The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 125 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Matt Rhule had Christmas plans last December, heading to his hometown of New York City. The Nebraska team came with him, to take part in the Pinstripe Bowl versus Boston College, which the Cornhuskers won, 20-15. It's hard to be- lieve, but that was Nebraska's first bowl appearance since 2016. The third-year head coach has Nebraska trending in the right direction. The 'Husk- ers beat rival Colorado in nonconference play. They finished with a winning record, clinching bowl eligibility in the second-to- last regular-season game against Wiscon- sin. However, there's still more to reach. Nebraska still hasn't notched that pro- gram-changing win. It almost did, but came up one defensive stop short in a 21- 17 setback to eventual national champion Ohio State in Columbus. Then, Rhule's group laid an egg in a 27-20 home loss to UCLA the following week, the third of a four-game, midseason losing streak. Rhule isn't afraid to tinker. He brought in Dana Holgorsen — the former West Virginia and Houston head coach — as an offensive con- sultant in early Novem- ber and, weeks later, promoted him to offen- sive coordinator, firing Marcus Satterfield. Holgorsen is now the full-time OC, and he's one of three new coor- dinators on staff ahead of the 2025 campaign. Defensive coordinator Tony White left for Florida State, and he was replaced by John Butler, who was promoted from defensive backs coach. Mike Ekeler, meanwhile, will head up the special teams unit, one that had 10 kicks/punts blocked a season ago. Landing quarterback Dylan Raiola late in the 2024 recruiting cycle was a game- changer for the Cornhuskers. The former five-star Georgia pledge had a productive freshman season, completing 67.1 percent of his passes for 2,819 yards and 13 touch- downs with 11 interceptions, and now he should have a better offensive line and more dangerous skill position weapons to play alongside. Nebraska has three starters back up front, and it also made two splash transfer portal additions — Alabama transfer Eli- jah Pritchett (11 career starts) and Notre Dame import Rocco Spindler (23) to play left tackle and right guard, respectively. Third-leading receiver Jacory Barney Jr. (55 catches, 447 yards) is joined in the corps by Kentucky transfer Dane Key (1,870 yards, 14 touchdowns in 38 games) and former California wideout Nyziah Hunter (40 catches, 578 yards, 5 TDs as a freshman in 2024). On top of that, se- nior Heinrich Haarberg, a converted quarter- back who started against Michigan in 2023, has made the transition to tight end, and he's con- sidered one of the fastest players on the roster. Nebraska lost loads of talent from its defensive front. The 60-game Ty Robinson era is over, with the 6-foot-6, 310-pound be- hemoth drafted in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was named sec- ond-team All-Big Ten last season, record- ing 12 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. That production must be replaced, and depth is a concern on the front line. How that group performs is the X-factor. But the secondary will be strong, led by four returning starters, including studs at cornerback. Seniors Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (4) and Ceyair Wright (2) combined for 6 picks last season. Junior Andrew Marshall has joined the fold as an Idaho transfer. The 2024 first-team All-Big Sky standout notched 30 tackles and 3 pass breakups, and he's got some special juice in the re- turn game with two scores last year. Rhule and Co. also added firepower at linebacker, with a couple big-time addi- tions. Senior Dasan McCullough, a for- mer Indiana and Oklahoma linebacker, totaled 79 tackles, 10 stops for loss, 4 sacks and 6 pass breakups over his last two seasons with the Sooners. Mean- while, senior Marques Watson-Trent is a Georgia Southern transfer who recorded 118 tackles and 7.5 TFLs during a Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year campaign in 2024. ❑ Nebraska Has More Boxes To Check In 2025 2025 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2024 Result Aug. 28 vs. Cincinnati* — Sept. 6 AKRON — Sept. 13 HOUSTON CHRISTIAN — Sept. 20 MICHIGAN — Oct. 4 MICHIGAN STATE — Oct. 11 at Maryland — Oct. 17 at Minnesota — Oct. 25 NORTHWESTERN — Nov. 1 USC L, 28-20 Nov. 8 at UCLA L, 27-20 Nov. 22 at Penn State — Nov. 28 IOWA L, 13-10 * At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City REASONS FOR OPTIMISM • QB Dylan Raiola enters Year 2 • Weapons to work with • Strong secondary Good and great quarterbacks typically blossom in their second year as a starter, and Raiola has more around him this time around. REASONS FOR CONCERN • Staff turnover • Defensive line • Ability to notch a marquee Big Ten victory Give HC Matt Rhule credit — he's willing to make necessary changes to his staff. But will those moves pay off? NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS • SEPT. 20 • GAME 4 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 6-4 First Meeting: Nebraska 25, U-M 13 (Sept. 29, 1962, in Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 45, Nebraska 7 (Sept. 30, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb.) Head Coach: Matt Rhule, 12-13 at Ne- braska (third year), 59-56 overall (10th year) 2024 In Review: 7-6, 3-6 Big Ten Final 2024 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 9 (4 offense, 4 de- fense, 1 specialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2024 (Pinstripe Bowl vs. Boston College, W 20-15) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Dylan Raiola (2,819 yards, 13 TD) Rushing: Emmett Johnson (598 yards, 1 TD) Receiving: Jacory Barney Jr. (447 yards) Tackles: DeShon Singleton (71) Sacks: Mason Goldman, Willis McGahee IV, Vincent Shavers Jr., Ceyair Wright (1) Interceptions: Malcolm Hartzog Jr. (4) Quarterback Dylan Raiola set Nebras- ka program records for a freshman with 2,819 passing yards and a 67.1 percent completion rate. PHOTO COURTESY BIG TEN NETWORK