Corn Nation: for Nebraska Cornhuskers fans

Corn Nation Reaction, Jake and Greg will have all of the thoughts on Nebraska's 48-23 victory over Maryland. At the beginning, it looked like he Huskers were not up to the challenge of being 5-0 for the first time since 2016 (that's a crazy stat). Maryland looked in control early on, controlling the ball for nine of fifteen first quarter minutes and taking a 16-7 lead. But Nebraska found its stride, posting 21 second quarter points and leading 28-23 at halftime. The Terrapins would not score again. Of course, the Huskers were the third-quarter Huskers, not finding the endzone until seconds into the fourth frame. But 21 points in the final quarter helped seal the win. So the shortcomings would be identified as: Third Quarter Woes Turnovers (16 for 132 yards) Lack of a rushing attack without Jamal Rule Big Noon Saturday looms with top-ten Indiana coming to Memorial Stadium. It should be a good game.

This week on the Five Heart Podcast, there's lots to celebrate. The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 4-0 after winning their conference opener for the first time since 2019. That's not a typo. This is the first time the Huskers opened up Big Ten play since before the global pandemic. That is almost unfathomable. But on the road in East Lansing, Nebraska more than handled business, beating the Spartans 31-13. Opinions vary, but it is the opinion of this writer that the game at Michigan State was not as close as the final score indicated, a change of pace, a breath of fresh air if you will, to usual Nebraska football contests. Anthony Colandrea showed what he could do with his legs while many of the running lanes were closed. And the defense totaled six sacks and three take-aways. Celebrate! This weekend, the Maryland Terrapins come to Lincoln on the heels of a 54-3 beat down at the hands of UCLA. The players will be playing for Mike Locksley's job. Bet on it. But it's Husker Homecoming. Celebrate! This week we also acknowledge the birthday of one of our hosts. Celebrate! And on top of everything else, this is Episode 500 of the Five Heart Podcast. CELEBRATE! And GO BIG RED!

It’s true. The Huskers had not won a Big 10 opener since defeating Illinois 42-38 back in 2019. We talked about this, and as always, many other things. Mylie kicked things off by dropping in and catching us up on some volleyball talk with those ladies currently undefeated and ranked #1, but having dropped a few sets dropped a few sets in recent matches. Is it reason for worry and who out there is built to beat them. Mylie had some answers. We then shifted to football talk covering items such as how, while the performances were not perfect, the offense and defense picked up for each other the entire game and came away with a 31-13 road win in their opener over Pat Fitzgerald and Michigan State. I also discussed how this may be an early reflection of the roster’s new look of being upperclassman-heavy with much more experience than recent years. There wasn’t much to give in the way of injury updates for Jamal Rule and Jacory Barney, but there was a good reason for that. And Vince Genatone’s big day most definitely came up, as well as the story behind Riley Van Poppel no longer wearing a single-digit jersey. As always, we ran through the drive chart and the numbers for the game, both team and individual. We previewed Maryland and shared Matt Rhule’s well-founded warning on why the Terps shouldn’t be overlooked despite their rough loss to UCLA. And we definitely jumped into the comments, which always carry a good chunk of he evening. So if you missed out, please click on the link up top and give Tuesday’s show a look - and I’ll be back live next Tuesday at 8PM!

Monday Night Therapy celebrated Nebraska’s road victory over Michigan State, with Minnie and Fred breaking down a game that felt much closer and uglier than the final result suggested. Nebraska controlled much of the first half before struggling badly in the third quarter as Michigan State increased the tempo and made adjustments. The Huskers eventually responded, wore down the Spartans, and finished the game by leaning on the running game. The discussion highlighted Nebraska’s improving depth, particularly at running back and along the defensive line. North Platte native Vincent Genatone took advantage of his opportunity, while Riley Van Poppel continued making an impact up front. The offensive line also received plenty of praise, especially center Justin Evans for his athleticism and ability to get downfield as a blocker. Minnie and Fred discussed Anthony Colandrea’s aggressive running style, Nebraska’s injury situation, concerns about special teams, and the team’s occasional tendency to come out flat after halftime. Despite Nebraska’s unbeaten start, both remained cautious about getting too excited or worrying about rankings and playoff possibilities. Attention then turned toward Maryland, with Nebraska expecting another opponent capable of using tempo. The overall feeling remains cautiously optimistic: Nebraska is showing improved talent, depth, physicality, and an ability to overcome rough stretches and finish games strong.

Nebraska moved to 4-0 with a convincing 31-13 road victory over Michigan State, and Greg and Jake broke down an “ugly win” that still showed how far the Huskers have come. Nebraska didn’t play its best football, particularly in the running game, but the defense dominated with six sacks, multiple takeaways, excellent tackling, and impressive team speed. Dawson Merritt, Andrew Marshall, Owen Chambliss, Caleb Benning, Jamir Conn, and the Jones duo were among the defenders earning praise. Anthony Colandrea continued to show why he has been such an important addition, throwing for 212 yards and two touchdowns while adding 66 yards rushing. His 44-yard touchdown connection with Kwazi Gilmer highlighted a strong day for Gilmer, who finished with 101 receiving yards. Vincent Genatone also impressed after Jamal Rule left the game, scoring twice and showing surprising versatility and athleticism. The biggest concern remains Nebraska’s offense coming out of halftime, where the Huskers continue to look disjointed before eventually finding their rhythm. Attention now turns to Maryland and Nebraska’s homecoming game. Despite Maryland possessing talented players, Greg and Jake expressed considerable confidence in Nebraska’s physicality, coaching, defense, and quarterback play as the Huskers attempt to remain undefeated before a major matchup with Indiana.