WATCH: Matt Rhule, Dana Holgorsen, John Butler & Dylan Raiola review Cincinnati win, preview Akron
Welcome to Game Week No. 2 for Nebraska football.
Year 3 of the Matt Rhule Era – the most pivotal of his tenure thus far as the Huskers’ head coach – began with a crucial season opener against Cincinnati in Week 1.
Nebraska, of course, came away with a potentially critical 20-17 win over the Bearcats inside a roaring, raucous Arrowhead Stadium that provided the Huskers with what was essentially a home game – at the very least, a home environment – on a neutral-site field in Kansas City.
Husker quarterback Dylan Raiola was extremely efficient (79% completion percentage by finishing 33-of-42 for 243 yards passing and a pair of touchdown throws) while not turning the ball over. Running back Emmett Johnson was also a workhorse, racking up 108 yards rushing on 25 carries (4.3 yards per carry). And it was safety Malcolm Hartzog Jr. who snagged the game-winning, game-sealing (and potentially game-saving) interception in the end zone off Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby to close out the Week 1 win.
RELATED:
>> Dana Holgorsen assesses Nebraska’s 20-17 win over Cincinnati
>> Matt Rhule explains why Isaiah Mozee, Mekhi Nelson didn’t see much action vs. Cincinnati
>> The Checkdown: More observations from Nebraska win over Cincinnati
Now, the next challenge is coming up in Week 2.
Nebraska will host MAC opponent Akron at 6:30 p.m. Central Time on Saturday. Though the Huskers were the beneficiary of what was a de facto home game at the Kansas City Chiefs’ home venue, the upcoming matchup with the Zips (0-1) will be the first Nebraska home game since it got the monkey off its back last November. (The Huskers ended their eight-year drought of not reaching a bowl game by decidedly beating Wisconsin, 44-25, on Nov. 23, 2024 at Memorial Stadium.)
Before that Week 2 matchup with Akron – which lost its season opener, 10-0, to Wyoming on Saturday – Nebraska held its latest media availabilities inside Hawks Championship Center.
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It was another busy press conference day for Nebraska this week as Rhule took the podium for his weekly Monday presser.
On Tuesday afternoon, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, defensive coordinator John Butler, quarterback Dylan Raiola and a handful of additional Husker players – including offensive lineman Teddy Prochazka, tight end Luke Lindenmeyer and safety DeShon Singleton – also spoke to the media.
Watch and listen to Rhule, Holgorsen, Butler, Raiola and the rest of the Nebraska players during the press conference via the videos below.
The press conference videos from Monday and Tuesday featuring Rhule, Holgorsen, Butler and the players are also available to watch for free on the Inside Nebraska YouTube channel.