Huskers ready for spring football during quiet offseason

Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska football opens its five-week spring slate on Saturday with the first of 15 practices, ushering in a low-key off-season that has seen more roster shuffling than headlines. The stretch will climax on March 28 with the return of the Red-White Scrimmage after a one-year hiatus; last spring the program opted for the made-for-fan-experience “Husker Games” inside Memorial Stadium.

The Huskers are coming off a seven-win campaign that ended with a Las Vegas Bowl appearance on Dec. 31. Since then, coach Matt Rhule’s program has stayed largely out of the spotlight, conducting minimal public-relations pushes while the local conversation around the team has been noticeably subdued.

The most significant personnel move came when two-year starting quarterback Dylan Raiola entered the transfer portal and ultimately landed at Oregon. Into the void steps Mountain West Player of the Year Anthony Colandrea, who headlines a revamped quarterback room that also includes sophomore TJ Lateef and Virginia transfer Daniel Kaelin. Colandrea is one of 16 newcomers acquired via the transfer portal this off-season, supplemented by a 10-player high-school signing class.

Rhule said he is eager to reunite with his squad and has already sensed improved chemistry inside the locker room. He will do so alongside a retooled coaching staff that features new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, who arrives after two seasons at San Diego State. Aurich, a 2025 Broyles Award nominee, is installing a 4–3 alignment and reunites with assistants Roy Manning, Corey Brown, and Tyler Yelk. During his Aztecs tenure, Aurich’s defense allowed 12.6 points per game and produced top-25 units at the Division II, FCS, and FBS levels.

On special teams, coordinator Mike Ekeler departed for USC, prompting Rhule to promote Brett Maher and Nick Humphrey as co-coordinators.

With practices beginning Saturday, Rhule emphasized freeing up offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen to “call a game fearlessly,” noting the staff must learn from last season but refuse to live in the past. Players echoed the fresh-start mentality: defensive back Andrew Marshall praised UCLA transfer Kwazi Gilmer as a relentless competitor, saying, “No matter how much food is on his plate, he’s going to eat it all.”

After a winter of relative silence, Nebraska hopes the renewed on-field work will provide clarity at key positions and set the tone for the 2026 season.