What is Nebraska football’s plan for RB2, offensive tackle?

Nebraska football will look to get its first Big Ten victory of the season on Saturday against Michigan State. The Huskers are a double-digit favorite, at least, according to DraftKings.

The offense should feast on a Michigan State defense that has struggled to defend the pass. There has been plenty of hand-wringing after the Michigan loss, for good reason.

Nebraska’s offensive line was dominated. The defensive line wasn’t great either, as the Wolverines rushed for 286 yards and allowed Bryce Underwood to be sacked once.

Both Nebraska and Michigan State have six sacks through four games. So, as far as the pass protection is concerned, Michigan State is a much different animal than Michigan, which has two pass rushers likely going in the first few rounds of the 2026 NFL draft.

Michigan State does have Jordan Hall. He’s got two sacks and six tackles for loss. Hall might be the best player on the Spartans team outside of QB Aidan Chiles. Nebraska will need to have a plan for him and the rest of the Michigan State offensive line.

Yet, according to the depth chart released by the program on Monday, there won’t be any changes to the offensive line. Rhule did say that Nebraska football “had a plan.” He also told reporters they could see it on Saturday.

One thing about the Michigan game is that Nebraska didn’t offer the tackles much help. That could be an adjustment. Less empty. You might even see block/release routes more often.

We have seen some of those before. Michigan runs them a lot, too. The player stays in to block, such as a running back or tight end. Nebraska was already rotating offensive tackles. And unless the depth chart isn’t accurate, I don’t know that we will see a different lineup.

Maybe the depth chart is a decoy. Who knows, but the offensive tackle position will be something to watch, because if this team can’t protect Dylan Raiola or run the ball consistently, it will struggle to take the leap in 2025 that it wants to take.

What about RB2?

During the bye week, Rhule admitted that Nebraska wanted running back Charmar Brown out of the transfer portal, at least, that was the hint, but that things came down to money.

That’s modern college football. Nebraska still has to figure out a viable backup for Emmett Johnson. Mekhi Nelson and Kwinten Ives have each made their case.

Rhule hinted that Nebraska had a plan there, too, that we would find out about on Saturday. Maybe that means that four-star freshman Jamarion Parker is healthy. Or, it could mean there is a more defined rotation. Maybe Jacory Barney gets some rushing attempts on gadget plays, like he did as a freshman, or we see the Isaiah Mozee plan in action.

All options are on the table. Rhule says Nebraska has a plan, though. We’ll see what it is, and if it works on Saturday.

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