The final Friday mailbag of the Nebraska football offseason is here. It’s game week. Nebraska plays in just six days at Arrowhead Stadium against Cincinnati. And everybody is starting to feel a little nervous. One listener has the audacity to ask us this: “What if … Cincinnati wins?” We tackle plenty of questions that involve the Huskers’ opener and address a series of CFP topics.

Matt Rhule’s got his own podcast now. He’s practicing what he preaches. The same cannot be said of every coach in the Big Ten. Where should a visiting fan and his family members go in Kansas City on Friday after the game? Where should another fan look for the best spot to tailgate? 

Is Dana Holgorsen better as a play caller when he’s not running a program? We’re discussing Dylan Raiola and his backups – and much more in a packed episode. Join us and enjoy Week Zero in college football. 

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Big Ten football predictions ignite fierce debate. Will Ohio State reclaim conference glory or can Penn State follow the championship blueprint?

Expert panelists clash over potential coaching changes, with Mike Locksley and Luke Fickell under scrutiny. The discussion heats up as Jay Stevens argues for Ohio State's talent advantage, while Zach Seiko champions Penn State's experienced roster. Craig Sheeman offers bold insights on Maryland's financial constraints and the Big Ten's playoff dominance.

From quarterback battles to defensive strategies, the panel breaks down keys for each team's success. Can Nico Iamaleava become UCLA's superstar? Will Ohio State's new QB1 rise to the challenge? Tune in for insider analysis on the Big Ten's path to national supremacy.

Nebraska tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield and running backs coach EJ Barthel, the final two assistants to appear in front of the media this month, stated the cases Wednesday on their position groups to rank as strengths in 2025. Are we buying it? It’s been an interesting offseason, with many twists, for the running backs and the tight ends. Connor and Mitch sort through the hype and deliver their takes on these spots within the offense. 

There’s a huge weekend ahead for volleyball in the state of Nebraska. The top-ranked Huskers and new coach Dani Busboom Kelly open Friday at PBA against No. 3 Pitt. We’ve got much more on what’s happening there – amid an entire volleyball segment with mentions of John Cook, Harper Murray and other luminaries. 

We’re also talking about food, beer, Matt Rhule hosting a podcast, apparently, and DeShaun Foster’s misstep in L.A. Join us for a full episode on this Thursday.

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A special episode on this Wednesday. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule in three seasons has made many decisions on whom to hire for his coaching and support staffs and for administrative roles. What were his best choices? We’re here to rank them, 10 through 1. Connor and Mitch made lists, independent of input from each other, we’re revealing them today.

Who made the cut and who may have just missed? That’s it. Join us for a look behind the curtain at Nebraska.

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Monday brought us one day closer to the season opener for Nebraska. One day closer to Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. And one day closer, for defensive line coach Terry Bradden, to … a reunion with Gates BBQ. Bradden made no attempt to hide his preference among KC’s famous meat-filled establishments. We’re here to tell you that this is important information for travelers next week.

Or perhaps we’re just all a bit delirious at this point in the preseason. Also on Monday, defensive coordinator John Butler shared thoughts on the Huskers’ bid to play aggressively this fall. We heard from defenders Keona Davis, Jordan Ochoa, Jamir Conn, Dasan McCullough and Marques Watson-Trent. It’s a group that includes several who are likely to step into new, important roles within Butler’s unit.

Finally, in light of news coming out of Oklahoma this week, some advice to fans: Do not waste your money on buying seats at news conferences. 

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Preseason camp at Nebraska is over. The Huskers scrimmaged in the heat on Saturday. How do we judge the past three weeks in Lincoln, with the opener against Cincinnati now on the horizon? One of our hosts says it ranks as the best preseason at Nebraska in many seasons. We get into the explanation. It involves a formula of leadership, development and readiness. 

Coach Matt Rhule was in a talkative mood on Saturday as he spoke with the media for more than 30 minutes at the end of camp. It’s now Week Zero in college football, with games on tap at the end of this week. We’ll call it Week Zero around the Huskers, too. And on Friday, it’ll be the start of Week 1. 

Rhule discussed the alternate jerseys that were announced late last week. And he addressed the two-finger salute that you see in nearly every posed photo that includes the coach. Join us on this Monday. 

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We dig back into the mailbag to end this week. Questions about Matt Rhule’s team and the upcoming Nebraska football season are coming fast here in August. We’re tackling topics that include the production of the Huskers’ tight ends in 2025, Mike Ekeler’s career path and an individual season record likely to fall in the months ahead. 

What kind of impact should we expect from Williams Nwaneri this year? Is the O-line really a strength? Who’s destined to play in the NFL on this roster? At what neutral destination would you like to see Nebraska play a game? We choose the greatest Nebraska football nickname of all time. 

And of course, freshman Archie Wilson – the Crocodile Punter – remains a hot topic. Join us on this Friday.

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Big Ten football faces SEC dominance in AP Top 25. Can the conference prove its worth on the field?

Hosts dissect perceived SEC bias in rankings, with 10 SEC teams vs 6 Big Ten squads making the cut. The panel explores potential Big Ten expansion targets, weighing academic fit and competitive balance. Fall camp updates reveal key position battles and injury concerns across the conference. Spencer McLaughlin, Mark Culkin, and other team insiders offer exclusive insights on quarterback competitions, offensive line configurations, and defensive strategies.

Tune in for heated debates on team rankings, conference realignment possibilities, and insider perspectives on Big Ten football's evolving landscape.

The single-digit jersey list is nearly complete as preseason camp winds to a close at Nebraska. Four more Huskers got new numbers on Wednesday – Javin Wright, Jacory Barney, Janiran Bonner and Vincent Shavers. We discuss each and what they bring to the Huskers. The group this year is trending young. It includes more offensive talent. 

And the big question: Who gets the last single digit? Will it be the quarterback, Dylan Raiola, whose leadership role has increased during his second offseason at Nebraska? We’ll likely find out soon, with Raiola, his uncle Donovan and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen set to answer questions from the media on Friday.

Also, the Archie Wilson story continues to gain steam. It showed up on NBC’s “Today,” then Australian TV, with his family brought into the mix. Wilson’s mom, dad and his two brothers are headed to America soon. Are we ready?

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FanDuel
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

What’s it like to play football with your “damn hair on fire?” First-year Nebraska special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler appears intent to show us. Ekeler stood in the front of the microphone after the Huskers’ 13th practice of the preseason on Tuesday and breathed fire as he talked about the kicking game. Coach Ek ready to hit someone, seemingly, still more than two weeks ahead of the opener. 

We heard also from freshman punter Archie Wilson, a delightful addition to Nebraska football. Wilson spoke about his excitement to punt at Arrowhead Stadium this month and about how he landed with the Huskers. It was all quite pleasant – until Mitch asked one question too many at the end. But all is well that ends well, and there’s a happy end to the story about Wilson’s sadness on Tuesday.

Also, we’ve got observations and takeaways from the open-to-the-media portion of Nebraska’s Tuesday practice. Join us for a full episode.

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FanDuel
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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)