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Nebraska visits Rutgers seeking to snap skid with new play-caller
Someone will snap a losing streak when Rutgers Scarlet Knights hosts Nebraska Cornhuskers in a Big Ten Conference game on Saturday in Piscataway, N.J.
The visiting Cornhuskers (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) have dropped four in a row, most recently 24-13 at Illinois after failing to hold a fourth-quarter lead in the previous three games. Rutgers (2-7, 1-5) has lost three straight and four of five, falling 31-10 at Wisconsin last time out.
Nebraska has outgained every opponent this season but scored only 54 points in the losing streak, prompting coach Matt Rhule to fire offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas will handle the offense the rest of the season.
"It was a decision that I made and felt like was right at this time for our team," Rhule said. "As I watch us play it just isn't working the way we want it to work. You need to have an explosive offense, you need to have the ability to score points. We can point to the yards ... but we're not scoring enough points, so I felt like the time was now."
The offensive woes have overshadowed a defense that's yet to allow more than 24 points in a game and ranks 12th nationally in total defense. Rhule announced Monday that defensive coordinator Rob Aurich had signed a two-year extension through 2030.
Neither side of the ball has been effective for Rutgers, which has been outscored 101-45 the last three games.
Antwan Raymond is tied for the Big Ten rushing lead with 789 yards and KJ Duff had 774 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in eight games, but the passing game has dealt with injuries and inconsistency. Its 55.1% completion rate is the worst among power-conference teams.
Making matters worse, Duff (ankle surgery) was ruled out for the season on Wednesday.
Despite the struggles, Rutgers announced Tuesday that coach Greg Schiano would be back for 2027.
"Being head coach at Rutgers is more than a job for me," said Schiano, who is in the seventh season of his second stint with the Scarlet Knights, having run the program from 2001-11 before taking an NFL job. "It's been my life's work."
--Field Level Media
Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Field Level Media. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Field Level Media is strictly prohibited.
| Team Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 6 | 2 |
| Rushing | 5 | 2 |
| Passing | 1 | 0 |
| Penalty | 0 | 0 |
| 3rd Down Conv | 1-2 | 0-2 |
| 4th Down Conv | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Total Net Yards | 86 | 29 |
| Total Plays | 13 | 9 |
| Avg Gain | 6.6 | 3.2 |
| Net Yards Rushing | 73 | 21 |
| Rush Attempts | 11 | 6 |
| Avg Rush Yards | 6.6 | 3.5 |
| Yards Passing | 13 | 8 |
| Comp. - Att. | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| Yards Per Pass | 6.5 | 2.7 |
| Penalties - Yards | 1-5 | 0-0 |
| Touchdowns | 0 | 0 |
| Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
| Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
| Punts - Avg | 0-0.0 | 1-40.0 |
| Return Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Safeties | 0 | 0 |
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
|
A. Colandrea
10 QB
|
A. Colandrea | 1/2 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
|
J. Rule
25 RB
|
J. Rule | 8 | 37 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
A. Colandrea
10 QB
|
A. Colandrea | 2 | 25 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
J. Barney Jr.
2 WR
|
J. Barney Jr. | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
|
M. Nelson
13 RB
|
M. Nelson | 1 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
J. Barney Jr.
2 WR
|
J. Barney Jr. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
|
C. Benning
28 DB
|
C. Benning | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
V. Shavers Jr.
10 LB
|
V. Shavers Jr. | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
J. Ochoa
94 DL
|
J. Ochoa | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
J. Conn
4 DB
|
J. Conn | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
V. Evans III
22 DB
|
V. Evans III | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
D. Jones
8 DB
|
D. Jones | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
| Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
|
S. Ashenfelder
6 QB
|
S. Ashenfelder | 2/3 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
|
S. Ashenfelder
6 QB
|
S. Ashenfelder | 2 | 16 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
A. Raymond
3 RB
|
A. Raymond | 4 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
|
B. Black III
2 WR
|
B. Black III | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
L. Blake
11 TE
|
L. Blake | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
V. Allen III
5 WR
|
V. Allen III | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
|
J. Conyers
25 DB
|
J. Conyers | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
R. Porter
99 DL
|
R. Porter | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
M. Davis
11 DL
|
M. Davis | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
M. Walker
2 LB
|
M. Walker | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
S. Allison
41 LB
|
S. Allison | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
T. Hayer
44 DB
|
T. Hayer | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
D. Anderson
21 DB
|
D. Anderson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
L. Noel
3 DB
|
L. Noel | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
S. Kromah
8 DL
|
S. Kromah | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
|
J. Anderson
94 P
|
J. Anderson | 1 | 40.0 | 1 | 40 |
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
| 1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
| 9:37 | NEB 6 | 8:03 | 13 | 81 |
| 1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
| 15:00 | RUT 25 | 5:23 | 9 | 29 | Punt |
| Result | Play |
|---|---|
| +13 YD | 2 & 8 - RUT 26 (1:51 - 1st) A.Colandrea pass complete. Catch made by M.Nelson for 13 yards. Tackled by R.Porter at RUTG 13. |
| +2 YD | 1 & 10 - RUT 28 (2:34 - 1st) J.Rule rushed for 2 yards. Tackled by J.Conyers at RUTG 26. |
| +1 YD | 4 & 1 - RUT 29 (3:16 - 1st) J.Rule rushed for 1 yard. Tackled by R.Porter; S.Allison at RUTG 28. |
| +2 YD | 3 & 3 - RUT 31 (3:51 - 1st) J.Rule rushed for 2 yards. Tackled by M.Walker; S.Kromah at RUTG 29. |
| +7 YD | 2 & 10 - RUT 38 (4:37 - 1st) A.Colandrea scrambles for 7 yards. Tackled by L.Noel; J.Conyers at RUTG 31. |
| No Gain | 1 & 10 - RUT 38 (4:37 - 1st) A.Colandrea pass complete. Catch made by J.Barney for 38 yards. TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the pass completion and the play was overturned. A.Colandrea steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for J.Barney. |
| +4 YD | 3 & 1 - RUT 42 (5:29 - 1st) J.Rule rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by J.Conyers; T.Hayer at RUTG 38. |
| +5 YD | 2 & 6 - RUT 47 (5:55 - 1st) J.Rule rushed for 5 yards. Tackled by M.Walker at RUTG 42. |
| +4 YD | 1 & 10 - NEB 49 (6:21 - 1st) J.Rule rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by R.Porter at RUTG 47. |
| +11 YD | 1 & 10 - NEB 38 (7:07 - 1st) J.Barney rushed for 11 yards. Tackled by J.Conyers at NEB 49. |
| +18 YD | 1 & 10 - NEB 20 (7:51 - 1st) A.Colandrea rushed for 18 yards. Tackled by J.Conyers at NEB 38. |
| +15 YD | 2 & 11 - NEB 5 (8:30 - 1st) J.Rule rushed for 15 yards. Tackled by S.Allison; D.Anderson at NEB 20. |
| Penalty | 2 & 6 - NEB 10 (8:51 - 1st) PENALTY on NEB-J.Evans False Start 5 yards accepted. |
| +4 YD | 1 & 10 - NEB 6 (9:37 - 1st) J.Rule rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by M.Davis at NEB 10. |
- Punt (9 plays, 29 yards, 5:23 poss)
| Result | Play |
|---|---|
| Punt | 4 & 6 - NEB 46 (9:47 - 1st) J.Anderson punts 40 yards to NEB 6 Center-M.O'Connor. Fair catch by J.Barney. |
| +4 YD | 3 & 10 - RUT 50 (10:25 - 1st) S.Ashenfelder rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by J.Ochoa at NEB 46. |
| +3 YD | 2 & 13 - RUT 47 (11:01 - 1st) A.Raymond rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by D.Jones; V.Shavers at RUTG 50. |
| -3 YD | 1 & 10 - RUT 50 (11:49 - 1st) A.Raymond rushed for -3 yards. Tackled by C.Benning at RUTG 47. |
| +12 YD | 2 & 10 - RUT 38 (12:27 - 1st) S.Ashenfelder rushed for 12 yards. Tackled by J.Conn; V.Shavers at RUTG 50. |
| No Gain | 1 & 10 - RUT 38 (12:33 - 1st) S.Ashenfelder steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for V.Allen. |
| +4 YD | 4 & 1 - RUT 34 (13:08 - 1st) A.Raymond rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by C.Benning at RUTG 38. |
| +2 YD | 3 & 3 - RUT 32 (13:46 - 1st) S.Ashenfelder pass complete. Catch made by L.Blake for 2 yards. Tackled by V.Shavers at RUTG 34. |
| +1 YD | 2 & 4 - RUT 31 (14:23 - 1st) A.Raymond rushed for 1 yard. Tackled by J.Conn at RUTG 32. |
| +6 YD | 1 & 10 - RUT 25 (15:00 - 1st) S.Ashenfelder pass complete. Catch made by B.Black for 6 yards. Tackled by V.Evans; C.Benning at RUTG 31. |
| Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) J.Hohl kicks 63 yards from NEB 35 to the RUTG 2. Fair catch by B.Black. |