Lincoln, Nebraska – September 20, 2025 — Following a hard-fought 30–27 defeat to Michigan, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule and several players addressed the media with raw honesty and a clear sense of urgency. The loss, marked by missed tackles, protection breakdowns, and explosive plays from Michigan, left the Huskers searching for answers — and motivation.
Rhule acknowledged the disappointment but emphasized the learning opportunity: “We certainly had our chances,” he said, citing early red zone failures, a missed field goal, and Michigan’s decisive 56-yard kick as turning points.
Michigan’s Justice Haynes and Bryce Underwood broke the game open with long touchdown runs, exposing Nebraska’s defensive gaps. Rhule stressed that the issue wasn’t just the defensive line — safeties missed tackles in space, and the team struggled to execute outside of “perfect call” scenarios.
Quarterback Dylan Raiola, who was sacked seven times, took responsibility: “Point it at me? I’ll take it,” he said, while also praising Michigan’s relentless pass rush. Despite the pressure, Raiola threw a Hail Mary touchdown to Jacory Barney Jr. to close the first half — a play they practice daily.
Barney, who totaled 120 receiving yards, admitted his decision to field a punt at the 2-yard line was risky. “I make the decision right the majority of the time. I’m trying to get to 100 percent,” he said.
Defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy and linebacker Dasan McCullough echoed Rhule’s sentiments, pointing to missed assignments and poor execution. “We need to marinate on this game and find the things we didn’t do right,” Jeudy said.
Rhule praised the crowd and the presence of boxing champion Bud Crawford, calling him a “unifying force” for Nebraska. “I feel like someone hit me with a hammer right now,” Rhule admitted. “I wanted to win the football game and thought we would win the football game”.
With a bye week ahead, the Huskers face a critical moment to regroup. Raiola summed it up best: “A lot of people think this might break us, but I’m just telling you right now — be careful. We’re going to come together and do something scary”.