Big Red Junkies - Nebraska Football Podcast

By Jed Burks, Matt Layher, BJ LayherSports Football

Big Red Junkies - Nebraska Football Podcast episodes

August 31 OHIO vs Nebraska Football PREVIEW | Game Week Preview & Props
Nebraska Football finally kicks off the 2026 season against Ohio, and the Big Red Junkies break down both rosters, the coaching turnover in Athens, and what it all means for game day.
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We dig into Ohio's brand new offense under first-year head coach John Houser, a makeshift O-line, and quarterback Nick Paulus taking over for Parker Navarro. On defense we talk up safety DJ Walker and what Ohio actually brings back. On the Nebraska side we're watching the offensive line gel, Anthony Calandria running the show for Dana Holgerson's offense, the running back room with Jamal Rule, Makai Nelson and Isaiah Mosey, TJ Lateef's mop-up duty, and Jaseer Whittington leading a defensive line that should feast on Ohio's inexperienced tackles. We also get into a full slate of prop bets, spreads, and our final score predictions for Matt Rhule's season opener.
00:00 Intro: Game Week Is Finally Here
04:45 Fun Fact Rabbit Hole: Haunted Asylum in Ohio
09:05 Ohio's Overhauled Offense & New Coach
12:57 Ohio's Defense and DJ Walker
23:30 Prop Bets: Calandria, O-Line & More
38:57 Final Score Predictions
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43 min
August 31 Nebraska Running Backs, NIL Buzz & Our PFF Husker Draft
Nebraska Football preview time: we dig into the running back room hype, Troy Dannen's NIL comments, and get fired up for kickoff with our second annual PFF Husker Draft.
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We break down why EJ Barthel keeps calling this the deepest running back room he's had, what Jamal Rhule's calm podium presence (and apparent 245 bowling game) tells us about the true freshman, and why Mekhi Nelson handled his offseason legal situation like a pro. We also get into Troy Dannen's comments on NIL spending and the stadium project, plus whether the buzz around the defense under Dana Holgorsen and John Butler is real or just preseason hype. Then we run our full PFF grade fantasy draft, picking guys like Justin Evans, Owen Chambliss, Anthony Calandria, Vincent Shavers, Williams Nwaneri, Jasir Whittington, Andrew Marshall, and a late flyer on Jamal Rhule himself. Matt Rhule's fingerprints are all over this roster and we've got thoughts on almost every name on it.
00:00 Intro
03:51 Running Back Room: Hype or Real?
14:38 Troy Dannen Talks NIL Spending
18:35 Is the Defense Actually Buzzing?
20:48 PFF Husker Draft Kicks Off
32:41 Late Flyer: Drafting Jamal Rhule
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41 min
August 20 Nebraska Football PROP BETS: Returning Production, O-Line Buzz
Nebraska Football's fall camp buzz gets the full breakdown as the Big Red Junkies preview the 2025 Huskers season, from Matt Rhule going silent with local media to the offensive line's massive investment up front.
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We break down Nebraska's top-10 returning production numbers, the real question marks on the defensive line, and Jeep Wade's overhaul of the offensive line with guys like Gunnar Gottula and Grant Brix. Elijah Blazek from The Average Joe Sports Show joins to talk Dante Whittington's Aaron Donald vibes, linebacker Owen Chambliss anchoring the front seven, and the receiver room battle between Jacory Barney, Isaiah Hunter and Quaid Gilmore. We close it out with a full slate of season prop bets covering sacks allowed, turnover margin, red zone defense and how many home games the Huskers actually win.
00:00:00 Kickoff: Quietest Offseason Ever
00:01:37 Rhule Goes Silent With Local Media
00:07:55 We Need a Toyota Camry, Not a Corvette
00:13:27 Are Huskers Really Bigger and Stronger?
00:18:32 Position Battles Beyond the Obvious Jones
00:23:33 Jeep Wade's O-Line Techniques and Investment
00:28:02 D-Line Questions: Whittington's Aaron Donald Vibes
00:36:50 Did Butler Lose Faith in the Defense?
00:43:47 Season Prop Bets Kick Off
01:00:48 Red Zone Defense Was a Disaster
01:18:16 Home Win Total: Trap Game vs Maryland
01:22:17 Wrap-Up and Show Plugs
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1 hr 27 min
August 13 Husker's Schedule BREAKDOWN | Big Ten Win Totals For Every Team
Nebraska Football preview: the Big Red Junkies break down Big Ten win totals for every 2025 opponent and give game-by-game record predictions for the Huskers' full schedule.
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We get into Rob Orich's first fall camp press conference, the encouraging health reports coming out of practice, and why that matters heading into year three under Matt Rhule. From there we rapid-fire through Big Ten win totals for Michigan State and Pat Fitzgerald's rocky return, Maryland and Mike Locksley's hot seat, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza replacement search, Oregon and Dan Lanning's shaky playoff history, Washington's Halloween trip to Lincoln, Illinois under Brett Bielema, Rutgers, Ohio State's brutal road slate, and Iowa being Iowa no matter who they lose. We also touch on the QB battle buzz, the deep linebacker room, and why this might be the healthiest fall camp Nebraska's had in years. Then we flip to Nebraska's full 2025 schedule and make game-by-game picks, including our thoughts on Dylan Raiola leaving for Oregon, whether the Huskers can hang with Indiana, and why the Washington game on Halloween might be the biggest of Matt Rhule's tenure so far. We close it out reading a listener's bold predictions on breakout freshmen like Dylan Berryman and Danny Odom.
00:00:00 Intro: Strap In, It's a Long One
00:03:11 Rob Orich's Fall Camp Presser
00:05:20 Big Ten Win Totals: Michigan State
00:12:23 Indiana's Title Hangover Debate
00:17:55 Oregon and Dan Lanning's Playoff Ceiling
00:21:10 Washington's Boom-or-Bust Season
00:28:16 Ohio State's Brutal Road Slate
00:34:27 Iowa Being Iowa, As Usual
00:41:26 Nebraska Schedule Picks Kick Off
00:50:20 Washington: Nebraska's Game of the Year
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1 hr 12 min
August 02 Nebraska Husker's All-Time Defense: Suh, Wistrom, Minter and More #gbr
The Big Red Junkies build Nebraska's all-time defensive dream team, drafting the best D-tackles, ends, linebackers and DBs since the Devaney era. It's the defensive companion to our offense draft and things get spicy fast.
We start with the easiest call in program history, Ndamukong Suh, and argue whether he actually deserved that Heisman before diving into a deep-cut case for Jim Scow at the other tackle spot. From there it's Grant Wistrom and Broderick Thomas up front, then a real debate on whether Trev Alberts or Jarrett Ruud deserves the linebacker crown next to Lavonte David. In the secondary we crown Mike Minter but give real burn to Mike Brown, Ralph Brown, Prince Amukamara and Cam Taylor-Britt. We also touch on whether Andrew Marshall or Williams Winery could ever crash a list like this down the road. Drop your own picks in the comments, and yeah, tell Jed to shut up while you're at it.
00:00 Intro and AI Screwup Recap
03:40 Ndamukong Suh's GOAT Case
13:10 Ends and Linebackers: Wistrom to Ruud
18:43 Defensive Backs: Minter vs Mike Brown
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30 min
July 26 Ranking Nebraska's All-Time Best Offense by Position
The Big Red Junkies build Nebraska football's all-time offense position by position, arguing out tackles, guards, centers, receivers, running backs and quarterbacks from the Devaney era to now.
We start up front with Zach Wiegert and Bob Brown before Will Shields and Dean Steinkoehler take over the guard spot, then argue whether Dominic Raiola or Aaron Taylor deserves the center nod. At receiver we go deep on whether Irving Fryar's raw numbers actually hold up next to Johnny Rogers, Stanley Morgan Jr. and a one-year wonder in Trey Palmer. The running back debate turns into a real argument, Mike Rozier's the unanimous number one but we go back and forth hard on Lawrence Phillips versus Ahman Green and Ameer Abdullah for the two spot. And at quarterback, no surprise, it's Tommy Frazier at the top with Eric Crouch, Scott Frost, Tommy Armstrong and Adrian Martinez all getting their due. Old heads and new fans are both going to have opinions on this one.
00:00 Intro
02:45 Tackles: Wiegert vs Bob Brown
07:50 Guards and Centers: Shields, Raiola, Taylor
14:15 Is Irving Fryar Overrated?
23:39 Rozier vs Lawrence Phillips Debate
31:26 Quarterbacks: Frazier, Crouch and Company
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37 min
July 16 Nebraska Lands Surprise RB Tikey Hayes From Penn State
Nebraska Football just added a running back nobody saw coming, and we break down what Tikey Hayes actually brings to the Huskers backfield in this quick-hit recap.
BJ, Jed and Matt dig into the Tykee Hayes transfer from Penn State by way of Iowa Western, his ridiculous high school numbers, and why a four-star recruit ended up in juco before landing in Lincoln. They talk through how he stacks up with Jamar Mosey and Quentin Ives, whether he can compete for early snaps, and connect the timing of his commitment to the McKay Nelson charges getting dropped the same day. There's also talk about NIL money allocation on the roster, a shoutout to a very confident Big Red Junkies fan named Alex Steele, and info on the crew's new college fantasy football league for listeners. Casual, opinionated, and full of Husker football talk as we get closer to kickoff.
00:00 Intro and Fantasy League Shoutout
04:22 Tykee Hayes Joins the Huskers
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18 min
July 14 Nebraska's Top 5 Returning Players: Who's Ready to Break Out?
Big Red Junkies rank the top 5 returning Huskers heading into the season, breaking down who's primed for a leap and who still has to prove it on the field.

We get into Vincent Shavers, Cam Lenhart and Ja'Cory Barney and why 'flash' isn't enough anymore, then argue out Justin Evans vs Elijah Pritchett for the top spot on the offensive line and why Jeep Wade is raving about both. We break down Willie Nowierski's pass-rush numbers, Andrew Marshall's lockdown corner play, and what Rob Orch's return could mean for that secondary. Plus we finally talk about Riley Van Poppel, why the podium hype hasn't matched the tape, and whether a new system finally unlocks him. We also touch on Dylan Raiola's replacement battle with TJ Lateef and Kalen, Willis McGee's potential position change, and a couple guys we might've totally missed. Drop your own top five in the comments and let us know if we're wrong.

00:00 Intro
01:52 Top 5 Returners: Shavers, Lenhart, DBs
13:06 O-Line Debate: Evans vs Pritchett
23:13 Honorable Mentions and Van Poppel's Wasted Potential

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33 min
July 13 Nebraska's Top 5 Newcomers: Colandrea, Chambliss & the New O-Line
Nebraska Football newcomers ranked: a Huskers portal class breakdown of the guys who'll actually move the needle in 2025. We argue our top five (well, top eight, because rules are fake) and where Anthony Calendria fits in.
We get into the rebuilt offensive line with Tree Babalade at tackle, Paul Mubanga and Brendan Black at guard, and why all three are pro prospects who fit what Matt Rhule wants up front. On defense, Owen Chambliss might be the most important addition on the roster — bringing Rob Orich's playbook with him from Stanford, plus the leadership a young linebacker room desperately needs around Vincent Shavers and Dexter Foster. We break down Jasheer Whittington's twitch on the D-line, whether Anthony Jones and Williams Nwaneri can wreck Big Ten tackles from opposite edges, and what Quincy Gillen and Jason Shiggs bring to the skill positions. Then we get into the Calendria question — gunslinger comparisons, the Jeff Sims stat-line debate, the proof of concept versus the Dylan Raiola pedigree path, and why an elite quarterback might be the difference between a sub-.500 year and 8-9 wins. We close on freshmen with the it factor: running back Jamarl Rule and DB Danny Odom, both guys who might force their way into the rotation before fall camp ends. Plus: please, for the love of GBR, just don't be Jameis Winston.
00:00 Intro & Setting the Top 5 Rules
02:40 Tree Babalade and the New O-Line
10:25 Owen Chambliss: Bringing Orich's Defense With Him
20:10 Calendria, the It Factor & 9-Win Talk
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33 min
May 09 10 Commandments to Fix College Football (Huskers Take)
Nebraska Football fans, we're breaking down Stewart Mandel's 10 Commandments to fix college football and what each one means for the Huskers, the Big Ten, and the future of the sport.
We get into whether the SEC has actually lost its grip on college football, why the 12-team playoff needs to grow to 16, and why those first-round byes keep blowing up in everyone's faces. From there it's campus quarterfinals, killing the FCS cupcake game, the NIL Go clearinghouse mess and the Nebraska lawsuit that could blow the whole thing up, plus the five-for-five eligibility rule and what it means for guys like Cam Lenhart, Andrew Marshall, and Anthony Cavalleri. We hammer the case for a real college football commissioner, a players union, and actual contracts so the transfer portal stops being a free-for-all every January. Matt Rhule called it "professional collegiate football" on the Sharp & Benning show this week and yeah, that's exactly what it is. Treat it that way. We also hit the Trey Taylor Rivals camp QB MVP news, the dumb spoof story about Dylan Raiola bolting Oregon for Texas Tech after the Brennan Saurusbee stuff, and why the preseason AP poll needs to die or at least wait three weeks. Oh, and Nick Saban or Pat McAfee for commissioner? Hard pass on both.
00:00 Intro and Thanks for Sticking Around
02:00 Has the SEC Lost Its Luster?
04:37 12-Team Playoff or Go to 16?
10:20 Quarterfinals on Campus, Kill the Bye
18:30 Two Super Conferences Are Coming
28:30 NIL Go, the Clearinghouse, and the Nebraska Lawsuit
35:20 Five-for-Five and What It Means for Cam Lenhart
35:50 Rhule Said It: Professional Collegiate Football
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50 min

About Big Red Junkies - Nebraska Football Podcast

From the publisher's feed

We laugh, we drink, we talk all things Nebraska Cornhusker Football. Similar to our drinks, our opinions are strong. The only thing we're experts in is having fun. If you're an ADULT Husker fan,…