2025-2026 Portal Updates

[Husker_In_WI]

Not impressed whatsoever and this is not going to cut it. The messaging is pivoting to its because we had to pay the guys on the roster to keep them here. I can respect that, keep building with what you have in house and showing belief in the current roster. But something has got to give. You either win now with what you built or show big strides in recruiting/portal. Frankly I would have leaned more on getting some dudes to shore up the issues we had. I think we did that on the OL and that’s it. Rhule has now got to develop what we have to show that he made the right move. There’s no more excuses for poor performances. Gotta win football games bottom line.

We brought in 2 QBs with experience, a starting-caliber WR, 3 LBs (2 with starting experience), and multiple starting DBs. And then the OL as you mentioned, where I think they did a really good job bringing in 3 starters. I don't think RB is that big of a deal.

The only place where we needed some dudes and seem to have failed to get them is the DL. Which is admittedly the position group that needs the biggest jump, so being disappointed in that is fair. Stoudmire could be a playable option, Whittington is intriguing, and I don't really know what the point of signing Anthony Jones was. Better coaching/scheme helping the returning players is the best bet for a big leap there at this point and I don't think that needed to be the case. But I also think looking at the portal class and saying "we only got dudes on the OL" is selling it pretty short.

 

[HuskerNation1]

Not impressed whatsoever and this is not going to cut it. The messaging is pivoting to its because we had to pay the guys on the roster to keep them here. I can respect that, keep building with what you have in house and showing belief in the current roster. But something has got to give. You either win now with what you built or show big strides in recruiting/portal. Frankly I would have leaned more on getting some dudes to shore up the issues we had. I think we did that on the OL and that’s it. Rhule has now got to develop what we have to show that he made the right move. There’s no more excuses for poor performances. Gotta win football games bottom line.

I think we made some strides on the OL and and am happy with the QB, but overall I am not sure enough was done this offseason to make dramatic improvements in Year 4 of Rhule. It's really a make or break year to see if he can get us to 9-plus wins.

 

[The Murphinator]

I think we made some strides on the OL and and am happy with the QB, but overall I am not sure enough was done this offseason to make dramatic improvements in Year 4 of Rhule. It's really a make or break year to see if he can get us to 9-plus wins.

Anyone expecting 9+ wins next year is crazy. Have you seen the schedule? Lucky to get 6 next season. Rhule is definitely in a rough spot. Extension going to keep him here for at least a couple more seasons unless things get really bad.

 

[HuskerNation1]

Anyone expecting 9+ wins next year is crazy. Have you seen the schedule? Lucky to get 6 next season. Rhule is definitely in a rough spot. Extension going to keep him here for at least a couple more seasons unless things get really bad.

Yes I am well aware of the schedule and was one of the first to call out having the easiest schedule since joining the BIG in 2025 and one of the toughest schedules in 2026. Rhule has had 3 years to build a competive team and staff to be prepared to handle a tougher schedule in Year 4. I am not sure why folks treat him like he is new to the program.

As for the extension, Dannen should really be fired next year if Rhule does not get to 9-plus wins.

 

[Hilltop]

Yes I am well aware of the schedule and was one of the first to call out having the easiest schedule since joining the BIG in 2025 and one of the toughest schedules in 2026. Rhule has had 3 years to build a competive team and staff to be prepared to handle a tougher schedule in Year 4. I am not sure why folks treat him like he is new to the program.

As for the extension, Dannen should really be fired next year if Rhule does not get to 9-plus wins.

9 is a pretty high threshold to set for firing him imo. I think it will be more about did we make a bowl game and did the team compete better against the better teams on the schedule. The way this year ended left a sour taste for most. If that happens again, I agree, his seat will be hot. However, if we get to 7 or 8 wins, and genuinely compete against Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon, I can't see a coaching change making any sense.

 

[HuskerNation1]

9 is a pretty high threshold to set for firing him imo. I think it will be more about did we make a bowl game and did the team compete better against the better teams on the schedule. The way this year ended left a sour taste for most. If that happens again, I agree, his seat will be hot. However, if we get to 7 or 8 wins, and genuinely compete against Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon, I can't see a coaching change making any sense.

I think 8 wins and being competitive against all teams is fair for him to be retained. If we finish with fewer than 8 wins and have 2 or 3 blowouts then Dannen needs fired at a minimum. There is no reason a program like Nebraska should not be able to compete after a coach has been around for 4 years.

 

[chamrocck]

9 is a pretty high threshold to set for firing him imo. I think it will be more about did we make a bowl game and did the team compete better against the better teams on the schedule. The way this year ended left a sour taste for most. If that happens again, I agree, his seat will be hot. However, if we get to 7 or 8 wins, and genuinely compete against Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon, I can't see a coaching change making any sense.

I think this is fair. We have to win all those non-conference games or it will be an ugly start. If we get to a winning record and a bowl then I think we bridge to 2027. But there’s like no wiggle room and I think that is where Rhule miscalculated. My initial reaction was due to the fact that we didn’t do well in the portal rankings. I like the potential of some of the pieces we added but did we do enough to get back to being a legitimately ranked football team that can compete in any game we play. I’d argue teams like Iowa, Illinois, and Washington have that over us. If that’s the case then fans are accurately assessing teams like Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon are going to blow our doors off. It’s not a place we should be going into year 4. So I stand firmly that 35th ranked or so in the portal is not cutting it. And like 100th in recruiting is a fireable offense. It’s put up or shut up time.

 

[Husker03]

If the coaching improves w/ the team it seems we have, we should be ok. Not great, but much better than this year. If the coaching continues to be cut rate, we are cooked. And at that point, so should Rhule be.

 

[chamrocck]

If the coaching improves w/ the team it seems we have, we should be ok. Not great, but much better than this year. If the coaching continues to be cut rate, we are cooked. And at that point, so should Rhule be.

I don’t disagree. Time for Rhule and staff to show their coaching and developing chops. That is where they have put their eggs. I’m rooting that they prove me wrong. If so, it will greatly help the program that we have a staff that can develop.

 

[InOmaha]

I'm waiting for ticket prices to go down. Maybe if we suck enough long enough I can get a row of cheap seats and boxes then flip them when we get our Cignetti. Think of the IU season ticket holders now. At least before they tear down the stadium and toss them out for rich people.

Use it as a tax write off for disadvantaged youths until I can sell the box to some corp. You need look at the silver lining.

 

[Toe]

I don't think RB is that big of a deal.

Now there's a quote to bookmark and come back to next season...

 

[LP1]

And then the OL as you mentioned, where I think they did a really good job bringing in 3 starters.

I'm not all that intrigued by Babalade and Mubenga. Mubenga was one of the worst-graded OL in the entire country and Babalade showed very little development during his time at S. Carolina.

 

[LP1]

Anyone expecting 9+ wins next year is crazy. Have you seen the schedule? Lucky to get 6 next season. Rhule is definitely in a rough spot.

I agree, but isn't that why we hired him, and why we're paying him so much? He's supposed to be an elite coach and should be able to win the big games. At the very least he needs to get multiple wins over ranked teams next year, not just wins against teams with no pulse.

 

[Toe]

I agree, but isn't that why we hired him, and why we're paying him so much? He's supposed to be an elite coach and should be able to win the big games. At the very least he needs to get multiple wins over ranked teams next year, not just wins against teams with no pulse.

Exactly. This year was... kinda treading water overall. We need to see some actual forward movement next year.

And when I look at this year's HS and portal classes, I sure ain't seeing a group that looks likely to move us forward much...

 

[Huskerfollower4life]

Exactly. This year was... kinda treading water overall. We need to see some actual forward movement next year.

And when I look at this year's HS and portal classes, I sure ain't seeing a group that looks likely to move us forward much...

Yeah bc Rhule is looking to next years recruiting class with Trae and others to move us forward. .A lot of kids that he brought in from high school this year are going to need to be developed. Other than Danny Odem maybe playing as a freshman I don't see anybody else.