3 huge positives and things to fix for Nebraska football after bye week

After the Michigan loss, it was clear that Nebraska football has some areas for improvement. The Huskers are still 3-1, though they fell to a ranked team by a field goal.

The sky isn’t falling. At least not yet. There are some things to be concerned about. However, there are some real positives, too.

So here’s a look at three things that should have Nebraska football fans feeling good, as well as three things the Huskers need to fix after the bye week.

Three positives for Nebraska football so far this season

• Dylan Raiola and the passing game. Raiola threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns against Michigan, despite being pressured on every throw. The Huskers still should have scored 30 if it wasn’t for a missed field goal. Jacory Barney is electric. Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter have impressed, too. Raiola is passing for 284 yards per game and should easily set the school passing record if that pace continues.
• Nebraska has won the turnover battle so far this season and is plus four. Nebraska football has just two turnovers this season — only one by Dylan Raiola. It has forced six. The Huskers have one interception and have recovered five fumbles. If that turnover margin — an average of plus-one per game holds — this team will have a good chance to win nine or even 10 games.
• The run defense is an issue. But the pass defense has been a strength. The pass rush is concerning; however, Michigan barely threw for over 100 yards, and U-M was the first team to do it in 2025. The pass defense will be tested against Michigan State, Maryland, and USC. Yet, through four games, opposing teams are completing just 50 percent of their passes, averaging just 75 yards per game. Nebraska football still hasn’t surrendered a touchdown pass. I don’t care who the opponents are — that’s impressive.

Three things Nebraska football must fix

• The run defense. This was apparent against Michigan and Cincinnati. Both teams ran for over 200 yards. Each of their quarterbacks had success running the ball, too. Every opposing starting running back has averaged at least five yards per attempt. Teams are getting 5.2 yards per attempt. Matt Rhule said it this week, but the run defense has to get better.
• Nebraska has to get to the quarterback more, too. The Huskers have just six sacks in four games. As good as Michigan is at running the ball, it’s not a great pass-protecting line. The Huskers got just one sack. Against the two Power-4 opponents, Nebraska has one. That’s not good enough.
• As good as Emmett Johnson has been this season, he leads the Big Ten in carries with 71 through four games, which has me concerned. He’s not a big back. You need more than one during the Big Ten season, yet another reliable running back hasn’t emerged. Mekhi Nelson has nine carries for 30 yards. Kwinten Ives has 16 for 119 yards, but a lot of those came against Houston Christian. You have to run the ball and stop the run to win in the Big Ten. We’ll see if the Huskers can do that.