LIVE Updates: Rhule, Raiola talk at Big Ten Media Days
With Media Days for the Big 12 and SEC completed, it’s now time for Nebraska and the Big Ten to talk this week.
Hit this link to view the live updates thread for Big Ten Media Days
For the first time, the Big Ten is holding its three-day Media Days event inside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The event will run from Tuesday to Thursday.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule and three of his players — quarterback Dylan Raiola, offensive lineman Henry Lutovsky and safety DeShon Singleton — will talk on Tuesday. Another safety, Marques Buford Jr., will also tag along as the team’s media correspondent.
Once the group is finished, it’s back on the flight headed for Lincoln. Fall camp is set to begin Monday, July 28.
Here’s a quick Media Days Primer for Nebraska fans. What are the Huskers’ biggest storylines as the 18-team conference invades Sin City?
Matt Rhule’s Year 3 — how real is it?
Rhule’s third year at his previous two college stops, Temple and Baylor, have all produced at least 10 wins. The “Year 3” tag has followed the coach. Now there are expectations of a breakout season in 2025.
After starting 2-10 in 2013 at Temple, Rhule built the Owls into a 6-6 team in 2014 before breaking out with a 10-4 record in 2015. At Baylor, where he inherited a program in scandal, Rhule went 1-11 in his debut 2017 season. Baylor’s record shot up to 7-6 in 2018 before the breakthrough 11-3 campaign in 2019, which included a Sugar Bowl appearance.
In Rhule’s second year he already accomplished something the head coach before him, Scott Frost, couldn’t do — he won enough games (6) to qualify for a bowl game. Then he won the bowl game to put a jolt of momentum into the program.
The players are bought-in. The culture is set. Will Rhule make it 3-for-3 with his Year 3 jumps?
There are legit reasons to be excited about the offense
One can’t help but look at the Nebraska offense and get excited. You have a returning star quarterback in Raiola who spent all offseason with offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Big expectations for that combo.
But those expectations are warranted. Raiola is surrounded by what appears to be a pretty solid group.
At the offensive line, there aren’t really many question marks outside of right tackle. Alabama transfer Elijah Pritchett at left tackle, Henry Lutovsky at left guard, Justin Evans at center and Notre Dame transfer Rocco Spindler at right guard is a good-looking unit on paper.
While you could flip Lutovsky and Spindler at the guard spots and be fine, the only toss up is who wins the starting right tackle job. The candidates include Tyler Knaak, Gunnar Gottula, Teddy Prochazka and Turner Corcoran. Either way, there’s depth along the O-line, both on the edges and interior.
At running back, Emmett Johnson seems primed for a breakout year. We saw the elusiveness the Minnesota native brought to the run game in 2024. But we also saw how he can impact the offense as a receiver. Holgorsen clearly enjoyed Johnson and his run-catch ability.
Raiola also has a talented pass-catcher group that’s high on potential but low on proven production outside of Kentucky transfer Dane Key.
But Cal transfer Nyziah Hunter and returner Jacory Barney Jr. offer dynamic options. If defenses dedicate time and energy to stopping Key, that only means good things for Hunter, Barney and the tight ends in Luke Lindenmeyer, Heinrich Haarberg, Mac Markway and hybrid Carter Nelson.
And don’t forget about the two potential instant-impact true freshmen in Cortez Mills and Isaiah Mozee.
How many different roles can we see Mozee in? He was used as a running back in high school, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get backfield handoffs of some sort. Oh, and there’s Jeremiah Jones. That kid looks incredible, but how quickly can he get up to speed after arriving in the summer?
There are legit reasons to be excited about the Nebraska offense.
How quickly can the new faces on the field and sideline mesh for the Nebraska defense?
The defensive side of the ball at Nebraska has new leadership. John Butler takes over for Tony White as defensive coordinator. Terry Bradden takes over for Terrance Knighton as defensive line coach. South Florida recruiting ace Phil Simpson is in his first season coaching a position (JACK linebackers) in college football. Addison Williams replaces Butler as defensive backs coach.
On top of it all, Phil Snow is now the associate head coach at Nebraska. The longtime Rhule assistant will have an eye on everything the Huskers do defensively.
Too many cooks in the kitchen? How quickly everyone on and off the field meshes will be important. Everyone being there for spring ball is great. But the season will provide a different kind of challenge, and everyone needs to be on the same page.
John Butler is in the driver’s seat at DC for the first time since 2013
Rhule staying in-house and elevating John Butler to DC instead of spending big money elsewhere raised some eyebrows in the Nebraska fan base.
Not only was Butler’s DB group one of the weakest units on the defense in 2024, the coach hasn’t been a DC since 2013 when he held the role at Penn State. Butler, of course, was in a tough spot last year after arriving late in July. And there were clearly learning experiences going from coaching NFL men to college kids.
Rhule has said the defense won’t be that different from the version under White. Understandably, Butler didn’t say much when media members asked this spring what his defense will look like. Those questions will be answered Aug. 28 against Cincinnati in Kansas City.
How smooth will Mike Ekeler’s transition go on special teams at Nebraska?
If Nebraska’s field goal unit was even average last season, maybe the Huskers would have ended with more than seven wins.
Is New Hampshire transfer Kevin Gallic the answer at snapper? If he can just be consistently average, you have to feel good about one of the three field goal kickers working out — Tristan Alvano, John Hohl or Cal transfer Kyle Cunanan.
Out goes Ed Foley as special teams coordinator. In comes Mike Ekeler from Tennessee, and he’s made changes. The biggest change is a complete shift from traditional-style punting to a roll-out style, often referred to as rugby-style.
If new Australian punter Archie Wilson does indeed win the job, he’ll need to handle the pressure well. Ekeler will be right there to help the young athlete who has never seen or played in a college football game before.