WATCH: Matt Rhule's last updates before Nebraska vs. Akron
Game Week No. 2 for Nebraska football is roughly 48 hours away.
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.
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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 this week.
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The latest press conference featured Huskers coach Matt Rhule taking the podium for a lightning-round session with the media. The Nebraska head man gave his final updates, injury report and other thoughts on the matchup with Akron before his squad takes on the Zips.
Watch and listen to Rhule during the press conference via the video below.
This week’s press conference videos – Rhule’s Thursday lightning round, his Game Week presser from Monday, plus Tuesday’s media availability with OC Dana Holgorsen, DC John Butler, QB Dylan Raiola and several more Husker players – are also available to watch for free on the Inside Nebraska YouTube channel.