks with a cash bar.
- Additional ADA seating with new vantage points and easier access from around the concourse.
The Husker Athletic Fund announced the first-ever reseating and parking process in October 2025. It is timed to coincide with the renovation of the arena to increase overall capacity to 10,000.
For more information about the reseating process, click here.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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