LINCOLN, Neb. — After a sobering loss to Michigan and a bye week filled with introspection, the Nebraska Cornhuskers defense is ready to flip the script. Defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel believes the key to improvement isn’t just in schemes — it’s in mindset.
“There’s no magic call,” Van Poppel said. “Football comes down to 11 guys flying to the ball and knocking people out. We have to be violent and high effort.”
The Huskers enter the weekend with a paradoxical defensive profile: ranked No. 1 nationally in pass defense, yet No. 108 against the run. Through four games, Nebraska hasn’t allowed a single pass play over 20 yards, but three explosive touchdown runs by Michigan proved costly in a narrow three-point defeat.
Van Poppel described the post-Michigan film session as “tough,” but said it sparked a renewed focus during the bye week. “You want to put it in the rearview mirror, but you want that bitter taste there,” he said.
That bitterness fueled intense practices centered on aggression and mentality. While the drills were demanding, players also found time to recharge — Van Poppel spent part of the break watching college football in Omaha.
Despite some consistency in run defense, Nebraska has been burned by big plays: 38% of rushing yards allowed have come from just six snaps. Van Poppel is confident the team can clean that up, even with dual-threat quarterback Aidan Chiles and Michigan State’s powerful backs looming.
“It’s about the mentality and taking the attack to them,” he emphasized.
As the Blackshirts prepare for their next challenge, they’re betting that grit and attitude — not just X’s and O’s — will be the difference.