Locked On Nebraska - Daily Podcast on the Nebraska Cornhuskers

Big Ten playoff hopes waver as Iowa, Ohio State, and Oregon face mounting pressure. Can the Big Ten still send more than two teams to the College Football Playoff, or will the SEC dominate the expanded field? The panel dissects Iowa’s must-win clash at Washington, Ohio State’s playoff outlook, and Penn State’s credibility as Vegas favorites against USC.

Lively debate spotlights quarterback injuries, defensive struggles, and rising concerns about the conference’s depth. Hot takes include whether Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers can stay relevant and if Minnesota, Northwestern, and Wisconsin are unexpectedly holding up the Big Te...

We’re giving you a bonus episode on this Thursday ahead of a big weekend for Nebraska football. What can fans expect Saturday on campus in Lincoln as the “Big Noon Kickoff,” football and volleyball doubleheader arrives in town? Will it be a bring-your-own-juice kind of morning? Or can Nebraska fans work themselves into a frenzy before kickoff? 

We’re going inside the game to pick yardage totals and more and to look for strengths and weaknesses in the Huskers and Hoosiers. And we’re picking the weekend slate in Week 6 around college football and the Big Ten. We fin...

Big Noon is drawing near. Jacob Goins of Locked on Hoosiers sits down with Mitch Sherman to dissect the important storylines and matchups for the big game Saturday in Lincoln. Ahead of Indiana’s visit to Memorial Stadium, we’re talking about Curt Cignetti’s approach to this opponent for the Hoosiers — and the same with Matt Rhule on the Huskers’ side. 

Where are both teams vulnerable? What’s a strength that each side might like as they assess the opponent in Week 6. Does Nebraska have the firepower at the line of scrimmage to keep pace with Indiana’s exp...

The Nebraska football coordinators got their say Tuesday ahead of the Huskers’ Big Noon clash against the No. 7-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. Dana Holgorsen continued to sing the praises of his QB, Anthony Colandrea, but the offensive coordinator remains honest about Colandrea’s shortcomings through five games at Nebraska. What can the veteran signal caller do to improve his game as the competition jumps for the Huskers? 

Something made Holgorsen mad last week in Nebraska’s win against Maryland. But what was it? On the defensive side, why have the Blackshirts made a habit of producing big plays at key...

What about the first five games of this Nebraska football season make you feel differently than a month ago about the Huskers? Are you still OK with the number of wins you set as an expectation before the season? Turns out, this isn’t a difficult question to answer, as our hosts see it. Connor and Mitch lay out the case for Nebraska to reach eight or nine wins in the regular season. And if the Huskers don’t, it’s going to feel like a disappointment. 

What’s Curt Cignetti talking about at the start of this Indi...

Week 6 of this Nebraska football season starts with a little dose of disrespect thrown at Matt Rhule’s Huskers. They’ve done everything that’s been reasonable to ask through five games, rolling a soft schedule of opponents by a margin on par with the top teams nationally. No one here is saying that Nebraska should be ranked in the top 10 as No. 7 Indiana awaits. But is the top 25 too much to ask after a 5-0 start? 

It won’t matter, one way or the other, after this week and next, when Nebraska visits Oregon. But as Curt Cign...

The road to 5-0 is complete for Nebraska football. And it came with some bumps along the way on Saturday. Nebraska beat Maryland 48-23 at Memorial Stadium by scoring 34 unanswered points after the Terps twice built two-score leads in the first half. The Huskers showed the composure that we’ve come to expect from Matt Rhule’s fourth team. They seized the moment with a pick-six by Dwayne McDougle that changed the complex of the game.

Anthony Colandrea led the way with a heavy dose of his heroics, even on a day when he wasn’t at his sh...

The Friday mailbag is bursting at the end of this second week of the Big Ten football season for Nebraska. So let’s dive in. You’re wondering about the DEFCON level around the Huskers — and how a loss on Saturday might change it. Why was Troy Dannen’s name connected to an AD opening at Iowa State? Should Matt Rhule hire a spy to help against a Big Ten foe? 

Rob Aurich’s defense is looking better by the week. Is that by design? Would the PCSA be good for Nebraska? Who’s the third option on offense fo...

Lincoln Riley faces intense scrutiny after USC mishandles a crucial moment and falls to Oregon, raising questions about culture and leadership in the Trojans’ locker room. Can Riley’s squad rebound against a struggling Washington team at home, or will pressure hit a breaking point? Meanwhile, Iowa stuns Michigan with a dramatic finish—setting up a high-stakes clash with undefeated Ohio State in Iowa City. Are the Hawkeyes poised for another giant upset?

The Big 10 Squad breaks down the Big Ten’s must-watch matchups, key storylines, and playoff implications. Discussion spans player development at USC, Iowa’s relentless...

Lots cooking on this Thursday before Week 5 in the Nebraska football season. The availability report Wednesday night from the Big Ten listed Jamal Rule as doubtful to play Saturday against Maryland. If the freshman running is held out for the Huskers, how might that affect Dana Holgorsen’s offense? Wide receiver Jacory Barney is questionable. And right guard Brendan Black is probable.

We’re discussing Matt Rhule’s desire to play gritty football for four quarters each week in conference play. Is that always a requirement for Nebraska in 2026? Which of the matchups on the field this week i...

Nebraska football offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and DC Rob Aurich met with the media on Tuesday. They’re laying it on thick this week — and not just about Maryland, the Huskers’ opponent Saturday that brings a two-game losing streak into Memorial Stadium. “It didn’t all suck,” Holgorsen said about Nebraska’s second half on offense at Michigan State. 

We’re watching in real time as Aurich’s defense grows up, gaining confidence because of the trust instilled by the first-year DC. Standout individual plays are on the upswing for the Blackshirts. What’s next for Nebraska offensively and defen...

An injury update from the Nebraska football program on Monday that actually wasn’t much of an update: We’ll find out on Wednesday about the status of running back Jamal Rule and wide receiver Jacory Barney. That will be the procedure moving forward as the Huskers stick with Big Ten policy — and offer nothing more. Rhule addressed the Nebraska punting game through four weeks. What more does he want from Archie Wilson? 

We’ve got a kickoff time for next week as Indiana comes to town. Just one more hurdle for Nebraska to clear in order to make t...

It’s Monday, which means the time is here to check in around the Big Ten at opponents ahead for Nebraska football. Nothing but drama in Week 5 around the league. Dylan Raiola took center stage for Oregon in L.A.. Iowa delivered karma at the Big House. Illinois fired its defensive coordinator. Washington went down late at night as PJ Fleck went full vampire-mode on one of his linebackers. 

This is Maryland week, not Indiana week in Lincoln. But we’re talking about both of Nebraska’s next two opponents at home. We’ll get a kickoff time and...

Did you think the Nebraska football team was in trouble at any point Saturday? It’s OK, admit it. The Huskers went into Michigan State and grabbed the lead early, then never let it go in a 31-13 win that pushed Matt Rhule’s team to 4-0. The win for Nebraska in its Big Ten opener was its first since 2019. The win at Spartan Stadium was its first since 2012. 

The list goes on. We’re reacting on this Sunday to Anthony Colandrea’s big day, to Rob Aurich’s defense, which produced six sacks and created three turnovers...

The Friday Nebraska football mailbag is here. We start, on this eve of the Huskers’ Big Ten opener, with a hypothetical: What will happen if Nebraska is in position to host a CFP first-round game in December? It’s a great question. We think we know the answer — and will seek clarity with the athletic department as a result of this mailbag question. Is Nebraska football abandoning its middle class with the Memorial Stadium re-seat? 

Is there a Big Ten team on a parallel track with Nebraska this fall? Did NC State’s gaffe in the end zone last...

Big Ten title hopes hang in the balance as Michigan hosts Iowa in a high-stakes showdown. Can the Hawkeyes’ revitalized offense under Tim Lester finally break through, or will Michigan’s elite defense keep them in check? The Big 10 Squad debates each team’s keys to victory, while panelists weigh the odds and point spreads, questioning whether Kirk Ferentz’s road warriors can pull off a major upset.

The spotlight also shifts to USC and Oregon as Lincoln Riley’s job security comes under scrutiny. Is this a must-win for the Trojans, or will Dan Lanning and the Ducks recl...

Matt Sheehan of Locked On Spartans joins Mitch for a Thursday crossover episode, looking at the importance for Nebraska and Michigan State of this Big Ten opener Saturday in East Lansing. Matt’s got a surprising revelation about what he believes it means for MSU and Pat Fitzgerald. As we’ve discussed here, it’s a tone setter in Year 4 for Matt Rhule and the Huskers. Without a win at Michigan State, a breakthrough season for Nebraska becomes much less likely. 

We’re looking at the biggest questions for both teams. Where might MSU find a way to exploi...

A step away on this Wednesday from the football grind— as Nebraska readies for its Big Ten opener at Michigan State — to dive into the news from Nebraska about its Memorial Stadium re-seating process. The information came down from the university to inform fans that all season ticket holders must select new seats in the stadium next year, then again 2028. And if your tickets are among the 24,000 grandfathered into an old system that reduced or eliminated a mandatory donation, well, that perk is gone. 

Nebraska officials are emphasizing that options exist for everyone — from the fan who wants t...

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It’s time to turn the page to Michigan State. Nebraska football is 3-0 after its 34-7 win against North Dakota on Saturday night. And Matt Rhule’s team is off to East Lansing this week. The Spartans kept things close in Week 3 at third-ranked Notre Dame, despite a box score that looks like perhaps they should not have done so. And that’s the calling card for a Pat Fitzgerald-coached team, right? 

The Huskers are facing off in this league opener against some old nemeses — Fitzgerald and LeVar Woods, the former Iowa assistant who now runs the MSU s...

The non-conference slate is complete. Nebraska overpowered North Dakota 34-7 on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Anything short of 3-0 at this moment would have been viewed as disastrous. But how much more (or less) do we know about these Huskers than expected?

We’re talking on this Sunday reaction pod about the new looks that Rob Aurich displayed on defense, about Anthony Colandrea’s third start, about Jamal Rule’s star power and the other Nebraska playmakers. Are the Huskers doing enough on special teams? And where else did we see improvement as Big Ten play opens...

Friday is here. The mailbag is back. It’s packed once again. Thanks for your questions as the Nebraska football team gears up to welcome North Dakota on Saturday night to Memorial Stadium. We’re forgetting everything we once thought we knew about Matt Rhule’s group of running backs after just two weeks. If the Huskers could get a mulligan on one transfer portal move, what would it be? 

We’ve got more discussion about the news this week that Nebraska will play Notre Dame in 2032 and 2033. By the way, what might college football look like then? Who...

Big Ten faces scrutiny as Michigan’s controversial win sparks debate—can the conference restore its reputation before playoff selections loom? The Big 10 Squad breaks down the FBS Oversight Committee’s ruling on the Michigan–Western Michigan officiating drama and question the value of public apologies with no actual remedies. With underwhelming showings from Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and more, is Indiana really the conference’s best hope for national championship glory?

The panel spotlights UCLA’s momentum, USC’s 30-point fourth-quarter leads, and Washington’s offensive woes—while poking fun at Purdue’s heartache and Maryland’s September hot streak...

News from Nebraska on Wednesday: The Huskers and Notre Dame will renew their series — in six years. The Irish are headed to Lincoln in 2032, followed by a return trip from Nebraska to South Bend in 2033. The games, interestingly, are planned for late October. We dive into what it all means for the Huskers. 

Also, The Athletic published on Wednesday a comprehensive list of player salary data per team for all of the 68 programs in the Power 4. Where does Nebraska rank? And how should we look at all of this information? Finally, we’re picking North Dakota-Nebraska and the b...

We’re here on this Wednesday of Week 3 to address that elephant lurking in the room. If you’re like the majority of Nebraska fans who’ve watched the Huskers against Ohio and Bowling Green, surely you’ve made the silent comparison between quarterback Anthony Colandrea and the Huskers’ starter of the past two years, Dylan Raiola. Parts of this conversation are inherently unfair to Raiola, now at Oregon, but the reality is this: Colandrea is better.

We hear from Dana Holgorsen and Jamal Rule on what Colandrea is bringing daily to the Nebraska offense. And we review Tue...

It feels like fall out there in and around Lincoln. Big Ten play is right around the corner for the Nebraska football team. But Matt Rhule would not be deterred on Monday in heaping praise upon North Dakota, the nationally ranked FCS opponent that’s headed into Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. Rhule digs in on praising the Fighting Hawks.

Also, the Nebraska coach took a look around college football in the first couple weeks of this season — and he saw some “blah” play. He’s got a few thoughts. Anthony Colandrea is the Big Ten offensive player of...

We’re two weeks into the college football season, and the Big Ten is wobbling. Oregon lost in Week 2. Ohio State lost in Week 2. Michigan lost in Week 1. Check that, the Wolverines are 2-0. But numerous Big Ten teams — on and off Nebraska’s schedule — have struggled out of the gate. What does it mean for the league? And what does it mean for Matt Rhule’s team, which entered this year facing the narrative that its schedule rated as one of the toughest nationally. Does it still? 

The Huskers, while playing well on offense and defense, have experi...

Week 2 is complete. A 56-7 Nebraska victory over Bowling Green is in the books. We’re here with a reaction episode. The conversation from Saturday night starts with the quarterback. Anthony Colandrea was surgical in his performance, throwing four touchdown passes in the first half as Nebraska led 35-0 at the break. Colandrea made several big-time throws. Two games into Colandrea’s time with the Huskers, his swag is showing.

The running game continued to hum. Nebraska got Owen Chambliss on defense for the first time. His presence, as the QB of the Blackshirts, helped Rob Aurich’s grou...

Kickoff is near for Nebraska’s Week 2 matchup against Bowling Green. But first, settle in for a mailbag episode. With Eddie George in Lincoln to coach the Falcons, might he want to share his Heisman Trophy with a certain former Nebraska QB? We’re guessing no. Is something different about Matt Rhule this year? Are we ready to retract our worries from the offseason about the Huskers’ running backs? 

Are we still overreacting to the season opener? Of course. Imagine if Anthony Colandrea had started his Nebraska career like the QB for the defending AFC champion. Where should...

Controversy rocks the Big Ten as Michigan escapes Western Michigan with a wild, disputed win—will the College Football Playoff Committee remember? The Big 10 Squad debates the infamous “Clockgate,” field stormings, and the reputation of officiating when blue blood programs are on the line.

Hosts preview marquee matchups: Ohio State vs. Texas and Michigan vs. Oklahoma have the Big Ten’s reputation hanging in the balance. Can Ryan Day’s Buckeyes outduel Arch Manning’s Longhorns? Is Bryce Underwood’s starting job in trouble as Michigan faces a ferocious Sooners defense? Rapid-fire picks, inside jokes, and sharp takes fuel the squad...

Winding down the buildup to Week 2 of the Nebraska football season, we’re taking one look back at the opener. What happened in that game to make us think differently about Matt Rhule’s team? Is Anthony Colandrea a top-half-of-the-Big-Ten QB? Can the Huskers get home with a four-man pass rush? Are we concerned about the special teams? 

Big Ten replay access is expanding by the day. Could taxi squads make their way to college football in the near future? Have the Los Angeles Rams provided a blueprint for long-distance-traveling Big Ten teams? Also, it’s time for our...

Week 2 of this college football season is buzzing along. At Nebraska, coordinators Dana Holgorsen and Rob Aurich shed light on the performances of their groups Saturday in the season opener. Reviews are in on the QB play of Anthony Colandrea, the defensive juice and the big-man set in the backfield that tied the two units together.

We’re hearing from one of the involved parties, Anthony Jones. And Nebraska wide receiver Jacory Barney offers his thoughts on the penalty assessed on him that took a touchdown off the board. Not a surprise, Barney didn’t like it. Join...

Just like that, it’s already Tuesday of Week 2. We’re here to review the first Monday from inside the Nebraska football season with coach Matt Rhule. He answered questions from the media, highlighting several players who lived up to expectations — or exceeded them — in the Huskers’ season-opening win against Ohio. 

Rhule offered little update on a possible return date for injured linebacker Owen Chambliss. We’re talking on this episode about the Nebraska play at the line of scrimmage, about Mitch’s travel woes en route to Chicago, about strange penalties on kickoffs and about areas of anticipated...

We are back on this Monday. It’s Labor Day. The Nebraska football team is back at work after its season-opening, 49-21 win against Ohio on Saturday in Lincoln. In our first opportunity to review the game, we’re talking about Anthony Colandrea’s composure. The senior quarterback lived up to his offseason billing. Rob Aurich made his debut as defensive coordinator. It started with a shocking breakdown but included some success.

And then there’s Jamal Rule, the freshman running back who’s already well on his way to claiming a spot as a beloved figure in Husker...

The final hours of the offseason are here. Our last episode before the Nebraska football opener and the debut of Year 4 under Matt Rhule has arrived. We’re taking your questions from the mailbag on this first Friday in September. You’re asking about one team on the non-conference schedule who could scare the Huskers? Who’s going to score the season’s first touchdown? 

Will Nebraska fans get to see Frank Solich on Saturday at Memorial Stadium? What’s actually happening with former NFL players in college? Should college football shut down the Ireland game? What does a succ...

Big Ten football returns with heavyweight matchups and major questions: Can UCLA’s Bruins outduel the California Golden Bears in a battle of seasoned quarterbacks and new-look coaching staffs? Is Cal’s offense, powered by transfers like Ian Strong and Dorian Thomas, poised to shock the conference? The Big 10 Squad debates the hottest showdowns, bold picks, and the ongoing “beauty bias” hype around UCLA’s Bob Chesney.

From upset alerts with Michigan State vs. Toledo to whether Fresno State can spoil USC’s home opener, the crew forecasts which Big Ten giants might stumble against the spread. The panel spotli...

Our series of nine Big Ten opponents in nine weeks comes to an end on this Thursday. We are previewing Iowa as the Hawkeyes, without a named starting quarterback, ready for Northern Illinois on Saturday in Iowa City. Is the difference for Nebraska between finishes at 7-5 or 8-4 entirely riding on Black Friday? And was last year, a 40-16 Iowa win after seven consecutive one-score games in this series, an anomaly?

Tay Ellis is no longer committed to Nebraska. What happens now for the Millard South wide receiver, who moved in from Texas this summer to...

The Blackshirts are back. The Nebraska football coordinators answered questions from the media on Tuesday for the final time before the season opener. Rob Aurich is looking to take the defense to a “dark place,” full of intensity, on game days this fall. The DC is leaning into his role, even wearing a plain black sweatshirt on Tuesday. We’re here for it.

On offense, Dana Holgorsen is ready for the games to begin, so he can learn more about what he’s working with this season. How does the OC keep his QB, Anthony Colandrea, in the righ...

Week 1 is underway in Lincoln. The depth chart is out. Where did we swing and miss in our projections? Nebraska has three running backs listed as even. But we have thoughts today on who might take the first snap with the No. 1 offense. What surprised us on how the Huskers have positioned the offensive linemen, in the secondary and up front on defense? 

Coach Matt Rhule, inventor of single digits, is waiting until Saturday and the season opener to unveil the identity of the Huskers set to receive the jerseys. Rhule discussed the need for connectivity on t...

It’s game week. We are excited. Just six days until Nebraska football and Matt Rhule kick off 2026 at Memorial Stadium against Ohio. But did something else have the Huskers’ attention on the final weekend of the offseason? Something to do with their 2027 quarterback commit, Trae Taylor, who put up more than 400 total yards in his debut Friday with Millard South in Omaha after moving from Illinois? 

It didn’t go as smoothly as the stats make it sound. Taylor showed all the skills that make him the No. 1 QB prospect nationally. But he got hit a lot by...