Nebraska go face defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday for Memorial Stadium, Lincoln. Game time na shortly after 11 a.m. CT. FOX and Big Noon Kickoff team go provide TV coverage. The matchup between two 5-0 teams na Huskers’ fifth home contest in six games to open 2026 season. E also mark first visit to Memorial Stadium by defending national champion since 2006 matchup with Texas.
Huskers remain unbeaten last week with 48-23 home victory over Maryland. The win continue Nebraska best start to season since 2016, and their 2-0 Big Ten record na Huskers first since 2017. Nebraska trail by nine points late in second quarter, before scoring two touchdowns in less than three minutes before half to take lead into locker room. Nebraska dominate second half to pull away for victory, out-gaining Maryland by 221 yards over final three quarters.
Indiana come Lincoln ranked seventh for Associated Press poll and fifth for Coaches poll, following 47-15 victory at Rutgers on Saturday night, as Indiana roll up nearly 600 yards of offense. Hoosiers don win 21 consecutive games, fifth-longest winning streak by Big Ten team in past 80 years. Indiana post perfect 16-0 record last season en route to national championship and own 32-2 record under Head Coach Curt Cignetti. Hoosiers once again dominant on both sides of ball, ranking among top 10 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Indiana also rank fourth nationally in total defense and 14th in total offense.
The matchup with No. 7/5 Indiana go mark Nebraska first game with ranked opponent this season, and first overall since taking on No. 15 Utah in Las Vegas Bowl last season. Matt Rhule Nebraska team never beat ranked opponent and program losing streak against AP Top 25 teams date back to September 2016. But Blackshirt defense don strong start. Husker defense among nation best through five games, helping Huskers to unbeaten start. Nebraska rank among top 20 nationally in total defense (265.8 ypg, 17th), scoring defense (14.2 ppg, 15th), pass efficiency defense (104.74, 13th) and third-down defense (21.3%, 2nd).
For Indiana, program get plenty qualities wey make dem winner, but number one na say dem no dey beat themselves. Hoosiers no dey turn ball over and no dey commit penalties. Indiana offense continue to control line of scrimmage. Dem 36th in successful rush rate and 15th in yards before contact. Offensive line na first in country in pressure rate, although to be fair, dem don play one of easiest schedules in country. Quarterback Josh Hoover no be Fernando Mendoza and this na him first road start for Hoosiers, but coaching staff appear say dem don fix him biggest issue — turnovers. He get no interceptions this season.
Nebraska defense no dey stop runner behind line of scrimmage all that often. Dem rank 74th in tackle success rate and allow plenty completions wey end up in first down. Raw numbers still great: first on third down and 15th in yards per play. However, Nebraska don face zero good offenses in five games. Nebraska offense don take one of biggest positive jumps from last year to this year. Dem eighth in points per drive and get top-25 success rates in both pass and run. Nebraska dey run ball and throw short. Dem 122nd in country with 5.5 air yards per target. Majority of pass attempts go to slot or running back. Indiana defense no as sharp as last season, but like any elite unit, if dem get idea of wetin you dey do, success dey follow.
Nebraska dey 123rd in penalties per game and offensive line dey average over three a game. You no dey win many games against team like Indiana if you dey commit plenty penalties.
