Husker Big Red Daily: Nebraska starter could be limited vs Ohio, DL question marks, volleyball in Windy City

Welcome to Husker Big Red Daily, your daily stop for the latest Nebraska football news, recruiting buzz, transfer portal updates, and Huskers headlines. Here’s a quick look at the latest storylines surrounding Nebraska athletics.

It’s hard to believe that we are one day away from the start of the 2026 Nebraska football season. In just over 24 hours, we will get our first look at this Huskers squad.

There wasn’t a lot of excitement about this team at various points of the offseason. The buzz has picked up. So has the Kool-Aid consumption. Matt Rhule is confident in his team. It’s experienced. It has a dynamic quarterback and should be the best in the trenches since his arrival, at least on the offensive line.

The D-line still has questions to answer. Many assumed Riley Van Poppel would be a starter. As it turned out, three of the four starters for Saturday’s game are transfers: Owen Stoudmire, Jashear Whittington, and Anthony Jones.

Nebraska football fans have talked a lot about the offensive line overhaul under Geep Wade. Well, the defensive line overhaul was just as dramatic. There are more transfers starting there (3) than on the O-line (1), although Tree Babalade might be the starting right tackle when he’s 100 percent.

Ohio likes to run the ball. Frank Solich embedded that in the program’s DNA. The Bobcats rushed for 5.3 per carry last season and 227 rushing yards per game. The run defense and the Nebraska defensive line will be tested. We’ll see how they hold up.

Nebraska football starter could be limited on Saturday

Owen Chambliss won’t be receiving a Blackshirt this week, according to Sean Callahan of Husker Online. Callahan also reported that the First-Team All-Mountain West linebacker could be “limited” against Ohio. There won’t be a Blackshirt handed out at one safety spot, as Dywane McDougle and Rex Guthrie are still batting for the starting job.

With Chambliss limited, expect to see more Dawson Merritt. The four-star recruit from the 2025 class was a highly-touted recruit. Alabama was seriously involved, so seeing him get some extended playing time won’t be a bad thing.

Nebraska volleyball in the Windy City

The top-ranked Huskers will play the first of two matches in Chicago over the next three days. Tonight, DePaul (4-0) will host Nebraska volleyball at Wintrust Arena.

That arena is normally reserved for men’s and women’s basketball. However, the Blue Demons will play volleyball there for the first time ever since Nebraska is in town. The match is set for 5 p.m. CST on FS1. DePaul is 4-0 on the season with wins over Milwaukee, Drake, South Dakota, and Portland State. They are 12-1 in 13 sets this season.

Nebraska, if you count the exhibition matches in Dallas, is 13-0 this season. Andi Jackson’s status will be something to watch. She injured her ankle in South Dakota earlier this week. DBK said it was nothing to worry about, but you wonder if the Huskers will exercise some caution.

After playing DePaul on Friday, Nebraska volleyball will play Missouri Sunday night at Wrigley Field (8 PM CST, Fox). Missouri is 3-1, with its loss coming to 25th-ranked Oregon.

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