Nebraska
Nebraska Football’s Heinrich Haarberg Packages More Than Gimmicks
Heinrich Haarberg is not the starting quarterback for Nebraska football.
Unless you’ve been under a rock since the midway point of the 2023 season, this isn’t a surprise. But that fact doesn’t stop the Nebraska native from being a threat to defenses when he gets on the field with the first team offense.
Haarberg got on the field early against Northern Iowa, first lining up in the backfield next to quarterback Dylan Raiola. Haarberg floated into the flat to the right and Raiola threw to fellow freshman Carter Nelson on a screen. On the next play, Haarberg split out wide to the left. Again, Raiola found Nelson, this time on an option route that Nelson took into the end zone.
Dylan Raiola ➡️ Carter Nelson
Carter Nelson scores his first TD for @HuskerFootball 👏🌽 pic.twitter.com/MzaHcMijB6 — FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 14, 2024
Two plays, two uses as essentially a decoy.
“I think there’s a lot of things that we want Heinrich to be able to do,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said after the game. “Every time he goes in, we don’t just want him to be a Wildcat quarterback.”
And yet, most playmakers aren’t getting the ball simply by being on the field. As matter of fact, Haarberg being on the field is for more than just that particular game.
“We’d like to get a little bit more out of the quarterback run part of it, but I’ll be honest, one thing I’ve learned: every time we put a quarterback run on tape, another team has to practice it,” Rhule said. “(The plays) don’t necessarily have to work. I just have to chew up 20 minutes of (the opponent’s) time each day, worrying about option and worrying about those things.
“Because we can run all the options with Heinrich. We can get under center still and run belly G-option. I need (the opponents) practicing that, because that’s less time they’re practicing the other stuff that we’re doing.
Haarberg’s full use as a football player came in a spurt in the third quarter.
The Husker junior lined up to the left of Raiola, running an angle route out of the backfield and making a catch for eight yards. On the next play, he lined up to the right of Raiola and ran the ball to the left for five yards. On the final play of the sequence, Raiola split wide while Haarberg lined up in shotgun behind the center to run a quarterback power to the left for one yard.
✅ Catch pass out of backfield — Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 15, 2024
✅ Run ball out of backfield
✅ Run keeper
Backup QB Heinrich Haarberg just had a busy three plays.#B1GFootball x @HuskerFootball pic.twitter.com/iwXcxo2CKQ
“We all have our own traits and we have a lot of talented people on this team,” Haarberg said. “Trying to get everyone the ball that we can.”
His QB1 enjoyed having the athletic veteran on the field at the same time.
“Love seeing him make plays,” Raiola said. “We all knew he was capable of it.”
Haarberg also got some run in the fourth quarter with Raiola pulled from the game due to the large lead.
“What I was really pleased with Heinrich was when he got in at quarterback, the way he managed that third down, (to) find the check down was awesome,” Rhule said. “They were bringing a lot of zero blitz. He checked, they checked, he reloaded it on the long touchdown run.”
That touchdown run was from 36 yards by Emmett Johnson late in the fourth quarter.
At the end of the game, Haarberg was 3-for-3 passing for 34 yards, adding seven yards on the ground and a catch for eight yards. Opposing defenses may want to spend more than 20 minutes on what Haarberg can do on the football field.
MORE: LOOK: Photos From Nebraska Football’s 34-3 Win Over Northern Iowa
MORE: Nebraska Football Favored by a Touchdown Over Illinois in Early-Betting Lines
MORE: Analytics Review: Nebraska Football vs Northern Iowa
MORE: Nebraska Football Inches Higher in Both Coaches, AP Polls Following Northern Iowa Win
MORE: Stukenholtz: That Old Familiar Husker Football Feeling
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – The Nebraska Extension hosted a workshop Wednesday morning for ag producers, focusing on how to use drought monitoring and forecasting tools, assess drought impacts and risks, explore management strategies, and identify available resources.
Organizers say the goal is to help producers make more informed, timely decisions as changing weather patterns continue to affect soil moisture, crop conditions, and long-term planning.
The session also highlighted practical tools farmers can use to track drought development and adjust operations before conditions worsen.
“The really warm temperatures and strong wind just sucked the moisture out of the soil, out of the vegetation and this has been going on since at least October and were not going to come out of it over the night, it’s going to take a while to rebuild those moisture supplies even if we get average moisture it will be enough for vegetation but it won’t helped us recover what we’ve already lost,” said Deborah Bathke, Nebraska state climatologist.
Officials add that continued education and early planning are key to helping producers stay resilient through increasingly variable growing seasons.
Click here to subscribe to our KNOP News 2 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KNOP. All rights reserved.
Adam Carriker is joined by HuskerOnline publisher Sean Callahan to break down the upcoming season for Matt Rhule and Nebraska football. Callahan gives unique insight on what Nebraska’s offense may look like, realistic expectation for quarterback Anthony Colandrea, if the offensive line is legit better, the new 4-2-5 defense, the undersized defensive line and if the Huskers will win more than seven games. Also, will Nebraska basketball make a Sweet 16 run again?
Hit the play button for that and more in this episode of the Carriker Chronicles. For a synopsis, scroll down.
Synopsis
In the latest installment of the Carriker Chronicles, Adam Carriker and Sean Callahan discuss the upcoming season for Nebraska football and why this year is so important. They explain that Year 4 under Matt Rhule is a big turning point because by now, the program should reflect his system, culture, and recruiting. If things are going to work long-term, this is the season where fans should really start to see it.
One of the first things they talk about is the overall vibe of the offseason. Callahan mentions that Nebraska has “closed the lab,” meaning the team is done experimenting and now fully focused on playing football. The expectation is that players understand the system better and can execute at a higher level without the outside distractions.
They also discuss the offense and what it might look like under Dana Holgorsen. While there may be some similarities to past systems, there will also be differences based on the players Nebraska has. Part of the conversation is quarterback Anthony Colandrea, and they set realistic expectations for him. He doesn’t have to be perfect, but he does need to be consistent, make plays with his feet and take care of the football.
The offensive line is another key topic. Callahan believes the group has improved this offseason, especially with players like Elijah Pritchett, who seems to be on the uptick. If the offensive line can protect the quarterback and create running lanes, it could make a huge difference for the entire offense. They also mention the running back room, which has potential but still needs to prove itself during the season.
On defense, Nebraska is expected to run more of a 4-2-5 scheme this year. This means more speed on the field, but it also raises questions about size, especially on the defensive line. One of the biggest concerns is whether the defensive front can hold up against physical teams. However, they point out that the secondary might be the strongest position group, which could help balance things out.
Special teams are briefly discussed, with the expectation that they will be solid but not necessarily a major strength or weakness. Recruiting is another area where Nebraska seems to be trending in the right direction, which is important for building long-term success.
They also touch on men’s basketball and whether the team can make another Sweet 16 run. While it’s possible, it will depend heavily on player development and who will replace those that have left.
To wrap it up, they debate whether Nebraska football will win more than seven games this season. It’s seen as a realistic but challenging goal. This is a critical year for Matt Rhule and the program, and fans should have a much clearer idea of the team’s future by the end of the season.
Program order
- 00:00: Intro
- 01:09: Sean Callahan Joins the Show
- 01:54: Year 4 Under Matt Rhule
- 04:04: Offseason Vibe: Closing the Lab, Focusing on Football
- 05:30: Dana Holgorsen: Similarities & Differences to Expect
- 07:30: Offensive Line: Offseason Improvements
- 09:45: Elijah Pritchett Spotlight
- 12:54: Running Back Room: What to Expect
- 15:20: Defensive Scheme: What to Expect This Year
- 18:53: Biggest Defensive Question Marks
- 22:10: Strongest Defensive Position Group
- 23:00: Special Teams Outlook
- 25:08: Recruiting Class Breakdown
- 27:45: Nebraska Basketball Preview
- 29:50: Over/Under: 7 Wins Next Season
- 31:18: Fan Questions
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska baseball team lost to Kansas 9-7 on Tuesday in front of a record crowd at Hoglund Park. The Huskers took an early lead on an RBI single by National Freshman of the Week Drew Grego. After giving up three unanswered runs, Nebraska rallied to go back in front on a 3rd-inning single by Will Jesske. Both Grego and Jesske finished with two hits in the game.
Kansas, however, took control in the middle innings. The Jayhawks got home runs from Tyson Owens and Josh Dykoff in the sixth frame. Both round-trippers came off NU relief pitcher Ty Horn. Kansas added insurance in the 7th inning before a late rally by the Huskers.
Nebraska trimmed a five-run deficit to two, but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.
The Huskers’ loss is their second to the Jayhawks this season. Nebraska’s record drops to 31-10 overall.
Will Bolt’s team returns to action on Friday at Illinois. Game one is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Champaign.
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
-
Wisconsin3 minutes agoWhat can and can’t you recycle in Wisconsin? Here are the rules to know
-
West Virginia9 minutes agoThis Is The Friendliest Small Town in West Virginia
-
Wyoming15 minutes agoGovernor Mark Gordon Discusses Water-saving Measures By Data Centers In Southeast Wyoming
-
Crypto21 minutes agoBen McKenzie is Still Mad at Matt Damon For Those Crypto Ads
-
Finance27 minutes agoAuto Finance Capital Summit | Insights | Mayer Brown
-
Fitness33 minutes agoAt 50, Hrithik Roshan’s ex-wife Sussanne sets fitness goals with challenging Pilates exercise
-
Movie Reviews45 minutes ago‘Madhuvidhu’ movie review: A light-hearted film that squanders a promising conflict
-
World57 minutes agoGoogle puts AI agents at heart of its enterprise money-making push