Huskers Look to Continue Momentum Against Maryland

Nebraska returns home on Saturday afternoon to take on Maryland in the 2026 Homecoming Game at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for the matchup with the Terrapins is set for 3 p.m. CT with television coverage provided by FS1.  

The Huskers come into the game at 4-0 after a 31-13 road victory at Michigan State in their Big Ten opener. The 4-0 start is Nebraska's best since winning its first seven games in 2016, and the victory in the conference opener was the Huskers' first since 2019. Big plays from the Husker defense highlighted the victory in East Lansing, as Nebraska forced three turnovers and recorded six sacks.

Nebraska continues to feature one of the nation's most balanced offenses, averaging 236.5 rushing yards per game and 246.3 through the air per contest, while putting up 42.5 points per game. 

Maryland will come to Lincoln with a 2-2 record following Saturday's loss to UCLA in College Park. The Terrapins feature a high-powered offensive attack that is averaging 32.3 points and 431.3 yards per game.

Saturday's game is just the fifth all-time meeting between the schools, but marks the third time the Huskers and Terrapins have played in the past four seasons. The visiting team has won each of the past three meetings in the series with the last two meetings decided by a total of six points. 

This week will feature Homecoming activities on the University of Nebraska campus capped by Saturday's game. The Huskers are playing their 115th Homecoming game in school history and have won 14 of their last 16 Homecoming contests. 

Huskers-Maryland Square Off for Third Time in Four Years
Nebraska and Maryland will meet for the fifth time on Saturday and for the third time in the past four seasons. Nebraska holds a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series between the schools.

• The visiting team has won the past three meetings, including Nebraska's 34-31 come-from-behind win in College Park last season.
• Each of the past two games have been decided by three points, with Maryland winning 13-10 in Lincoln in 2023 on a field goal as time expired.
• Nebraska won the first two meetings by a combined 68 points. The Huskers' 54-7 win in 2019 at Maryland is Nebraska's largest margin of victory in a Big Ten game. 

Offense Showing Balance and Explosiveness    
The Husker offense has been prolific in 2026, ranking in the top 20 in scoring offense (42.5 ppg, 16th), total offense (482.8 ypg, 19th), rushing offense (236.5 ypg, 18th) and third-down conversion percentage (54.0%, 10th).

• Nebraska topped 200 yards in both rushing and passing in each of the first three games. It marked the first time Nebraska has reached that statistical milestone in three straight games since 2016. Nebraska has now topped 200 yards in both categories five times in Rhule's tenure. 
• Nebraska surpassed 500 yards in each of the first two games, marking the first time NU had topped 500 yards of total offense in back-to-back games since against Akron and Houston Christian in 2025. Nebraska just missed a third straight 500-yard game with 493 yards of offense against North Dakota. The Huskers have topped 500 yards five times under Matt Rhule.
• The Huskers have 26 offensive plays of 20 yards or more through four games, a total that ranks 13th nationally. Nebraska's 10 rushing plays of at least 20 yards rank sixth in the nation. 
• Nebraska scored two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns at Michigan State. NU has had at least one rushing and passing touchdown in every game this season. The last time the Huskers had both a rushing and passing touchdown in each of the first four games was 1999.
• Nebraska has scored at least 30 points in each of its first four games, marking the first time since 2019 NU has reached that scoring plateau in the first four games. The 2014 season is the last time NU reached 30 points in the first five games.

Running Backs Leading Powerful Ground Attack    
Nebraska entered the 2026 season looking to replace All-America running back Emmett Johnson. Early in the season, the Huskers' top three running backs have been up to the task, as freshman Jamal Rule, sophomore Isaiah Mozee and junior Mekhi Nelson are all off to strong starts, helping Nebraska to one of the nation's top rushing attacks.

• Through four games, the trio is averaging a combined 233.5 yards from scrimmage per game. In the opener against Ohio, the three running backs had 35 touches, including 31 rushing attempts and four receptions, and accounted for 329 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. The trio accounted for 239 yards (191 rush, 48 receiving) on 27 touches against Bowling Green, and had 268 yards (213 rush, 55 receiving) on 38 touches against North Dakota. 
• Rule has led the way on the ground, averaging 83.3 yards per game, including a pair of 100-yard games. In the opener, he had 122 rushing yards on 15 carries with two rushing TDs. He added two catches for 47 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown reception. Rule had 88 yards on eight carries in the first half against Bowling Green, including a 59-yard touchdown run in week two. He added 119 yards and two touchdowns against North Dakota. Rule left the Michigan State game in the first quarter. Rule ranks second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally in rushing yards per game. He is the only freshman in the nation among the top 50 in rushing yards per game.
• Rule has six touchdowns, including five rushing scores and one TD reception. His six touchdowns through three games were the most by a Husker through three games since Taylor Martinez also had six in 2011.
• Nelson carried 10 times for 64 yards and a 29-yard touchdown against Ohio. He also caught two passes for a team-high 65 yards, with a 51-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that gave NU a comfortable margin. He accounted for 82 yards (48 rush, 34 receiving) against Bowling Green, rushed for 54 yards against North Dakota and added 61 rushing yards at Michigan State. 
• Nelson has 227 rushing yards and 106 receiving yards through four games. He is the only player in the Big Ten with at least 200 rushing and 100 receiving yards, and one of only nine players nationally in that category. 
• Mozee has totaled 149 rushing yards on 31 carries, including a TD run against Bowling Green.
• Fifth-year senior Vincent Genatone added to the production at Michigan State. On his first career reception, Genatone scored on a 13-yard TD catch just before halftime, then he added a one-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. 

Blackshirt Defense Off to Strong Start
The Husker defense excelled in the month of September, helping the Huskers to a 4-0 start. Nebraska ranks among the top 10 nationally in total defense (233.5 ypg, 5th), scoring defense (12.0 ppg, 10th), passing yards allowed (143.0 ypg, 7th) and third-down defense (25.5%, 9th). 

• Against Bowling Green, Nebraska allowed only 169 total yards, the fewest by the Blackshirts since allowing 160 yards to Houston Christian last season. North Dakota picked up only 205 yards against the Huskers, including just 127 yards through three quarters. In the Big Ten opener at Michigan State, NU held the Spartans to just 39 rushing yards.
• Nebraska allowed Bowling Green just nine first downs, while North Dakota picked up 10 first downs against the Blackshirts. North Dakota had just two first downs in the first half. This is the first time Nebraska has allowed 10 or fewer first downs in consecutive games since the first two games of the 1999 season.
• The Huskers are tied for 14th nationally with just nine plays of 20 yards or more allowed. Nebraska allowed a 68-yard play on Ohio's first play from scrimmage in the season opener, and a 20-yard pass play later in the first quarter against the Bobcats. However, over the past 15 quarters Nebraska has allowed just seven plays of 20 yards or more.  
• After the season's opening quarter, Nebraska has been difficult to move the ball against. In the past 15 quarters, Nebraska has allowed a total of 798 yards on 216 snaps, an average of 3.7 yards per play.  
• The Husker defense has excelled on third down, allowing opponents to convert just 25.5 percent through four games. North Dakota was 1-of-12 on third-down conversions against the Huskers.

Protecting the Rock
Nebraska has held a decided advantage in the turnover margin category through the first four games. Nebraska has committed just one turnover, while recording six takeaways. The Huskers' +1.25 turnover margin ranks 13th nationally.

• Nebraska's +3 turnover margin at Michigan State was the Huskers' best since also going +3 in a 2022 victory at Iowa.  
• Nebraska was +2 in turnover margin in 2025, while committing a school-record low 11 turnovers. The positive turnover margin was Nebraska's first since being +5 in 2016.
• Under Head Coach Matt Rhule, Nebraska is 9-2 when committing zero turnovers and 12-1 when winning the turnover margin.