Corn Nation

LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - SEPTEMBER 14: Fans of the Nebraska Cornhuskers wear hats from a local restaurant chain Runza during the game against the Northern Iowa Panthers at Memorial Stadium on September 14, 2024 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) Getty Images This article brought to you by FanDuel (CLICK HERE to check out FanDuel’s Sportsbook) I decided as this week rolled we needed to start getting to the heart of matters as September 5th creeps ever nearer.

A black base provides the backdrop for metallic red accents inspired by the glow of flames, fireworks and the vibrant red that shines throughout Memorial Stadium on game day. The metallic red finishes evoke the brilliance of the stadium’s nighttime entertainment, calling to mind images of synchronized light shows, as well as the fire tower flames in the end zone and red fireworks shining above the North Stadium scoreboard.

Welcome my most recent edition of my Nebraska football player power rankings. As I have said before, this list will be completely subjective in several ways and may not follow a logical path. Or maybe it will.

Think of this as an intermission, if you will, in the fall practice 4-part review series and look back and forward at 2025 and 2026 Husker Football. (If you’re playing catch-up on the series, CLICK HERE for PART 1 and/or CLICK HERE for PART 2.) The reason?

Nebraska is on the cusp of a pivotal season that could very well determine how Matt Rhule’s tenure in Lincoln ultimately develops. There are plenty of questions surrounding the Huskers heading into 2026, but many of the issues that have plagued Rhule’s team have centered around one area: the trenches. Inconsistency along both the offensive and defensive lines has been a major hurdle for Nebraska.

A few things can be true all at the same time. First, I am excited to watch Anthony Colandrea play quarterback for Nebraska in 2026. I believe he is going to be a substantial upgrade at the quarterback position in terms of leadership and mobility. The ceiling for Nebraska’s offense is substantially higher with him than it ever was with Dylan Raiola. The floor might also be lower as well.

The Five Heart Podcast focuses heavily on Nebraska football as fall camp gets underway, with particular excitement surrounding the revamped defense. The hosts discuss new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich and safeties coach Tyler Yelk, praising their football backgrounds, straightforward personalities, and enthusiasm for Nebraska. The new 4-2-5 defensive scheme is expected to improve Nebraska’s ability to stop the run by putting more bodies near the line of scrimmage.

Owen Chambliss will be the first to tell you he’s far from the loudest guy in the room.

[Below is a nice, cleaned up version of the video, which I assure you, has many rambling moments, including where I talk about running backs being the biggest morons of the football teams. So… if you’d like this cleaned up article, yay! If you like a rambling monologue about what I think about Geep, what I think about the offensive line, then watch the video. THEN COMMENT DAMMIT.] Nebraska’s offensive line 2026 outlook starts with one hire: Geep Wade.

Don’t forget the joke of the week… If you buy something from a link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Yesterday was a big day for me. My oldest, Jeneca, started kindergarten. My wife’s and my little “Quarantiny Suprise” is really no longer that. I get to join the exclusive club of being a proud parent who sees their oldest go to school. Ok, it’s not THAT exclusive, but still, the point remains.