2026 Episode 13: Nebraska 49 Ohio 21-Huskers Open Season With Big Win

Nebraska opens the season with a convincing win over Ohio, 49-21.  On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka and Travis Justice dive deep into the game, highlighting the positives and areas for improvement for the next game. The Nebraska running game was impressive against the Bobcats. The Huskers racked up 248 yards on the ground, led by true freshman running back Jamal Rule, who carried the ball 15 times for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rule also caught a touchdown pass. Rule is the first true freshman to rush for 100+ yards since Adrian Martinez did it in 2018. He did not start the game, but his performance against Ohio was clearly the best among the running backs who played.  Anthony Colandrea had a very good debut at quarterback for Nebraska. 18-32, for 275 yards and three touchdowns. As Dr. Rob discusses in this episode, Colandrea clearly fits the Nebraska system and makes the offense run more efficiently. Nebraska did have 9 penalties in the game. Yellow flags have plagued the Huskers in the past, and if they want the season they hope to have, they need to clean up this issue.  Dr. Rob also breaks down the offensive and defensive line play; here's a hint: he was hoping for a better pass rush from the Huskers. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit—learn more at Strategic Solutions. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.    

The talking is over! It's time to start playing the games. On this episode of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka preview the Huskers' season opener against Ohio. This is the first meeting between Nebraska and the Bobcats. Call it the Frank Solich game. Solich will receive the Legends Award from the Nebraska football Hall of Fame and be part of the coin toss. Solich was also head coach at Ohio from 2005-2020. In total, he won 173 games coaching both schools, 58 at Nebraska and 115 at Ohio. Nebraska will be looking to build early-season momentum and get its timing down with a handful of transfers. Sure, the newcomers have lots of experience, but this will be the first time playing together as a unit.  The Huskers have a good balance of returning experience to mesh with the transfers, with six returning starters on offense and six on defense.  All eyes will be on transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea. There are huge expectations on the UNLV transfer. He's started 31 games and has 8,693 total yards of offense in his career, including 7,542 passing yards. On paper, his dual-threat ability makes him a better fit for Dana Holgorsen's offense. There will be lots of new faces to watch, including the coaching staff. It's only the first game, but it could give everyone a glimpse of what is to come for Nebraska, good and bad. Also, Dr. Rob shares his predictions for the biggest surprise teams in the Big 10 this season and his potential disappointments. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit—learn more at Strategic Solutions. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.    

We are less than two weeks away from the kickoff of the 2026 season, and the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, is coming with some fresh analysis.  Travis Justice and former Husker All-American, Dr. Rob Zatechka, dive deep into the defensive side of the ball.  Dr. Rob believes that if the Huskers are going to move beyond six or seven wins in 2026, they'll need to improve significantly on defense. Especially upfront on the defensive line and in their ability to stop the run against Big 10 opponents.  Dr. Rob believes that with a new Defensive Coordinator, new defensive position coaches, and a good mix of returning players and transfers, the pieces are in place. But he’s been burned before, and that’s why he’s taking a wait-and-see approach before he comes to any conclusion on how talented the defense really is.  One of the last remaining records for Husker Football going back to the “Glory Days” is the sellout streak. It currently is at 410 consecutive games, dating back to 1962.  The streak is in serious jeopardy, and the athletic department is selling attractive ticket packages to try to keep it going. Is now the time to let it stop? Sure, the sellout streak is a source of pride, but it has also become something of an eye-roll in the college football world, as TV often shows a stadium far from full when the Huskers are on TV. Holding on to the sellout streak can, and in many ways does, look like desperation when you are giving away tickets or buying them up just to keep it alive.  In the end, the best way to sell out the stadium is to put a good product on the field that fans can be proud of. If we are being honest, Nebraska hasn’t done that in over a decade.  Subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and email us with questions at [email protected]. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit—learn more at Strategic Solutions. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.  

Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule told the Big 10 Network that the 2026 Huskers are his best team, by far! If that’s the case, the offense is going to have to make some major improvements if that statement reflects in the win column. On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka dive deep into Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen and specifically the running back room. Holgorsen is in the last year of his two-year contract with Nebraska. In his first full season as the Big Red’s play caller, the Huskers offense made significant improvement in every offensive statistic with the exception of passing yards per game, where they actually went backward. We aren’t saying Holgorsen is on the hot seat, but if this is the best team by far since Rhule arrived in Lincoln, the offense will be expected to make another big jump. A lot is still unknown about whether that will happen.  An offensive line that has not played together. A new quarterback who last took a snap against a Big 10 team in 2023 when he was at Virginia. And the Huskers must replace All-American running back Emmett Johnson, who accounted for 40.7% of Nebraska’s offensive yards last season. The running back room has virtually no starting experience to speak of as the season starts.  No, Nebraska does not have a Johnson-like back on the roster; expect a more committee-based running back attack. Mekhi Nelson (Sophomore) Isaiah Mozee  (Sophomore) Kwinten Ives  (Junior) Jamal Rule  (True Freshman Others could work into the mix, like Conor Booth and Tikey Hayes. However, based on the Huskers' schedule, the offense and the running game will be huge factors in whether Nebraska can reach eight, or even nine, wins.  Here are Nebraska’s offensive statistics and rankings from last season. Category 2025 2025 Rank 2024 Rank Scoring Offense 28.7 58th 103 Total Offense 370.5 80th 94th Passing Offense 224.6 70th 65th Running Offense 145.9 79th 96th Yards Per Play 5.8 68th 106th 3rd Down % 45.7% 72nd Top 20   Subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and send us an email if you have a question: [email protected]. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit—learn more at Strategic Solutions. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.

If there's one thing Dr. Rob Zatechka knows a lot about, well, it's actually two things.  Medicine and offensive line play. For the sake of this podcast, we will focus on the O-Line.  Welcome to another edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation.  Dr. Rob points out there is a lot to be optimistic about for a unit that has struggled over the last couple of coaching staffs.  This year's team has three incoming transfers and is expected to start or see significant playing time up front. But Dr. Rob says to hold your horses and expect the pipeline's return. He admits there is talent, but talent may not be as valuable as time!  Listen to the episode for the full breakdown.   Subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and send us an email if you have a question: [email protected]. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit—learn more at Strategic Solutions. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.  

Welcome back to the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, now presented by Strategic Solutions.  A sure sign that the season is right around the corner, Big 10 Media Days take place this week. Six teams on the stage on Tuesday, six teams on Wednesday, and six more, including Nebraska, on Thursday.  Travis Justice and Former Nebraska All-American Dr. Rob Zatechka don't expect to learn a lot from the made-for-TV/Internet event. But they are interested in hearing what Big Ten Commissioner Tony Pettiti has to say about the "Save College Sports Act," which is not expected to pass before the November elections. Pettiti isn't expected to be as straightforward as his SEC counterpart Greg Sankey, but it's no secret the Big 10 is opposed to the "Save College Sports Act" in its current form. Matt Rhule will take the stage on Thursday; the ESPN Power Index has Nebraska finishing 7-5 on the season. If the Huskers do finish with this record, does it put Matt Rhule on the hot seat?  As we get closer to the season starting, Travis and Rob talk about fan apathy setting in for the Huskers. Is it really happening? This has been the least talked-about off-season they can remember for years.  Subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and send us an email if you have a question: [email protected]. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver 100% legal compliance, audit-ready performance, and elite sanitation for processing facilities nationwide. Stop worrying about your next audit—learn more at Strategic Solutions. Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.  

After years of talking about it, the renovation of Memorial Stadium is finally going to take place!  On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka talk about the $600 million project.  The project will bring major changes to the 103-year-old stadium. The south stadium will be completely demolished and rebuilt. This will create a 360-degree concourse and more fan amenities. Capacity will drop to 80,000 but will include 20,000 additional chairback seats and a 7,000-seat student section. Change does not come without complaints. People are unhappy with the project's price tag. They are also upset about the decision to eliminate legacy season tickets. As Travis and Dr. Rob Discuss, this is all part of doing business in today’s world of college football.  Stealing a line from “The Godfather,” it’s not personal, it’s business. The podcast covers a lot of ground, including the proposed 5-for-5 eligibility rule. The Big Ten’s record payout to schools from the first full year of the new media contract.  Also, the dangers to the transfer portal. We witnessed it firsthand recently with Brendan Sorsby at Texas Tech, who checked into a residential treatment facility for gambling addiction. The portal's shotgun marriages do not give teams enough time to conduct background checks on players. Unlike the NFL, which has a security team in place that knows everything possible about a player before the draft. Subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and send us an email if you have a question, [email protected]. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.

On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka are tapping into their artistic side. Our guest is Ashley Spitsnogle. You may not know her name, but if you are a Husker fan, you have definitely seen her art. Some of you may even own one of her prints, or if you have a lot of money, an original painting. Ashley is an officially licensed Husker Artist who has captured the hearts, minds, and emotions of Husker Nation.  Spitsnogle grew up on a farm in Odell, Nebraska. She attended Doane College and studied art. A lifelong Husker fan, she developed a passion for painting the Big Red after doing a live painting at a Teammates event. After that, opportunities kept presenting themselves, and her business continued to grow.  You can find prints of her work at Husker Hounds or on her website. Decorate your man cave with spectacular pieces of Memorial Stadium, or some of the best players and coaches in Husker History.  Getting to this point in her career has been a journey that she shares on this episode. Here’s a hint: becoming a licenced Husker artist is not as easy as one would think. There’s a lot of red tape, and now with Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), it’s even more complicated. But for her, and you, it’s all worth it.  If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.

In this episode of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka are joined by former Husker sharpshooter Cary Cochran to celebrate a historic milestone: Nebraska’s deep run into the Sweet 16. Recorded on the eve of their high-stakes matchup against Iowa in Houston, the conversation captures a fan base and a program operating on "house money," balanced by the anxiety of a storied regional rivalry. The conversation centers on the transformative culture under Fred Hoiberg, a coach whose reputation has soared to the point where Cochran jokes they might soon build him a statue in Lincoln. The trio discusses how this particular roster has defied the "curse" of Nebraska basketball by embracing a brand of unselfishness that overcomes their lack of traditional first-round NBA talent. Cochran highlights the team's recent hot streak, noting that when the Huskers shoot as well as they have lately, specifically, their performance against teams like Vanderbilt, they become a threat to anyone in the country. A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the tactical and emotional weight of the Sweet 16 appearance. Cochran posits that Nebraska's cohesiveness is their greatest strength, allowing it to play at a level that "out-shoots" more talented opponents. He predicts a double-digit victory over the Hawkeyes, citing that Nebraska played poorly in its previous loss at Iowa and still nearly won, whereas it dominated at home. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of this success for the program's future. The hosts and Cochran speculate that this tournament run will finally trigger the necessary NIL investment in basketball, a move they deem essential if the program hopes to keep its developed talent from being poached by higher-paying schools. Amidst the excitement of being just "40 minutes from the Final Four," the episode serves as a tribute to a program that has finally traded its history of first-round exits for a seat at the "big kids' table" of college basketball. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.  

The Husker Doc Talk Podcast with Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka welcomes a guest Husker fans are going to enjoy: former Nebraska fullback Barrett Liebentritt. Before the interview even starts, the guys go on a classic Doc Talk tangent—this time sparked by Rob sending Travis a “strange times, strange places” text… from the campus of Grand View University in Des Moines. That turns into a fun (and surprisingly informative) conversation about NAIA athletics, wrestling weekends, and why Rob is basically fluent in Olympic and Big Ten wrestling while Travis is… not. Then it’s time for the main event: Barrett’s journey from being a Husker fan who wanted Nebraska first, to landing at Notre Dame during the weirdest recruiting era imaginable—COVID. Barrett explains what it was like to choose a high-level football path without camps, visits, or the normal recruiting process… and how his first real look at Notre Dame’s facilities happened when he literally showed up for school. From there, Barrett gets candid about the reality of being a walk-on at Notre Dame, the culture divide between scholarship guys and walk-ons under Brian Kelly, and the “wait… that’s it?” moment when Kelly left for LSU—an exit Barrett says felt abrupt, cold, and very “business first.” On the flip side, he shares why Marcus Freeman made such a strong impression and why players were fired up when Freeman took over. The heart of the episode is Barrett’s decision to come back home. He breaks down what pulled him to Nebraska—Matt Rhule’s vision, the idea of using a true fullback, and the chance to wear the N. The conversation expands into the modern state of college football: NIL, the portal, roster limits, and whether development-first coaching can still win in today’s “plug-and-play” world. And because this is Husker Doc Talk, you also get a ton of personality: ACT score trash talk, “stab lab” stories from dental school, beer-at-10-a.m. debate, and Barrett’s future plans as he pursues dentistry at UNMC—plus the sobering reality of the injury that ended his playing career early. It’s funny, real, and packed with insight on football, life, and the changing college landscape—exactly what Doc Talk does best. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Orr Law Group Life throws legal challenges at all of us — and when it does, you need a team that’s trusted, respected, and proven. Orr Law Group provides expert legal representation with a client-first approach, specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family matters, and more. When you need clear guidance and strong advocacy, the Orr Law Group is in your corner. Learn more at www.orrlawgrp.com. Husker Hounds Whether it’s game day, bowl season, or the long wait until spring practice, Husker Hounds is your go-to source for the best Nebraska gear. Jerseys, hoodies, hats, collectibles — if it’s Husker-related, they’ve got it. Family-owned, locally operated, and serving Husker Nation for decades, Husker Hounds helps you show your Nebraska pride every day of the year. Shop online at www.huskerhounds.com.