Nebraska Faces Indiana Test After Years of Football Struggles

Nebraska will face its biggest test of the 2026 season on Saturday, Oct. 10, when Matt Rhule leads the Cornhuskers against defending national champion Indiana at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The matchup offers Nebraska an opportunity to demonstrate progress under Rhule and end a prolonged run of failures against ranked opponents.

According to USA Today, Nebraska has not defeated a ranked team since 2016, extending its losing streak in such matchups to 31 games. Rhule's record against ranked opponents stands at 0-9, with Nebraska losing those contests by an average of 18 points per game.

The game also arrives as Nebraska undertakes a stadium and program redevelopment costing more than half a billion dollars. USA Today reported that the project includes renovations to the historic stadium and the sale of removed items, including seats, signs, benches, artwork and urinals.

Indiana enters Lincoln after winning 32 of its previous 34 games. The Hoosiers' recent success contrasts sharply with Nebraska's extended struggles and gives the defending national champions a chance to reinforce their standing against a program seeking to restore its former prominence.

Rhule has pointed to improvements in his fourth Nebraska team after the Cornhuskers went 19-19 across his first three seasons. The coach previously led turnarounds at Temple and Baylor, experiences that helped establish his reputation for rebuilding struggling programs.

Discussing the current team's development, Rhule said, "We're just a better football team."

Nebraska has won its first five games of the season, according to USA Today, with the victories coming against opponents the team was considered capable of beating. The Cornhuskers have shown greater physical strength, improved decision-making and more consistency on both sides of the ball.

The offense features transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who arrived from UNLV and has recorded 15 total touchdowns, including two rushing scores. Freshman running back Jamal Rule and UCLA transfer wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer have also emerged as notable offensive contributors.

Nebraska's defense has produced 16 sacks and forced eight turnovers while allowing opponents to convert just 21% of their third-down opportunities. The unit is surrendering 4.4 yards per play, according to USA Today, while the Cornhuskers rank among the stronger teams in interceptions across major college football conferences.

Rhule has cautioned that his team still has limitations despite its improved performances. He described the Cornhuskers' progress as a work in progress rather than suggesting they were ready to dominate every opponent.

"We're not a perfect team," Rhule said.

The coach acknowledged that Nebraska would not overwhelm opponents in every game, emphasizing the importance of physicality and determination as the team prepares for a higher level of competition.

Rhule said, "We're not going to run people off the field. But that grit and that mentality and that toughness, hopefully it'll show itself."

Saturday's matchup carries added significance because of Nebraska's previous meeting with Indiana in Bloomington in 2024. According to USA Today, Indiana led 42-7 in the third quarter during that game, leaving Nebraska struggling to produce meaningful offense in the final period.

Rhule recently watched footage of that defeat as he prepared his team for the rematch. The earlier result provides a direct comparison for evaluating whether Nebraska's improvements can translate into a competitive performance against the defending national champions.