Nebraska football is 4-0 for the first time since 2016, but Coach Matt Rhule isn’t satisfied.
The Cornhuskers beat Michigan State 31-13 in East Lansing for the first time since 2012 on Saturday. However, the Spartans’ success in speeding up their tempo during their 10-play, 79-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter showed Rhule an area in which the Blackshirts still need to do some fine-tuning.
“We have to understand when we’re rushing the way we’re rushing, you’re going to get screens,” Rhule said. “So we’ve seen a lot of them, but we have to rally to each and every one of them.”
Preparing to be ready for whatever the opposition throws at them has been a focus for the Huskers all season. They have team tempo periods Monday nights to help prepare them for game day.
“I think (defensive coordinator) Rob (Aurich) always does a good job saying, ‘Hey, how do I have the right call for what they do tempo-wise?’” Rhule said. “And then for us, it’s about making sure they’re physically conditioned, but mentally conditioned to be out there and just play the next play and get ready to go.”
Rhule would like to see more from the special teams unit as well. Former special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler’s preference was to kick it shorter and higher to allow the coverage team to surround the ball and prevent returns, and Nebraska has only seen its opponents return two punts all season, for a total of 7 yards. However, the head coach believes his team can be more aggressive in that area to further back teams up.
“We can go left, we can go right, but (sophomore punter) Archie (Wilson) is capable of kicking a 50-, 55-yard punt,” Rhule said. “We would like to kick some of those ‘A’ balls and let them return it and tackle them for 6 yards.”
The Huskers will continue working on those areas as they begin preparation for Maryland.
Nebraska may be without freshman running back Jamal Rule and junior wide receiver Jacory Barney Jr. after they both suffered injuries in the first half against Michigan State Saturday. Neither returned to the game, and Rhule said he will not provide an update on their status until Wednesday when Nebraska files its availability report.
Maryland will head into Saturday’s meeting at 2-2 with sophomore quarterback Malik Washington leading the way. The signal caller has completed 66% of his passes for 1,034 yards and six touchdowns with four interceptions.
“He’s elite getting outside the pocket,” Rhule said. “He can pick the ball up and run for a first down, but he’s pretty elite at getting outside the pocket and throwing first than running, so you have to make sure everyone’s covered.”
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Sidney Stewart leads the way for the Terrapins. Last year, he led Maryland in tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (seven) and quarterback hurries (seven), and he had the team’s lone safety. The 6-foot-2, 247-pound edge rusher has carried his disruptive play into 2026 with a sack and a forced fumble through four games. However, he has some help this season as the Terps have totaled 12 sacks, tied for second in the Big Ten — behind only Nebraska’s 15.
“This is a defense that we’re facing that has huge men inside. They’re a 3-4 defense with two big edges,” Rhule said. “We like to get in 12 personnel, two tight ends, and they’re kind of built for that. Then ee get into kind of our 11, 10 — three receivers, four receivers stuff, and they have some big, stout guys inside, so it will be a great challenge for us to see if we can improve at all this week.”
Kickoff between Nebraska and Maryland on Saturday is set for 3 p.m. CT on FS1 and the Huskers Radio Network.
