Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule met with reporters Thursday morning as the Huskers continued preparations for Saturday’s matchup against Michigan State. Here are the key takeaways from his media session:
Weather impact
With strong winds expected on Saturday, Rhule acknowledged that the conditions could influence certain decisions but noted that dealing with the elements is nothing new at Memorial Stadium.
He pointed back to wind-related challenges earlier this season against Akron and in last year’s game against Rutgers.
“It’s part of being here. It’s part of being in this region,” Rhule said. “We practice outside in the spring when it’s 24 or 32 degrees, throwing in the ice and snow. That’s why quarterbacks with big hands who can spin the ball through the wind are so valuable. You also have to factor it into the kicking game. It will play a role, and you may make different decisions than usual — but both teams will deal with it.”
Team readiness
Rhule said practice this week has gone well and he expects his team to be prepared. He compared Nebraska’s situation to Michigan State’s, noting that both teams came off close losses before their bye weeks.
“They lost by three, worked hard, had a good attitude. They’re gritty. They showed up, ignored the result, and said, ‘What can we improve?’” Rhule said of Michigan State.
Injury updates
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WR Demitrius Bell: Bell, who had been working back from a knee injury suffered in the 2024 spring game, suffered a setback after returning to practice.
“He injured the other hamstring. When one leg is hurt, sometimes the other compensates. It’s not a long-term thing, but it delayed his return,” Rhule said.
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DB Malcolm Hartzog: Questionable for Saturday. Rhule said the staff will evaluate him during pregame warmups.
Recruiting momentum
Rhule also touched on recruiting, saying Nebraska continues to trend upward with prospects.
“The feedback I get is we’re making noise — recruits are seeing the gameday atmosphere, the fan base, the facilities, the inner workings of the program,” he said. “The players we’re targeting are excited about us. When you look at the freshmen already contributing, I think it shows we’ve evaluated well and will keep doing so.”
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