A few days before Friday’s showdown at Iowa, a buddy of mine asked me for my take on the upcoming game with Iowa.
I told him that it seemed as if the Huskers had crossed the Rubicon with their bowl-clinching win the week before over Wisconsin.
My reasoning was based on NU’s 44-25 decisive victory over the Badgers. In that game, Nebraska scored the most points in any game this season; beat a team they should have; protected their home field and in doing so, became bowl eligible for the first time in eight years.
No small feat.
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I thought NU would beat the Hawkeyes with several caveats: NU would have to make Iowa’s offense one dimensional, keep the rushing yardage under 125 net yards and win the turnover battle. On offense NU would need to be able to run the ball consistently and move the chains.
As we now know, NU did a great job defensively and a good job offensively, but the turnover margin killed Nebraska’s chances of winning.
Lingering Questions
1.) After 24 games, why does NU still have special team meltdowns at critical times in critical games?
2.) How can a team (Iowa) that produces only 164 yards of total offense beat any team let alone Nebraska?
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3.) How can any team manage to win when it rushes for only 49 yards?
4.) How can a team like Nebraska hold the nation’s second leading rusher (Keagan Johnson) to 45 net yards and still manage to lose?
5.) How did Iowa, using a fourth string QB (Jackson Stratton) manage to beat Nebraska?
We know the answers.
Iowa knows who it is. It uses an exceptional defense, an opportunistic offense and an extremely well-coached special teams unit to strangle its foes. Picture a boa constrictor. It waits patiently for its dinner to make a mistake. It lands on its prey and crushes the life out of it.
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Nebraska should know that by now.
Thank goodness the Husker have a bowl game to soothe the pain of losing to Iowa (again).
Two Assistants Leaving
According to HuskerMax.com, Husker DC Tony White and D-line coach Terrance Knighton are leaving their positions at Nebraska to assume similar roles at Florida State University.
Losing White for a head coaching opportunity was always going to be a possibility, but making a lateral move? I didn’t see that one coming. As for Knighton, he has earned his stripes with the development of players like Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson. Sad to see both coaches leave.
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Replacements? My sense is that John Butler (NU secondary and passing game coordinator) who came to NU after a six-year stint with the Buffalo Bills will take over for White as the DC. As for Knighton, I have no clue.
Next Up
Most of the Husker Class of ’25 will sign their contracts this Wednesday, December 4th. We’ll see if there are any defections due to the departure of the two coaches.
How ‘Bout Them Huskers
Will and I close out the regular season with a review of last week’s 13-10 loss to Iowa. We congratulate John Cook’s Husker volleyball team on earning a tie for the B1G championship. Friday the Huskers lost at Penn State 1-3, but stormed back Saturday with a 3-1 win at Maryland to secure the tie.
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MORE: Deja Vu All Over Again! Huskers Lose to Iowa in a Walk-off Gut Punch
MORE: Nebraska Defensive End Jimari Butler to Enter Transfer Portal
MORE: Nebraska Linebacker Stefon Thompson to Enter Transfer Portal
MORE: Nebraska Defensive Lineman Vincent Jackson to Enter Transfer Portal
MORE: QB Grade: Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola vs. Iowa
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.
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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.
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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.
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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
