Locked On Nebraska - Daily Podcast on the Nebraska Cornhuskers

What a weekend it was in college football – and for Nebraska, which experienced none of the drama of the top programs who battled for conference titles and CFP spots. The Huskers, though, hired a defensive coordinator in Rob Aurich. They fired an offensive line coach in Donovan Raiola. And they hired Raiola’s replacement, Geep Wade.  Since we last talked on Friday, running back Emmett Johnson depa...

The Nebraska football mailbag is open. Connor and Mitch are here, fielding questions from you. Was John Butler set up to succeed in Lincoln? What did Matt Rhule mean when he talked about a toxic element around the Huskers? Who would you bring back as an assistant coach from the past 15 years? Is the punting job open for competition?  We’ve got a new graphic, courtesy of our friend Nathan in Kansas...

Penn State's chaotic coaching search hits new lows—can the Nittany Lions recover before recruiting collapses? Ohio State and Indiana prepare to clash for the Big Ten Championship as rivals question who truly deserves the conference crown. The crew recaps Rivalry Week, spotlighting Ohio State’s dominant win over Michigan and Indiana’s underrated offense. Hot takes on wide receiver matchups, high-pr...

Signing day took a backseat on Wednesday in Matt Rhule’s latest press conference at Nebraska. The coach announced a 10-player class of recruits. The Huskers were selective. They hit important areas. But other topics took precedence. What’s happening with the defensive coordinator position in the wake of Rhule’s decision to fire John Butler?  Does scheme matter in Rhule’s process to hire the next D...

It’s signing day across college football. And at Nebraska, a small class of just 10 signees – at the moment of our episode release – is indicative of a couple things. The Huskers have a young team, and coach Matt Rhule doesn’t want them to get all that much younger. And Nebraska is primed for a big haul in the transfer portal next month.  Meanwhile, in the aftermath of John Butler’s firing as defe...

One Monday into the offseason, Nebraska is without a defensive coordinator. Matt Rhule fired John Butler as the head coach’s first act of business in bowl season. Was Butler a scapegoat? Do problems exist outside of his control that ultimately contributed to his undoing with the Huskers? Connor and Mitch are here to provide answers on the DC situation. Rhule is now in the market for a huge hire. H...

Welcome to the offseason. Nebraska football has been here before, in this odd space between this year and next year. But it’s different in December 2025, because the Huskers have rarely had as much riding on the decisions that are about to be made. Are changes looming on the defensive side of the ball? What will happen next with QB Dylan Raiola and running back Emmett Johnson? Keep your eyes open....

We’ve reached the end of the regular season. And Nebraska football is out of gas. The Huskers ran on empty for the final 2 ½ quarters on Friday in losing 40-16 at Memorial Stadium against Iowa. It was the Hawkeyes’ seventh consecutive win in Lincoln, their 10th in 11 games against the Huskers and the largest margin in this series since 2017. Why did Nebraska fail to put up a four-quarter fight aga...

Big Ten playoff chaos looms as Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, and Washington battle for a potential four-team bid. Which powerhouse will emerge, and could the Big Ten really send a record number of squads to the College Football Playoff? Spencer McLaughlin leads the debate with Roman Tomashoff, Jacob Goins, Chris Gordy, and Craig Shemon breaking down CFP scenarios, playoff committee rankings, and m...

Happy Thanksgiving! The Nebraska football mailbag is open. We’re here on this holiday to take your questions about food, the Huskers’ seat at the dinner table and the Nebraska quarterback picture. Is it shifting already, with the Black Friday game still to be played? Connor and Mitch have thoughts on Dylan Raiola.  Is Matt Rhule too nice? When might Nebraska stage another Volleyball Day at Memoria...

Trent Condon of Locked On Hawkeyes joins the show on this Wednesday for a conversation about the Black Friday matchup at Memorial Stadium. Mitch and Trent trade analysis on the storylines and strengths for Iowa and Nebraska. The Hawkeyes are aiming to extend the Huskers’ misery in this series with an 10th win in 11 games?  Iowa looks different this year in the run game. The Hawkeyes have improved...

Iowa week is flying by. We’re already halfway through the leadup to the latest episode in the dramatic series that involves Nebraska football and its rival to the east, Iowa. The Hawkeyes got under the Huskers’ skin a year ago in Iowa City. They’ve been beating Nebraska in every opportunity at Memorial Stadium for more than a decade. What does Matt Rhule think of it all? We heard from the Nebraska...

Happy Thanksgiving week. Connor is back with Mitch for this Monday episode. It’s Iowa week. Nebraska is fast moving on from that debacle on Saturday night at Penn State. How much was the performance in a 37-10 loss cause for major concern? And how much of it was due to the Nittany Lions finding themselves at the worst time possible for Nebraska?  We’re talking about the Nebraska defensive line. Ha...

We saw some of this coming. We knew the matchup of Penn State’s running game against the Nebraska defense was going to present a problem. But like that? The Huskers allowed Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton to enter the the Penn State record books as the senior backs combined for 204 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in a 37-10 win for the Nittany Lions. What does this mean for Nebraska and i...

The Friday mailbag is here. Connor and Mitch are reunited on the pod. And we’re taking questions on the decommitment of Dayton Raiola. Is there more happening behind the scenes? Our listeners have questions about Penn State. Are the Nittany Lions interested in playing Nebraska? We take a spin back to 1982. What would have happened if the correct call was made at the end of that game 43 years ago b...

Big Ten College Football Playoff chaos looms as Oregon Ducks face USC Trojans in a game that could determine whether three, four, or even five conference teams make the expanded playoff. Can the Trojans pull off the upset in Eugene and crash the party? The panel breaks down Oregon's defensive dominance against USC's explosive passing attack, Michigan Wolverines' controversial playoff path despite...

We are joined today by Zach Seyko from Locked On Nittany Lions, and have a lot to get through including:  - Where do things stand in the Penn State coaching search?  - Is there any focus in State College on this game at all?  - How has Nebraska adjusted after Dylan Raiola's injury?  - Are we looking at a rock fight?  - Who wins, and what are the keys to the game?  Support Us By Supporting Our Spon...

Making our way through Penn State week at Nebraska. We heard Tuesday from coordinators Dana Holgorsen and John Butler in addition to several Huskers. A chunk of the conversation involved Nebraska’s freshman quarterback, TJ Lateef, who’s set to make his second start in place of injured Dylan Raiola Saturday night in Happy Valley. Is Lateef ready for this challenge? Holgorsen believes in his guy.  W...

Plenty of uncertainty surrounds Nebraska’s trip to Penn State this week. Both teams have questions at quarterback. The Penn State coaching situation remains in flux. But here’s what we know: The Nittany Lions will make Nebraska show that it can stop the run. And if the Huskers can’t, they’ll get a heavy dose all night of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.  Matt Rhule offered his thoughts Monday on...

Say goodbye to the bye week. It’s time for Nebraska-Penn State week and the start of a furious final, two-game stretch for the Huskers. Will they finish the regular season with seven wins, eight or nine? We’re about to find out. In between these two games, the Huskers will get short rest – thanks to a 6 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Beaver Stadium, an early morning of travel home and a short week ahead...

The Friday mailbag is full. Your questions reflect the main topics of this bye week at Nebraska – a little talk about the quarterbacks, a little talk about Matt Rhule’s NIL money, and a lot of talk about Emmett Johnson. How did the Huskers miss Johnson’s greatness before the past year? What would Johnson have to do against Penn State and Iowa to win the Heisman? In what league will he make his mon...

Big Ten playoff hopes hang in the balance as conference chaos continues. How many teams will crash the College Football Playoff party? Ten Big Ten podcast hosts break down the latest rankings and deliver predictions for Week 12's crucial matchups. The discussion covers Iowa's historic struggles on the West Coast ahead of their USC showdown, Michigan State's defensive collapse against Penn State, a...

The bye week for Nebraska football provides us with a chance to look back. One year ago at this time, the Huskers were struggling. They were in danger of moving in the wrong direction as a program. Matt Rhule acted boldly. How much did one move set the dominoes in motion to get the Huskers on track – that is, if you believe they’re on track today?  Also, we’re peering ahead toward December and Jan...

Nebraska football rolled out its Emmett Johnson Heisman Trophy campaign on Tuesday, one day after Matt Rhule went deep on touting the back’s achievements. It’s late to get in the race. Too late, almost certainly, for Johnson to actually contend for the trophy. What’s the motive here for Nebraska? Well, it can help recruiting. It can help Johnson’s bid to win other awards. It can help the Huskers’...

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule brought the heat Monday as the bye week began in Lincoln. Rhule used his weekly press conference platform to speak definitively about the position Nebraska has reached in planning to build a roster through spending in the months ahead. The Huskers have gathered the resources to compete at the highest level, Rhule said. And if this makes you uncomfortable, well, it’s what...