LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Over 60,000 fans showed up to Memorial Stadium for the Huskers spring game—and to get their first look at this year’s quarterbacks.
All three players saw reps in the 25-21 win for Team White over Team Red. Each gave Husker Nation reason to be excited for what awaits this fall, especially five-star freshman Dylan Raiola.
Maybe it was the non-contact jerseys, but Raiola played with the demeanor of a seasoned veteran.
When he first took the field for Nebraska—for his father’s team—the 18-year-old struggled to keep his emotions in check.
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“I fought back tears walking out of the tunnel,” he said. “Growing up as a kid, that’s what I knew and that’s what I watched. So being a part of it, going out of the tunnel and hearing the song, it got heavy for me.”
Once the game began, Raiola shined, completing 16 of his 22 passes for 239 yards along with two touchdowns against one interception. His 15 first-half completions went to 13 different receivers.
Heinrich Haarberg also threw a pair of touchdowns, including a high heave to freshman Jacory Barney Jr. for the 41-yard score. Danny Kaelin also completed 9 of his 16 passes and threw one pick.
“I think I left something out there for sure,” the Bellevue West alum said. “There’s a lot to learn from, but I’m proud of the way I came out there and played confident.”
It’s no secret that Matt Rhule plans to take the quarterback race into the fall. He believes it is bringing the best out of all three field generals.
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“We’re going to focus on Dylan, I get that,” Rhule said of the fan/media attention. “But you can see the improvement on Heinrich. You can see Danny as a true freshman go out and complete 60 percent of his passes. I personally believe it’s going to take all of us to play well at the quarterback position in the Big Ten.”
The competition has fueled camaraderie in the quarterback room.
“We’ve been grinding together for three months and it’s been fun,” Raiola said. “We’re competing but at the end of the day we’re there for each other.”
“We’re not going to go head-to-head,” Haarberg added. “We’re going to work together but at the same time, compete.”
Raiola will spend some time in Kansas City this summer working with Patrick Mahomes and his trainer Bobby Stroupe.
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“I just want to be around greatness,” he said of Mahomes. “Just trying to take it all in and elevate my game as much as I can.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Alexis Markowski scored 22 points, Natalie Potts had a double-double and No. 21 Nebraska cruised to an 84-58 win over Southern on Tuesday night.
Potts had 17 points and 12 rebounds, eight on the offensive end, for the Cornhuskers (3-0). Alberte Rimdal added 12 points.
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Aniya Gourdine scored 22 points for the Jaguars (0-4), who have played the hardest opening schedule in the country. Their other losses were to Top 10 teams Oklahoma and Iowa State as well as Missouri and head to Colorado for their next game.
Nebraska only led 15-13 after one quarter and closed the second with a 10-0 run to lead 36-26 at halftime. The Cornhuskers had an early 7-0 run in the third quarter, which ended with an 8-0 for a 61-43 lead.
Nebraska had a 46-26 rebounding advantage and was a plus-20 inside. The Cornhuskers also went 25 of 36 from the foul line while the Jaguars were 6 of 10.
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The 4-5 USC Trojans face the 5-4 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday, and the Trojans are making a quarterback change and attempting to become bowl eligible. The Cornhuskers are just one win away from bowl eligibility but have made changes of their own on the offensive side of the ball.
Cornhuskers coach Matt Rhule spoke in the weekly press conference about the matchup with USC. The Nebraska quarterback starting against the Trojans is still up in the air. Rhule said the team will see how quarterback Dylan Raiola is doing but is preparing Heinrich Haarberg.
When asked about how the team is preparing both quarterbacks with their different playing styles, Rhule’s response remained ambiguous.
Sep 28, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule high fives quarterback Heinrich Haarberg (10) during the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images / Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
“That’s why I’m not gonna let anybody talk to you guys tomorrow because you guys are really good at your jobs, and I appreciate that,” Rhule said.
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While speaking about Nebraska’s quarterback situation, Rhule changed the conversation to having to prepare for a new USC quarterback. Jayden Maiava will be making his first start for USC but has played numerous games in his career while at UNLV.
“We’re sitting here trying to figure what to do with, you know, they’ve changed the quarterback. You know, we’re watching UNLV film and spring film and all that,” Rhule said.
Rhule expanded on the challenges of preparing for Maiava. While there is film on him, Maiava has not played much under the USC offensive scheme.
“It’s sort of the same thing, right? You’re sitting there looking at, you know, what do they do well, and they do a lot well.” Rhule said. “Maiava, you know, he has the ability to move.”
Sep 20, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule talks with officials after an interception during the second quarter against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Rhule also spoke about how well USC coach Lincoln Riley utilizes the run game each week. The Nebraska coach spoke highly about Trojans running back Woody Marks, who has been having a strong season.
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“The tailback is, I mean, like all Lincoln Riley offenses, you know, Marks is a fantastic tailback. He’s explosive, dynamic. They’re, you know, I’ve coached against Coach Riley for a long time. He’s going to find a way to run the football. He’s elite at what he does,” Rhule said. “Even in the last game against Washington, they got back in the game by just running the football at a high level.”
Rhule then spoke about the Trojans’ receiving core, highlighting wide receiver Zachariah Branch and his ability as the slot receiver.
“Branch is, you know, excellent excellent excellent slot,” Rhule said. “They have some guys that can really go on the outside.”
USC’s offensive weapons make it more challenging for Nebraska to defend the offense. Being able to run the ball well and now having Maiava’s ability to run is difficult to contain. If USC gets the run game going early, that could open the passing game.
Aug 31, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule reacts during the second quarter against the UTEP Miners at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
“Now as a defense, you’re having to defend the counter and the tackle trap and all these plays that they run. Plus, the opportunity for the quarterback to pull the ball and run because he, you know, he’s a dual threat player,” Rhule said. “And you don’t know exactly which direction they’re going to go with him.”
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The Nebraska fanbase is a loyal one. Rhule closed speaking to the media giving the Nebraska fanbase credit on the road, and how it will help them against USC.
“I think the impact of our fans on the road always is elite,” Rhule said. “When they do show up in mass it limits the need for the silent cadences and all the things that make being on the road hard.”
The USC Trojans and Nebraska Cornhuskers will kick off at 1 p.m. PT in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
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Former South Carolina Gamecock offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield demoted at Nebraska.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers have had a bit of an up and down season this year and head coach Matt Rhule announced a coaching change. Former South Carolina Gamecock offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield has been demoted and long-time college coach Dana Holgorsen will take over the play calling duties.
Satterfield was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at South Carolina during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He has since been the offensive coordinator at Nebraska, but now is just the tight ends coach as of this week.
Nebraska this season ranks 99th in points per game averaging just 23.6 per game. They also rank 96th for total offense as they are averaging 354.1 yards per game. Holgorsen was a long-time head coach at West Virginia throughout the 2010s, was head coach at Houston from 2019-2023 and most recently was a scout and advisor at TCU this season.
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During Satterfield’s time at South Carolina, the Gamecocks averaged 22.6 points per game in 2021 and then 32.2 points per game in 2022. Satterfield would then resign from his position with the Gamecocks during the 2022 season before the team’s bowl game against Notre Dame.
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