Since the Nebraska football team’s Black Friday loss to Iowa, there have been some seismic changes around the Husker program. On this edition of the Common Fan Podcast, TJ Birkel, Matty Owens Sr., and Geoff in Lincoln give their thoughts on the latest news, and look at the biggest questions hanging over the team heading into the Las Vegas Bowl.

John Butler and Donovan Raiola Relieved of Their Duties

• Both defensive coordinator John Butler and offensive line coach Donovan Raiola were fired in the week following the Iowa game. One could argue Butler’s unit played well enough in the first 10 games of the season, but the defense fell off a cliff in the final two games of the year. The crew discusses the hire of Rob Aurich from San Diego State to replace Butler, and pontificates on what needs to improve on the defensive side of the ball in 2026.
• Donovan Raiola also had his moments, and his offensive line seemed to do a pretty good job of paving the way for Emmett Johnson in the second half of the season. But Nebraska’s O line has left plenty to be desired in recent years, between the sacks in 2025, to the lack of NFL draft picks on Raiola’s watch. Raiola’s replacement–Geep Wade from Georgia Tech–has already been named, and appears to be an upgrade.

Emmett Johnson to the NFL

• Emmett Johnson, Nebraska’s best running back in more than a decade, the 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year, and the heart and soul of this year’s football team, announced he will be forgoing his senior season and entering the NFL draft. The Common Fans are not surprised with Johnson’s decision, which almost certainly means he is out for the bowl game. The boys pay tribute to EJ, and look ahead to who might carry the load in the bowl game.

Huskers to the Las Vegas Bowl

• It’s officially officially official: Nebraska will play Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 31.
• The Utes are the #15 ranked team in the country, and have the nation’s second best rushing offense, averaging almost 270 yards on the ground per game. They also have a rushing quarterback. On paper, this matchup is…not good, to say the least.
• That said, it will be another opportunity for Matt Rhule’s boys to try to take down a ranked team, and it’s a chance to head into the offseason with some momentum and optimism. Rhule, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, and interim defensive coordinator Phil Snow need to pull out all the stops to try to figure out a way to get a win in the bowl game.

Biggest Question in a Big Month for Nebraska Football

• What is the future of quarterback Dylan Raiola? Or TJ Lateef for that matter? What are Nebraska’s biggest needs in the transfer portal? Will there be more musical chairs among the coaching staff? It’s the most important offseason of Matt Rhule’s tenure in Lincoln, and there are arguably more questions than at any point in the last three years. How Rhule navigates this offseason will go a long way towards determining how his entire time as Nebraska’s head football coach is viewed.

This and so much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! As always, GBR for LIFE!

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Nebraska’s regular season ended with a 40–16 gut punch that left Husker Nation stunned, exhausted, and questioning everything. On this edition of the Common Fan Podcast, TJ Birkel, Matty Owens Sr., and Geoff in Lincoln sit down shortly after the meltdown in Memorial Stadium to process a rivalry loss that felt like a referendum on the entire Matt Rhule era. The conversation is part therapy session, part postmortem, and part rallying cry.

“Until Further Notice” – The New Reality for Nebraska Football

• The guys open with a declaration: Nebraska football has officially reached “until further notice” status under Matt Rhule. There is no more benefit of the doubt. No one is calling for Matt Rhule’s job, but the days of optimistic projections, culture speeches, and positive preseason vibes carrying water for the program are over. After back-to-back-to-back November collapses, and a squandered friendly schedule, fans have earned the right to be critical—and this loss crystallized why.

Emmett Johnson, the Only Corn Cob Recipient

• For the second straight week, the Corn Cob segment is essentially one man. Emmett Johnson once again fought to deliver another brilliant performance, singlehandedly keeping the offense afloat. The guys talk about his emotional moment on the field postgame, the likelihood of him turning pro, and the reality that Nebraska may have just wasted one of its best running back seasons in a decade.

A Comedy of Errors That Wasn’t Funny

• The boys break down the turning points: the frustrating non-targeting call on Jacory Barney’s fumble, and two back-breaking second-and-four sequences where Nebraska abandoned the run for reasons passing understanding. Each moment becomes a microcosm of Nebraska’s larger identity problem: predictable when they should be adaptable, stubborn when they should be smart, and chaotic when they should be complementary.

Big Picture: Identity Crisis, Defensive Regression, and the Rule of Year Three

• The second half of the show zooms out. The guys confront the uncomfortable comparison between Matt Rhule’s record and Mike Riley’s through the same point. They dive into Nebraska’s defensive collapse, the inability to stop the run, the non-existent pass rush, and the maddening lack of offensive identity. They question everything—staff, scheme, development, philosophy—while acknowledging that Rhule deserves the chance to make changes and evolve.

Bowl Game, Portal Season, and the Winter Ahead

• Despite the despair, the episode closes with a sliver of perspective. Nebraska made back-to-back bowl games for the first time in more than a decade. Portal season offers opportunity. Change is possible. Hope—however battered—still flickers. But the message is clear: no more speeches, no more slogans, no more benefit of the doubt. It’s time for proof.

This and so much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! As always, GBR for LIFE!

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You can now find all Common Fan videos and articles on www.huskermax.com as well as www.si.com/college/college-football/team/nebraska-cornhuskers.

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Throw out all the records. Throw out all the stats. Throw out anything that has happened this season. It’s Iowa week, and it is time for all of Husker Nation to unite against the hated Hawkeyes.

Looking at Iowa’s history:

• The Common Fans lay out the facts to explain why Nebraska football is and always will be superior to Iowa.
• The Hawkeyes claim five national championships, but two are from the 1920s, and for the other three–from 1956, 1958, and 1960–Iowa didn’t finish #1 in either the AP poll or the coaches poll.
• Nebraska owns 46 conference championships, which ranks second in the nation all time. Iowa, by contrast, has 15.
• Iowa’s record all time is 708-585-39, good for a .546 winning percentage that is 65th best in the country.
• Nebraska, by contrast, is 931-434-40, which amounts to a .677 winning percentage that is 10th all time.
• Iowa has one Heisman Trophy winner ever, Nile Kinninck in 1939. This was such a big deal in Hawkeye Nation that they named their stadium after him.
• Nebraska has three Heisman trophy winners, all of which occurred after World War Two, including one which happened in this century.
• And of course, Nebraska still owns the advantage in the all time head-to-head matchup between the two teams, 30-22.
• The list goes on and on; you get the picture. No matter what has happened in recent years, the Common Fans are red ‘til they’re dead. Nebraska will always be the superior program, and it’s always better to be a Cornhusker.

Time to buckle in, Common Fans:

• Have there been frustrating moments this season? Yes. Did the Huskers once again leave some wins on the table? It would appear so. Are there things this team needs to address in the offseason? Absolutely.
• And guess what: we will have eight months to digest this 2025 season, and to talk about all the ways in which Matt Rhule’s program needs to improve.
• In the meantime, it’s time for Husker Nation to unite, from Scottsbluff to South Sioux City; from Alliance to Falls City; from Omaha to McCook; from sea to shining sea. IT’S IOWA HATE WEEK!!!!!
• This is the life we’ve chosen, and it’s time to beat the Hawkeyes.

Celebrating 150 episodes for the Common Fan Podcast:

• One final note: the Common Fans didn’t even realize it, but the Penn State game recap episode was their 150th episode. The boys reflect on this podcast journey and thank all the loyal Common Fan listeners for a thoroughly enjoyable ride. It’s only been two years, and there is a lot more to come.

This and so much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! As always, GBR for LIFE!

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Check out our website: www.commonfan.co

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You can now find all Common Fan videos and articles on www.huskermax.com as well as www.si.com/college/college-football/team/nebraska-cornhuskers.

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Nebraska football walked into Happy Valley on Saturday night needing a breakthrough — and instead got bulldozed. The Huskers were outplayed, outcoached, and overpowered in a 37–10 loss to Penn State that leaves the fan base frustrated, salty, and searching for answers. On this week’s episode of the Common Fan Podcast, the crew breaks down everything that went wrong in State College and what it means for Matt Rhule heading into the Iowa game.

Slim pickings for Corn Cobs:

• The guys hand out their weekly Corn Cobs — and this one gets interesting. Geoff goes contrarian with a nod to punter-turned-missile Archie Wilson for showing some fire in a late-hit penalty. Matty O sticks with the obvious: Emmett Johnson, who once again carried the offense with 151 total yards despite having to break tackles five yards behind the line just to get back to even. TJ highlights linebacker Jacob Bauer, one of the few bright spots on a bad night for the Blackshirts.

Three years in, this shouldn’t be happening:

• The crew discusses AD Troy Dannen’s early-season comments about Nebraska being “three years into a rebuild” — but pushes back hard. Is year three long enough to expect the Huskers not to get manhandled at the line of scrimmage? The boys discuss Penn State’s struggles coming intothe game, why this wasn’t a great Nittany Lion team, and why all of that makes it even more inexplicable that Nebraska came out of a bye week completely flat.

On the stakes for the Iowa game now:

• The conversation quickly turns to what Friday now represents. Nebraska sits at 7–4. Lose to Iowa, and you’re suddenly staring at the very real possibility of finishing 7–6 for a second consecutive year after another 5–1 start. Beat Iowa, and the season feels salvageable — maybe even encouraging. But the guys agree: the seat doesn’t get “hot” with a loss… but it might start heating up. This is as urgent as a regular-season finale without playoff implications can get.

On the offensive identity and the QB conversation:

• The Common Fans dig into the offense’s lingering identity problem. What exactly is Nebraska’s scheme? What is it trying to be? And how should that shape the Dylan Raiola vs. TJ Lateef conversation moving forward? No one blames Lateef for the loss — but the guys question the play-calling, the lack of RPOs, and the absence of creativity. They agree both quarterbacks bring valuable tools… but the staff needs a real offensive blueprint before either can thrive.

On accountability, urgency, and a fan Base at its limit

• From concerns about Rhule’s messaging to frustration with local media predictions to a raw sense of being “bamboozled,” this episode captures the emotional whiplash of modern Nebraska football. The guys close by emphasizing the stakes, the rivalry, and the opportunity: beat Iowa, steady the narrative, and head into bowl season with momentum.

This and so much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! As always, GBR for LIFE!

Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@commonfanGBR

Check out our website: www.commonfan.co

Our Partners:

You can now find all Common Fan videos and articles on www.huskermax.com as well as www.si.com/college/college-football/team/nebraska-cornhuskers.

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Mitch Sherman joins the Common Fans to discuss TJ Lateef, the remainder of Nebraska’s season, the outlook for recruiting and the transfer portal, possible bowl destinations, and much more!

Assessing Coach Rhule’s comments about having the resources to compete for the best players in the nation:

• There will be more resources, both in the form of dollars in the NIL collective and in sponsorship deals for players, to help shore up the roster.
• It’s important not to forget the need to keep current impact players on the roster.
• Money isn’t always the deciding factor in where a player lands, but Nebraska feels like it can be competitive with anyone now.
• As always, offensive and defensive linemen will be a priority, along with at least one running back.

Looking at Nebraska’s win over UCLA:

• It was an excellent first outing from true freshman quarterback TJ Lateef, and the playbook wasn’t exactly watered down. The offense ran a lot of the same things they would have run if Dylan Raiola had been playing.
• Moving forward, ideally Nebraska would be able to put a game like that away, and not let the opponent back in it.

On Emmett Johnson’s Heisman Trophy chances:

• Realistically, Mitch doesn’t think EJ has a shot to win the prestigious award.
• The momentum among the national media, and the campaign being run by the University, really got going in November which is just too late.
• That said, Johnson is likely in line to be a 1st team All Conference player, and possibly an All American.

Looking ahead to Penn State:

• With Penn State’s win against Michigan State over the weekend, the Nittany Lions can still make a bowl game, and will have plenty to play for.
• With quarterback Drew Allar out for the remainder of the season with an injury, it will be critical for Nebraska to stop the run.
• PSU’s defense is formidable. They will have players who can come off the edge and get after the quarterback in a way that only Michigan has done against the Huskers this season.

Can Nebraska keep both Dylan Raiola and TJ Lateef in 2026?

• Lateef will almost certainly be coveted, and will likely get an offer to leave Nebraska.
• Will the Huskers be willing to pay top dollar for two quarterbacks?

Possible bowl destinations for the Big Red:

• The Music City Bowl in Nashville is looking increasingly likely as a possible bowl destination.
• One of the Florida bowls would be an indication of a strong finish to the season.
• Whatever the case, Nebraska will definitely not be returning to New York City this year.

This and so much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! As always, GBR for LIFE!

Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@commonfanGBR

Check out our website: www.commonfan.co

Our Partners:

You can now find all Common Fan videos and articles on www.huskermax.com as well as www.si.com/college/college-football/team/nebraska-cornhuskers.

For more Husker coverage, check out Carriker Chronicles: https://carrikerchronicles.com/

For more college football coverage, check out The College Huddle: https://thecollegehuddle.com/

The Common Fans discuss Nebraska’s bounce-back win against UCLA, TJ Lateef’s coming out party, Emmett Johnson’s continued dominance, and much more.

On true freshman quarterback TJ Lateef:

• Lateef sparkled in his debut as Nebraska’s quarterback, leading the Big Red past the Bruins in front of 20,000+ Husker fans at the Rose Bowl.
• The offense seemed to find a spark they have been missing in recent games.
• Lateef’s ability to run with the football is such a benefit to the offense.

On do-everything running back Emmett Johnson:

• What can’t Emmett Johnson do? EJ continues to shine.
• He continues to top his own performance from previous games, seemingly getting better, stronger, and faster as the season goes on.
• Will Johnson return for his senior year in 2026? The Common Fans speculate on the pros and cons from a player’s perspective. Hopefully, the prospect of more money in college, being a potential Heisman candidate, and drastically improving his draft stock are enough to bring him back for one more season.

On the performance by the defense:

• It wasn’t a perfect performance by the Blackshirts, and they were gashed by running quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
• That said, they made critical stops when the Huskers absolutely had to have them, and they did enough for Nebraska to win the game.
• John Butler’s unit has a lot of young talent, and optimism is sky high for the future.

On the Nebraska crowd at the Rose Bowl:

• Husker Nation does it again! 20,000+ fellow Common Fans take over the Rose Bowl in what was an electric night to be a Cornhusker.
• Common Fan co-host T.J. Birkel was in the house, and shares his experiences on the night.

On the future of Nebraska football:

• Vibes are sky high among the Common Fans right now.
• No, it hasn’t been a perfect season, but the Big Red continues to improve, and Matt Rhule is committed to being in Lincoln for the long term.
• The Huskers have a real chance to finish strong this season, and they have one of the youngest rosters in all of college football.
• Rhule will have to figure out how to get over the hump, and go from being good to great, but it feels like a strong culture and foundation are in place for much future success.

This and so much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! As always, GBR for LIFE!

Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@commonfanGBR

Check out our website: www.commonfan.co

Our Partners:

You can now find all Common Fan videos and articles on www.huskermax.com as well as www.si.com/college/college-football/team/nebraska-cornhuskers.

For more Husker coverage, check out Carriker Chronicles: https://carrikerchronicles.com/

For more college football coverage, check out The College Huddle: https://thecollegehuddle.com/

Evan Bland joins the Common Fans to discuss the loss to USC, Dylan Raiola’s injury, and the upcoming game against UCLA.

On the atmosphere on Saturday night:

• The blackout at Memorial Stadium was next level. It was an incredibly impressive effort from the fan base.
• The blackout was particularly beneficial for the big recruiting guest list that was on hand.

On the game against USC:

• Nebraska played about as well as they could for nearly two and a half quarters.
• This wasn’t Minnesota–Nebraska showed up ready, they had a good plan, and they played well for large chunks of the game.
• Defense did everything you could have asked them to do.
• Additionally, the Huskers probably win without Dylan Raiola getting hurt.
• But this one was unique, in the sense that it involved some bad luck as well.
• In the end, they fell short of an opportunity to make a statement on a national stage.

On the two third quarter timeouts:

• On the 4th and 1 play, Nebraska was going to go for it, and ultimately changed their mind.
• On the other timeout–it’s still unclear why Matt Rhule used the timeout in that moment.
• Huskers playing too fast and loose with their timeouts.

On Dylan Raiola’s injury:

• Recovery time according to Rhule is 8-12 weeks.
• He may miss some winter conditioning, but the expectation is that he will be ready for spring ball.
• Raiola still expected to be a leader for this team: mentoring TJ Lateef, sitting in on game planning meetings, and generally supporting the team.

On bouncing back from the USC loss and the importance of the remainder of the season:

• Players and coaches talked this week about how anxious they are to get back out there. Like a closer in baseball who blows a save, the Huskers are ready to get the bad taste out of their mouth and try to get back in the W column.
• Year three still needs to be about upward momentum. Even with the loss of Raiola, and even if it’s not a traditional “Year 3 leap” for Matt Rhule, progress is important.
• The next step for Nebraska is to be a team that can finish strong.
• What record would constitute success for this Nebraska team? They need at least one more win, preferably two.

Looking ahead to UCLA:

• You normally don’t see a team fire its coach, pivot to an interim coach, and then have the kind of resurgence the Bruins have had.
• Interim head coach Tim Skipper and interim offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel have been bright spots.
• Quarterback Nico Iamaleava can be expected to run the ball as much as any quarterback Nebraska has seen.
• UCLA does have some talent, although Nebraska has been the more explosive offense of the two.
• Expect the Huskers to have heavy doses of Emmett Johnson, as well as some designed keepers for Lateef.

This and so much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! As always, GBR for LIFE!

Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@commonfanGBR

Check out our website: www.commonfan.co

Our Partners:

You can now find all Common Fan videos and articles on www.huskermax.com as well as www.si.com/college/college-football/team/nebraska-cornhuskers.

For more Husker coverage, check out Carriker Chronicles: https://carrikerchronicles.com/

For more college football coverage, check out The College Huddle: https://thecollegehuddle.com/

The Common Fans discuss Nebraska’s heartbreaking loss to USC.

• Huskers looked ready to play and came out strong on an electric night in Lincoln.
• Coaching staff had a solid game plan, as the defense completely took away the Trojans’ passing game and the offense scored on two of its four 1st half drives.
• Nebraska ultimately couldn’t close the deal, like so many recent heartbreak, gut punch losses.

Pivotal 3rd quarter ultimately turned the tide in favor of the Trojans:

• Going 3-and-out on the opening drive of the 2nd half is inexcusable. The Common Fans hate the deep shot on the opening play of the half with the fire of a thousand suns.
• After the Blackshirts force a pick, disaster strikes for Nebraska. At 1st and 10 from the USC 23 yard line, the Huskers dial up another pass, during which Dylan Raiola fumbles and gets injured–an injury we now know will end his season.
• Hard to understand why the Big Red didn’t pound the rock, considering how much success Emmett Johnson had on the ground.
• Even after such an unfortunate turn of events, the defense stood tall again, forcing a turnover on downs and giving the offense the ball back around mid-field.
• The Huskers then burn two timeouts unnecessarily on the way to a missed field goal.
• Getting zero points on these first three drives of the half is ultimately what doomed Nebraska.

Some positives on the night:

• The defense, while getting gashed on the ground, held one of the nation’s best offenses well under its season average for points and yards.
• Holding USC to 21 total points is certainly enough to give the team a chance to win.
• Even after seeing Raiola go down, the team fought to the end. Other than the Minnesota game, this team has shown tremendous fight this year.

Nebraska’s identity on offense still lacking:

• What is this offense trying to be?
• Whatever it is, the Huskers continue to lose at the line of scrimmage.

Thoughts on the blackout:

• Hats off to all common fans in attendance who made the blackout a smashing success.
• The Common Fans are definitely in favor of making this an annual tradition.

Looking ahead to UCLA and the rest of the season:

• While no one would ever choose to have Dylan Raiola be injured, or to be out of the playoff race, in a way it’s freeing for this team.
• They will likely not be favored the rest of the way; they can simply go play without any expectations.
• Anxious to see what backup quarterback TJ Lateef can do with a full week of game prep.
• UCLA has been a bipolar team. Huskers should expect a battle at the Rose Bowl.

This and so much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! As always, GBR for LIFE!

Subscribe on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@commonfanGBR

Check out our website: www.commonfan.co

Our Partners:

You can now find all Common Fan videos and articles on www.huskermax.com as well as www.si.com/college/college-football/team/nebraska-cornhuskers.

For more Husker coverage, check out Carriker Chronicles: https://carrikerchronicles.com/

For more college football coverage, check out The College Huddle: https://thecollegehuddle.com/