Common Fan - A Nebraska Football Podcast

The Common Fans take a deep dive into Nebraska’s wide receiver room, arguably the most exciting position group on the team and, hopefully, the Huskers’ best bunch of receivers in many years.  It starts at the top: new(ish) OC Dana Holgorsen is known as one of the best offensive minds in college football.  New position coach Daikel Shorts is Holgorsen’s one hand-picked assistant, and is a talented...

As the Nebraska football team begins spring practice, the Common Fans look at five players (plus a few honorable mentions) who are poised for breakout seasons in 2025.    Emmett Johnson – finished 2024 on a major high note and set to be THE GUY at running back in 2025.  Cortez Mills – the true freshman wide receiver most likely to make an immediate impact.  Keona Davis/Riley Van Poppel – two young...

The Common Fans each pick three intriguing storylines to follow as the Nebraska football team prepares to begin spring practice.   Can the offensive line go from good to dominant? Year 2 for Dylan. Completely overhauled D line. Phil Snow effect. New look WR room. Can the defense avoid a steep falloff?  Who will emerge alongside Emmett Johnson at RB?  Mike Ekeler impact. What record constitutes suc...

Nebraska baseball legend Joba Chamberlain joins the Common Fans for a wide ranging conversation about his journey from Lincoln Northeast to the MLB. The crew also talks Husker football fandom and gets Joba’s take on Matt Rhule.  Growing up around the baseball scene in Lincoln.  Journey from Lincoln Northeast to UNK to UNL to the New York Yankees.  Only Husker pitcher in history to notch a W in the...

There’s never a dull moment when it comes to Nebraska football, and Brian Christopherson from Husker 247 joins the Common Fans to discuss all the recent happenings for the Big Red.  BC’s take on new Associate Head Coach Phil Snow (spoiler: he’s impressed).  Pondering an interesting question: what’s more likely – problems with the new staff gelling in time for the season, or the new staff makes an...

The Common Fans look at Matt Rhule’s history of taking a big leap in his third year at a program, and provide their reasons for why it will happen at Nebraska in 2025.  Everyone agrees – special teams must be better (and with Mike Ekeler on board, it will!).  Lots of belief in what Dana Holgorsen can do for the offense.  The moves Rhule has made (roster and coaching staff) + his experience = team-...

The Common Fans celebrate their 100th episode (!!!) by going through every position group on the roster and breaking down where the Huskers have had the biggest gains - and losses - heading into the 2025 season. Major losses on the defensive side of the ball, both through graduation and transfers leaving.  Can they replace Ty Robinson and the Polar Bear on the D line? Linebackers have an exciting...

Even in the offseason, it’s been a busy stretch for Nebraska football and the Common Fans cover it all!  David City, Nebraska native Mike Ekeler is announced as Nebraska’s new special teams coordinator. Ekeler is an elite special teams coach, and may well end up being the most important addition of the offseason.   The Common Fans also discuss Matt Rhule’s comment that there will likely not be a s...

Brandon Vogel from counterread.com joins the Common Fans to discuss Nebraska’s most likely path to the CFP, Year 2 for Dylan Raiola, Year 3 for Matt Rhule, and much more!  The Huskers’ best – and perhaps quickest – path to the playoff.  Can Dylan Raiola take the kind of leap necessary in Year 2 to carry the Huskers to the next level? What Dana Holgorsen brings.  What the hiring of Holgorsen tells...

Two legendary Nebraska sportscasters – Gary Sharp and Mike’l Severe – join the Common Fans for a wide ranging discussion on the state of the Nebraska football program. The crew dissects the 2024 season, looks ahead to 2025, and much more!  Evaluating the 2024 season: was it a success?  Biggest surprise from the season that was. Looking at the areas where Matt Rhule has exceeded expectations throug...

ESPN’s Taylor McGregor joins the Common Fans to talk all the latest with the College Football Playoff, give her take on the sniping between the Big Ten and SEC, and offer some thoughts on Nebraska football heading into Year 3 under Matt Rhule.   Year 1 of the expanded CFP: more football is better than less football! This year proved the expanded playoff makes the regular season more relevant, not...

The Common Fans go through Nebraska’s 2025 schedule and offer their early predictions for how the Huskers will fare in the coming season: Manageable non-conference slate, highlighted by the opener vs. Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium.  Similar to 2024, the back half of the schedule presents the biggest challenges.  Of the four Big Ten teams to make the playoff this season, Nebraska only faces one o...

The Common Fans examine some of the biggest questions facing Nebraska football as the Huskers look to take a big leap in Year 3 of the Matt Rhule era: What will it take to make special teams special again? Can we really expect the defense not to regress? Are the Huskers doing enough in the transfer portal? Offensive line: buying or selling? What can be done to improve game management in 2025? The...

The Common Fans break down Nebraska’s 20-15 win over Boston College in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl:  On a sloppy day at Yankee Stadium, the Big Red gets a W in the Big Apple.  Not always perfect, but the Huskers won the line of scrimmage and made big plays when they most needed to.  Offense moved the ball consistently. Youth movement takes center stage on defense.  Special teams disaster onc...

The Common Fans talk to 1962 Nebraska co-captain and Tom Novak Award winner Dwain Carlson about his experiences as a Husker, including: Growing up in Fullerton and how the bus driver helped him land at Nebraska How growing up on a farm helped him on the football field in the days when nobody lifted weights Devaney’s arrival in 1962 and how he turned the Huskers into a winner Wanting to run through...

The Common Fans talk about their biggest wishes for Nebraska football in 2025. It’s the holidays, so it’s OK to dream big. We won’t spoil the episode for you, but you can expect to hear more about: Big leap on offense. Improvement on special teams. Can the defense hold steady?  Winning close games. How far off is the playoff conversation for the Huskers? Plus, the boys talk about their planned Chr...

The Common Fans break down the first ever 12 team college football playoff, Nebraska’s bowl game, and the other Big Ten bowl matchups: Predictions for each first round CFP game.  Who has the hardest path? Who is best positioned to win it all? Who could make a run? Possible cinderella stories.  How close is Nebraska? When can Husker fans start dreaming of the CFP?  Predicting all the Big Ten bowl m...

The Common Fans break down all the latest Husker news: It’s official: Nebraska will play Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City on December 28.  Fan base seems torn: some disappointment about the bowl destination and the opponent, combined with excitement about the first bowl game since 2016.  Ultimately, it’s a step in the right direction.  Also, the crew discusses Scott Frost’s re...

The Common Fans break down all the latest Husker news: Defensive coordinator Tony White officially leaving for the same role at Florida State. Will defensive line coach Terrance Knighton follow him there? Dana Holgorsen locked in as offensive coordinator with a 2-year contract. Garrett McGuire out (but still w/the program), Daikiel Shorts in as WR coach.  Huskers losing major contributors to the t...

Nebraska's Disappointing Finish Raises the Stakes for Bowl Game and 2025 Season The Common Fans break down Nebraska’s mind-boggling, infuriating, ridiculous loss to Iowa.  For the second consecutive season, Nebraska was in a tie game against Iowa with under 25 seconds left in regulation, with the ball. For the second consecutive season, Nebraska turned it over and gave up the game winning fiel...

It’s another View from the Blandstands, with the Omaha World Herald’s Evan Bland joining the Common Fans to talk about the big win over Wisconsin and look ahead to Iowa.  Huskers are going bowling! Possible bowl destinations.  The Dana Holgorsen impact: simplifying the playbook, promoting competition, improving performance.  What does Holgorsen’s future hold? Does he want to be a head coach again?...

The Common Fans are jubilant as they discuss Nebraska’s first win over Wisconsin in 12 years.  Husker Nation is dancing in the streets as the Big Red gets to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016.  The Nebraska offense played with fearless abandon, carrying the day and never letting Wisconsin make it interesting.  It wasn’t just beating the Badgers but how they did it: the Husker offense...

It’s another View from the Blandstands, with the Omaha World Herald’s Evan Bland joining the Common Fans to talk about the latest Husker news and look ahead to Wisconsin.  Discussing Matt Rhule’s comments from the weekly press conference.  With 105 man roster limits coming next season, Nebraska will have no choice but to cut players in the offseason.  Rhule’s assessment of Dana Holgorsen’s offense...

The Common Fans discuss Nebraska’s heartbreaking loss to USC.  The loss to USC perfectly sums up the last decade of Husker football.  The unlucky bounces, the inability to make crucial stops on defense when needed, the offense not being able to convert key opportunities: all of it is all too familiar to the Big Red faithful.  The painful loss leaves the Common Fans wondering if Nebraska football i...

It’s another View from the Blandstands, with the Omaha World Herald’s Evan Bland joining the Common Fans to talk about the big Dana Holgorsen news and look ahead to USC.  What Dana Holgorsen brings to the table.  How much of a difference can we really expect him to make this late in the season?  Discussing the changes we might see in the Nebraska offense.  Adopting Nebraska’s playbook more than im...