Corn Nation: for Nebraska Cornhuskers fans

HUSKERS HAPPY HOUR: Time To Be Road Warriors!

The Huskers finally end their 40+ day homestand with the first stop in College Park, Maryland, for a showdown with the #1 Terps.
Along with Michigan State post-game and the Maryland preview, we’ll talk about how Big 10 expansion from the west coast may have benefitted the Huskers most of all.
And, of course, we’ll go wherever our HHH viewer comments take us - you guys have really been ramping up your game the past few weeks!
In addition? You wanted her - you got her. Mylie will be dropping in to give us a volleyball update & a post-thrashing of Penn State certainly seems like a fine time to bring her in.

Monday Night Therapy

Minnie and Fred open Monday Night Therapy celebrating Nebraska’s 38–27 win over Michigan State, then pivot to a Maryland preview with guest Matt Germack of SB Nation/Testudo Times. Matt explains “September Maryland”: 19–3 in September over five years, 12–22 afterward. He says the Terps’ defense is notably improved with a legit pass rush (freshmen edge duo Sidney Stewart and Zaheer Mathis), but the offense is unbalanced: an anemic run game and shaky O-line have forced heavy RPO passing. Standout freshman QB Malik Washington looks poised and accurate, but Maryland’s fourth-quarter collapse vs. Washington (after leading 20–0) highlighted play-calling issues and inexperience. He notes Maryland leads the Big Ten in sacks and can exploit pressure-to-sack tendencies, a concern versus Nebraska’s developing tackles.
Crowd edge may favor Nebraska: it’s Maryland’s fall break, so attendance could dip. Special teams could swing the game—Maryland’s kicker is reliable short, punter is excellent, but kickoff coverage leaks; Nebraska’s special teams are “kick-ass,” with recent return TDs and an Aussie punter. The hosts like Nebraska’s defensive matchup against Maryland’s run struggles and believe continuity on the Huskers’ O-line can help protect Dylan Raiola, whose composure and leadership stood out in windy conditions vs. MSU.
Prediction vibe: a competitive game, slight Nebraska lean.

Corn Nation Overreaction: Strong Fourth Quarter Lifts Huskers Past Michigan State

This week on Corn Nation Overreaction, the guys are talking about the weekend's win over Michigan State.
Despite scoring on their first drive and blocking a punt for a touchdown on the Spartans' first drive (shout out Special Teams!), at times the Huskers looked lost. The interior quarters (second and third) were pretty atrocious. At one point, the Huskers, who had opportunity after opportunity to put the game away, trailed the visitors by a touchdown.
So what happened? What was the moment that flipped the proverbial script and set the Huskers back on track to victory? At the personnel level, how did the players grade out?
It was another wild weekend in the Big Ten, as UCLA proved you don't need coaches to beat top ten teams.
Honestly, it feels like the conference is so topsy-turvy (we're going for legitimate words today).

Five Heart Podcast: They Come from East Lansing to Face Our Huskers

This week on the Five Heart Podcast, it's time to get back in the saddle and preview some Nebraska football.
The 3-1 Huskers host the 3-1 Michigan State Spartans for the fourth straight home game (fifth if you include Husker Nation's takeover of Arrowhead Stadium). Nebraska is coming off a 30-27 loss to Michigan. Sparty also won their first three games just to lose their conference opener.
The Spartans have two wins over lesser competition (Western Michigan and Youngstown State) as well as a two-point win over the ACC's Boston College. Yes, the same Boston College that Nebraska beat in the Pinstripe Bowl at the end of 2024.
Every indication is that the Huskers will not see a defensive front like Michigan's, probably for the rest of the season. So heading into this weekend, are you optimistic? What's your mindset? Where are your five hearts?
We'll peel back the bandages and prepared to hope again.

HUSKER HAPPY HOUR: More Michigan Twerps & What a Bye Week

It is once again game week and, once again, some Michigan twerps are barging into Lincoln. So we’ll take a look at Sparty and what they’ll bring to the party and hazard a guess or two as to what if any changes the Huskers will be unearthing.
I’ll be broadcasting from another Colorado motel, but I haven’t made up my mind where that will be yet, as the last few days in the mountains will involve whatever wanderlust grabs my fancy.
The snot & sneezing were gone the morning after last week’s show and further trail adventures have only gotten better by the day, although some sleet on Monday was unexpected, but better than rain.
So check on Huskers expectations with one loss under the belt.

Monday Night Therapy LIVE Nebraska MSU Preview

On this episode of Monday Night Therapy, Minnie and Fred welcome Matt Sheehan from Locked On Spartans to preview Nebraska–Michigan State. Matt says MSU’s offense has taken a big step: QB Aiden Childs is smarter with the ball and dangerous on designed or scramble runs, with NFL-caliber targets like Nick Marsh. The offensive line is improved but dealing with injuries, including a sidelined left tackle. The problem is defense—especially the pass rush. After allowing big yards to USC and even Youngstown State, MSU has struggled to generate pressures or sacks, leaving the secondary exposed. Run defense is “serviceable,” special teams are a real strength (elite punter, solid kicker/returns), and the fanbase is split between “be patient in Year 2” and “this isn’t good enough.” Matt predicts a shootout, calling it a “first to 30” game and picking Nebraska 34–29, while warning that Childs could keep it close if protection holds.
In the back half, the crew switches to birthday fun as Minnie turns 50, sharing throwback photos from the Coronation community—cue Zubaz, letterman jackets, and 2008 haircuts—while good-natured ribbing flies. They close feeling optimistic about the weekend, plugging upcoming shows, and signing off with a hearty “Go Big Red.”

Corn Nation Overreaction: The Bye Week Blues

The Nebraska Cornhuskers had a bye week after completing the first third of the 2025 football season. The Huskers are 3-1 (0-1 in the Big Ten). This week's show is going to be an analysis/assessment of the first four games. Hoss will have scouting reports on how opponents defend Dana Holgorsen's offense. He also has a few ideas on how we can defend Michigan State when the Spartans come to town next week. The bye week for Nebraska was a day of chaos across the Big Ten, with close games seemingly coast to coast. The trio will discuss that as well and prepare you for Sparty.

Five Heart Podcast: The Michigan Game is Fully Digested. How do you feel?

Well, it's the end of September and we're a third of the way through the 2025 football season. Nebraska is 3-1 with lopsided wins over inferior opponents. But the recent loss to Michigan that opened up conference play shined a spotlight on areas of weakness, where our beloved Huskers need to improve.
Offensive line, defensive line, tackling.
While we still have eight games in and the transfer portal is not open, I think the case can be made to prioritize the Jimmy's and Joe's up front. It was once said that top tier linemen are fewer and far between than five-star skill players.
I think we can say our wide receiver room took a giant leap forward in the off-season. The same evolution needs to happen in the trenches.
So it's the bye week and hopefully adjustments will be made. We'll find out next week against Michigan State.
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Michigan vs Nebraska: What We Learned About Husker Football

On this episode of Monday Night Therapy, Minnie and Fred reflect on Nebraska’s close but frustrating loss to Michigan. They joke about the “rite of passage” of attending a home game defeat, yet emphasize there were positives. Minnie insists Nebraska is “dangerous” despite negativity from fans, praising Dylan Raiola’s talent and leadership. Still, the offensive line’s struggles dominate discussion, with seven sacks allowed, ongoing injuries, and questions about coaching and recruiting misses. Fred highlights how repeated false starts and unprepared tackles signal deeper staff issues.
The hosts note that while the defensive line lacks past power, creative schemes could mitigate weaknesses. They criticize slow-developing offensive plays that leave Raiola vulnerable, calling for quicker passes, screens, and perhaps a more air-raid approach. NIL challenges and limited depth at running back also surface, illustrating how Nebraska lags in the new era of player compensation.
Beyond Xs and Os, they recap a rainy fan meetup, praise Jacory Barney’s Hail Mary touchdown, and vent about inconsistent officiating. Discussion widens to Big Ten rivals, Indiana’s surprising dominance over Illinois, and broader concerns about coaching resources. The show closes with optimism that Nebraska can regroup during the bye week and compete strongly against Michigan State.

Corn Nation Overreaction: Games are Won and Lost in the Trenches

The Nebraska Cornhuskers played valiantly, displaying a degree of mental toughness that fans have been waiting for for years. But there are no such things as moral victories, and after Nebraska's 30-27 loss to #18 Michigan, today can cause us to feel empty or hollow.
The defense gave up some big runs that tilted the stats and the game. It looked at times like we forgot how to tackle, and the CBS announcers noticed, frequently remarking about the form tacking by the Wolverine defenders while our defenders attempted arm tackles, ran past the ball carrier, or just plan whiffed. We tried to go for it on fourth down on the first drive and came up empty. We missed a field goal that could have forced overtime. We left points on the field.
But hear me out. Dylan Raiola eclipsed the 300-yardmark while practically running for his life all game. Jacory Barney Jr. added to his career touchdown total with two really nice receiving scores. Dasan McCullough played like a man possessed, and Javin Wright was the game's leading tackler.
There's a lot of fight in this team that didn't quit when they trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter. There were some ballsy calls, like the clock management just before halftime that led to the Hail Mary touchdown.
In the end, and it guts me to say this, this game was about Jimmy's and Joe's. We need more beef up front, on both sides of the ball. We need competent offensive tackles, or we need our coaching staff to have enough faith in the kid they brought from Alabama to keep him in the game despite a questionable false start.
But at the end of the day, I think Nebraska will bounce back from this, and in a big way. I still think the trajectory of this team is that of a 9-10 win team (don't worry, I'll never not pick Nebraska).