Go Big Ribbit

09/08/2026

The Maryland I (and all modifications of it) is great for the Huskers and great for college football)

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19dc9ZRVvF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/05/2026

🐸 POSTGAME RIBBIT: NEBRASKA 49, OHIO 21

The Huskers pulled away, and that’s exactly what a Big Ten team is supposed to do.

Well, I was right about the first half. I just wasn’t expecting Nebraska to eventually put 49 points on the board.

Ohio came into Lincoln and gave Nebraska a legitimate test early. Let’s remember something before dismissing the Bobcats because they’re from the MAC. Ohio went 9-4 last season, and this is a program that has become accustomed to winning.

Want a depressing Nebraska comparison?

The last time Nebraska itself won nine games was 2016 under Mike Riley, when the Huskers finished 9-4.

Yeah. It’s been a minute.

Ohio graduated a lot from last year’s team, but there is a winning culture in Athens. A lot of the foundation for that was built by a man Nebraska fans know pretty well, Frank Solich. Seeing Frank back in Memorial Stadium and taking part in the coin toss was just plain cool.

Then Ohio came out swinging.

The Bobcats hit Nebraska with a 68-yard pass on their first offensive play, and for a good portion of the first half, I wasn’t thinking, “When are the Huskers going to put these guys away?”

I was thinking, “Uh… are we actually going to lose to Ohio?”

Nebraska led only 14-13 at halftime.

Then the Huskers’ depth started showing.

Offensively, there was a lot to like. Anthony Colandrea looked like he was in command of Dana Holgorsen’s offense. He looked comfortable running the show, and Nebraska was willing to RUN THE DADGUM FOOTBALL.

And they didn’t just live on explosive plays.

Nebraska showed it could sustain drives, move the chains and impose its will on Ohio as the game went along. That’s the part I really liked. Big plays are great. Being able to put together sustained drives is what travels into Big Ten play.

And let’s talk about Jamal Rule.

Or, as I kept wanting to call him…

Coach Rhule’s kid. 😂

Before anybody starts an NCAA investigation, Jamal Rule is NOT Matt Rhule’s son. His last name isn’t even spelled the same way.

But our honorary “nepo baby” sure looked like a dude Nebraska is going to have to keep feeding.

Rule scored twice in the first half, once on the ground and once on a 24-yard reception from Colandrea, and finished with a hat trick of touchdowns. That’s a pretty good way to introduce yourself to Memorial Stadium.

Mekhi Nelson also made plays, and Nebraska looks like it has some legitimate options in the backfield.

Credit also goes to offensive line coach Geep Wade. Nebraska increasingly looked capable of moving people and controlling the line of scrimmage as the game wore on. That’s exactly what I wanted to see.

And Jacory Barney Jr. continues to make things happen. He had a 27-yard reception in the first quarter and showed again why Nebraska needs to find ways to get the ball in his hands.

At this point I’m officially proposing a name for the Nebraska receiving corps:

BARNEY & FRIENDS. 😂

You’re welcome.

Now for the part that concerns me.

Nebraska looked slow defensively.

Ohio quarterback Nick Poulos looked awfully comfortable at times. Nebraska allowed Ohio to hit explosive plays, and Ohio moved the football far too easily during stretches of the first half. Our defense made Poulos look really, really good.

The encouraging part is that Nebraska adjusted and improved as the game went along.

The concerning part is what happens when the quarterback and skill players on the other side have Big Ten speed.

New defensive coordinator Rob Aurich has some work to do.

I’m willing to give him some time. His defenses have shown that they can improve as his system takes hold, and he’s installing that system with a new group of players. I’m not ready to panic after one game.

But I’m definitely circling this one.

The defense has to get faster, cleaner and more disruptive before conference play.

Special teams? Adequate.

They weren’t a liability, and that’s good. They also weren’t the weapon that Mike Ekeler’s special teams were last season.

I don’t know what exactly went down between Matt Rhule and Ekeler, and I’m not going to pretend that I do. Whatever happened behind the scenes, it’s a bummer Nebraska couldn’t retain him. I liked what Ekeler brought to that phase of the game.

Under Brett Maher and Nick Humphrey, today’s special teams were basically adequate.

And I’ll take adequate over disastrous.

But two penalties on kickoffs are unacceptable. Period.

Special teams cannot give away free yards like that.

Nebraska was simply too sloppy with penalties overall. False starts, a facemask, special-teams penalties, and big plays and scoring opportunities affected by flags.

Against Ohio, you can survive that.

Against the better teams on Nebraska’s Big Ten schedule, those mistakes can get you beat.

Clean it up.

And while we’re at it, I have to mention the new uniforms.

I wasn’t completely sure how I’d feel about them until I actually saw them on the field, but they looked pretty clean. They looked sharp on TV.

They’re still unmistakably Nebraska. They didn’t mess around with the identity too much, and seeing the whole look together during an actual game sold me on them more than the promotional pictures did.

I’m okay with them.

Actually, I think they looked pretty dadgum good.

So here’s my final Ribbit:

Nebraska played four quarters of football.

Ohio punched Nebraska in the mouth.

Nebraska didn’t panic.

The Huskers eventually leaned on their superior depth, took control of the game and pulled away to win 49-21.

That’s what you’re supposed to do.

I’ve said all along that I wish Nebraska’s nonconference schedule had been arranged differently:

North Dakota
Bowling Green
Ohio
Ohio would have been the best third game because this is a program accustomed to winning. The MAC isn’t the Big Ten, but good MAC teams can absolutely make Power Four teams uncomfortable.

Ohio did exactly that.

Now Nebraska gets Bowling Green next week, followed by North Dakota before Big Ten play begins.

I’d like to see Nebraska handle Bowling Green more comfortably. Against North Dakota, I’d love to see the starters build a lead and spend a good chunk of the second half standing on the sideline while the second and third teams get meaningful snaps.

After Week 1, I like what I saw from the offense. Colandrea looked in control. Rule looks like a real weapon. Nelson contributed. Barney made plays. The offensive line showed some muscle. Nebraska ran the football and showed it could sustain drives.

Special teams were adequate. Not a liability, but two kickoff penalties are unacceptable.

The defense is the big question mark. Rob Aurich has some work to do.

I don’t know yet what this defense looks like against Big Ten competition. That’s the biggest question I have coming out of today.

But Nebraska is 1-0.

They took a punch from a program(thanks to former Nebraska Coach Frank Solich) that knows how to win, responded, played four quarters and eventually did what the better team should do.

I’ll take it.

FINAL: NEBRASKA 49, OHIO 21

🐸 GO BIG RIBBIT.
🔴 GO BIG RED.

09/05/2026

It’s GameDay, Fluffernutters!!!

https://youtu.be/6haLSvVm6OM?is=nmwa_bCJaFU90vTy

09/04/2026

GO BIG RIBBIT PREDICTION: NEBRASKA 17, OHIO 10

I think Nebraska wins Saturday. I also think it’s going to be closer than a lot of people expect.

Before we get to the prediction, we have to talk about Frank Solich.

There couldn’t be a more appropriate opponent to open the season against than Ohio. Solich took over for Tom Osborne at Nebraska, went 58-19 in six seasons, won the 1999 Big 12 championship and took Nebraska to the national championship game following the 2001 season.

Then came 2002. Nebraska went 7-7. Solich made changes, got the Huskers back to 9-3 the next year, and Nebraska fired him anyway.

He landed at Ohio and turned the Bobcats into a consistently relevant program. Solich won 115 games there, became the winningest head coach in MAC history and took Ohio to 11 bowl games.

They eventually named the field at Peden Stadium Frank Solich Field.

And now Frank is coming home.

Nebraska is honoring Solich this weekend with its Football Hall of Fame Legend Award. He’ll be recognized at Memorial Stadium Saturday and is expected to serve as honorary coin-tosser.

That’s pretty dadgum cool.

Part of me wishes Nebraska were playing a Frank Solich-coached Ohio team Saturday.

Another part of me is very glad we’re not.

I like Ohio as a nonconference opponent.

I don’t like playing them first.

This game was scheduled back in 2020 when Solich was still Ohio’s coach, so I understand why Nebraska wanted it.

But I’d rather open with North Dakota, work out the first-game kinks, and then play Ohio.

The Bobcats went 9-4 last season and 6-2 in the MAC. They averaged 27.8 points per game, beat West Virginia, lost by only three at Rutgers and finished by beating a 10-win UNLV team 17-10 in the Frisco Bowl.

And UNLV’s quarterback?

Anthony Colandrea.

Yep. Our new quarterback.

Ohio held Colandrea to 184 passing yards, no passing touchdowns and an interception. He did run for UNLV’s only touchdown.

So Ohio already knows it can beat Nebraska’s new QB.

That makes me a little nervous.

Here’s the good news.

Ohio lost significant pieces from that 9-4 team, including quarterback Parker Navarro, and the Bobcats have a first-year head coach in John Hauser.

Nebraska has much more returning experience.

The Huskers return six starters on offense and six on defense. Seventy-two percent of Nebraska’s roster is at least in its third year of college football, and Nebraska ranks third nationally with 69 percent of last year’s production returning.

We also added plenty of experienced transfers.

If this becomes a depth game, Nebraska should win it.

But we’ve got unknowns too.

New quarterback. New defensive coordinator. New offensive line coach. And after having the luxury of Emmett Johnson last year, Dana Holgorsen hasn’t even named a clear No. 1 running back yet.

Welcome to college football in the transfer-portal era.

Sometimes you just don’t know what you’ve got until somebody kicks the ball off.

Anthony Colandrea is my biggest wild card Saturday.

I hope this guy is good.

He’s talented. He was Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year last season, threw for 3,459 yards and 23 touchdowns, and he’s got plenty of starting experience.

I also love having a mobile quarterback. When everything breaks down, he can make something happen with his legs.

And let’s just say it:

The dude looks like Herbie Husker.

Blond hair. Goofy grin. Then you listen to his press conferences and he frequently says things like:

“Aw, shoot.”

Come on.

If somebody designed a quarterback in a laboratory specifically to play football at Nebraska, we’re getting pretty close here.

I like the kid.

Now let’s see him win.

Because there is one big concern: turnovers.

Colandrea has been interception-prone, and his last college football game was a loss to the same team he’s facing Saturday.

Maybe that gives him a little extra motivation.

What I don’t want is Nebraska working through opening-day mistakes, Colandrea getting frustrated and trying to force plays against a team that already knows it can beat him.

Protect the football. Let Geep Wade’s offensive line go to work. Use Nebraska’s depth. Don’t give Ohio short fields.

Do that and Nebraska wins.

So here it is.

Nebraska 17, Ohio 10.

Yep. 17-10.

That’s a lot more conservative than Vegas, which has Nebraska favored by more than three touchdowns.

I hope Vegas is right and I’m completely wrong.

I would love nothing more than to watch Nebraska come out Saturday and absolutely light up the scoreboard.

Because Matt Rhule needs a statement.

I’ve said it before: I don’t know yet whether I like Matt Rhule as Nebraska’s coach.

I want to like him.

I want him to be the guy.

But he’s got to prove it.

Nebraska has gone 7-6 in each of the past two seasons. We haven’t won nine games since Mike Riley’s 2016 team.

At some point, progress has to show up in the win column.

Rhule isn’t getting fired because of one bad game or even one disappointing season. But fan enthusiasm matters. Booster enthusiasm matters. The sellout streak matters.

Winning, and looking good doing it, gives people a reason to believe again.

So here’s my measuring stick.

If Nebraska comes out Saturday and beats a solid Ohio program by three or four touchdowns?

Watch out.

Maybe this Nebraska team is better than I think.

If Nebraska grinds out a close win?

Then we’re probably looking at something similar to the last couple of years. A team capable of winning football games, but still trying to take that next step.

Could Ohio pull the upset?

Sure. It’s college football. They’re a MAC program coming off nine wins. They’re not coming to Lincoln expecting to lose.

Some people are even throwing Ohio around as a possible upset pick.

I don’t buy it.

Nebraska has more depth, more returning production and Memorial Stadium.

I think the Huskers survive the opening-day mistakes.

It’s going to be closer than people think.

But I’m picking the Big Red.

Nebraska 17, Ohio 10.

And if the Huskers make me look like an idiot by winning 42-10?

I’ll gladly take it.

Go Big Red. Go Big Ribbit.

-Husker Holys

08/30/2026

GO BIG RIBBIT: A New Season, an Old Team, and a Long Memory

By Husker Holys

It’s been an interesting offseason.

And heading into another Nebraska football season, I’ll admit something right away: I still don’t know what I think about Matt Rhule.

I don’t know if I like him. I don’t know if he’s a great coach who is eventually going to get Nebraska where we want to go, or if he’s ultimately going to be another stopgap between where Nebraska was and wherever Nebraska football finally lands.

I just don’t know.

And maybe that’s the best way to describe where I am with Husker football right now: wait and see.

Last year, when I stopped doing the Bug Pod podcast and began transitioning what I was doing into what has now become Go Big Ribbit, my life had changed considerably. I had lost a good friend and the person I spent so much time doing the Bug Pod with, Dr. Charles “Chip” Smith.

I was grieving. I still am, a little bit.

And strangely enough, that experience has made me think differently about Nebraska football, because I think Husker fans are grieving too.

Obviously, losing a football dynasty is nothing like losing someone you love. But grief, in its broadest sense, comes whenever something important to us changes and we realize the old version isn’t coming back.

People sometimes describe Nebraska fans as long-suffering.

I don’t think that’s quite right.

We aren’t a long-suffering fan base. We’re a long-remembering fan base.

There are programs whose fans have never watched their team win a national championship. Iowa fans have never experienced what Nebraska fans experienced five times.

We have.

We remember.

We remember the walk-ons. We remember superior strength and conditioning. We remember offensive lines imposing their will on people. We remember option football and power running. We remember when Nebraska didn’t hope to compete nationally. Nebraska expected to compete nationally.

And that’s what makes the last couple of decades so difficult.

We know what worked.

And we also know we can’t simply do it anymore.

College football has changed. NIL has changed it. The transfer portal has changed it. Recruiting has changed. Rosters change almost overnight. The old Nebraska formula cannot simply be pulled out of storage, dusted off and run again.

That’s hard for a long-remembering fan base.

Last season, I was checked out for much of the year. Even this offseason, I’ve struggled with what college football has become.

But I’ve also realized something.

I root for Nebraska because Nebraska is my team.

Not because they’re winning.

Not because they’re playing exactly the kind of football I want them to play.

Not because I approve of every coaching decision.

They’re my team.

There are memories attached to that N. There are people attached to it. There are Saturdays attached to it. There are parts of my life attached to it.

And I’m ready to see what happens next.

There are reasons for optimism.

Donovan Raiola is gone, and Nebraska bringing in an offensive line coach with the résumé of Geep Wade is fascinating to me. Nebraska desperately needs better offensive line play, and I’m excited to see whether Wade can finally get that room moving in the right direction. If he does, Dana Holgorsen suddenly has a lot more possibilities with this offense.

Then there’s Anthony Colandrea.

He’s exciting. He’s mobile. And I’ve believed for a long time that Nebraska needs mobility at quarterback. I don’t think Nebraska football is at its best with a statue standing in the pocket.

Now, those interceptions concern me.

But I’ve joked before that if nothing else works, maybe we just have Colandrea start running the option.

Hey, I’m a long-remembering Husker fan. What did you expect?

There are concerns too.

I didn’t like the drama surrounding Mike Ekeler and Matt Rhule. I wish Nebraska could have retained Ekeler, and special teams remains something I’m watching carefully.

And then there’s Rhule himself.

I don’t think Matt Rhule gets fired if Nebraska underachieves this season. His contract situation makes that extremely unlikely.

But I do think this is a make-or-break season in another sense.

If Nebraska doesn’t show meaningful improvement, eventually donors and boosters stop believing. Financial support gets harder to maintain. Enthusiasm fades. And that makes an already difficult rebuilding job even harder.

I want Matt Rhule to be the guy.

I really do.

I want him to be more than another stopgap. I want to watch him do at Nebraska what he did at Temple and Baylor. I don’t think that’s impossible.

But like a lot of Husker fans, I’m done predicting that the breakthrough is definitely coming.

Show me.

I also don’t think Nebraska ends up muddling around at six or seven wins this season. My feeling is that we’re going to learn something definitive.

Either Nebraska shows a real positive trajectory and wins eight or nine games, or things go badly enough that serious questions about the direction of the program become unavoidable.

I think we’re going to find out what Matt Rhule’s Nebraska actually is.

And then there’s the sellout streak.

Memorial Stadium badly needs its upcoming renovation. Frankly, I think Tom Osborne made the stadium too big when Nebraska expanded it beyond 90,000 seats during his time as athletic director.

This season, the sellout streak appears more vulnerable than it has in a long time.

There’s actually something good about that: ordinary families are getting opportunities to attend games. Nebraska has been offering deals. Tickets are accessible.

Troy Dannen has expressed confidence that Nebraska can get the tickets sold. And if corporate purchases are ultimately needed to keep the streak alive one more season, I’m perfectly fine with it.

Yes, I know the streak has been artificially supported before.

I don’t care.

It’s ours.

It’s something special that Nebraska still has. It’s something this fan base has maintained through some absolutely miserable football.

So prop the dadgum thing up for one more year if you have to.

The stadium renovation changes everything next season anyway, and eventually Memorial Stadium will emerge with a smaller capacity. Once the renovation is finished, if someday the streak ends naturally, it ends.

But after everything Husker fans have sat through?

Give us this one.

And maybe that’s ultimately where I am heading into this season.

I’m trying to stop demanding that Nebraska football become 1995 again.

That team isn’t coming back.

That version of college football isn’t coming back either.

Sometimes I look at what Curt Cignetti has done at Indiana and laugh when people call him a unicorn, because some of what he does feels remarkably familiar to anyone who remembers how Nebraska coaches operated in the 1990s.

But Nebraska has to find its own way forward in 2026.

Maybe Matt Rhule is the guy who finds it.

Maybe he isn’t.

We’re going to find out.

I hope Geep Wade builds an offensive line that’s fun to watch. I hope Holgorsen gets this offense moving. I hope Colandrea makes plays with his legs, throws fewer interceptions and, if necessary, accepts my completely unsolicited recommendation to install the option.

Mostly, I hope Nebraska football starts giving us something to cheer about again and begins finding the kind of success we’ve watched so many other Husker sports achieve.

And I’m going to enjoy finding out.

There won’t be a weekly podcast this year. Instead, Go Big Ribbit will have a pregame and postgame write-up right here on Facebook.

A little football. A little analysis. Probably some frustration. Hopefully some celebrating.

Because after everything, I’m still here.

We’re still here.

We’re long-remembering.

And it’s still our team.

Here’s to hoping Matt Rhule proves he’s the guy.

Go Big Red. And Go Big Ribbit. 🐸🌽🏈

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

Classic 1983 Poster done with 1983 graphics.

08/17/2026

Classic 70s Husker Song.

Neat old Nebraska Cornhuskers Song I put to some old cornhusker foo...

08/15/2026

I wish the blackout helmets had the Blackshirts Skull and Crossbones, but these will do.