Week 6: Matt Rhule speaks with media, scouting No. 7 Indiana
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule met with media on Monday at the Hawks Championship Center for his weekly press conference, previewing to what will be the Huskers’ first ranked matchup of the season on Saturday against No. 7 Indiana.
“Great defense,” Rhule said. “Fantastic defensive line (and) pass rush. Great linebackers – excellent on the back end. And offensively, I think they’re the most efficient offense in the country right now. (Charlie) Becker and (Nick) Marsh continue to make plays at a unbelievably high level. The run game is excellent, and (Josh) Hoover is an excellent quarterback.”
When asked about the availability of freshman running back Jamal Rule, coach Rhule said he was on the sidelines and ready to go before Maryland, sitting him for precautionary measures.
Nebraska’s 48-23 win over Maryland keeps the Huskers as one of only three teams in the Big Ten that’s still unbeaten – Indiana and UCLA being the other two.
Big Red will welcome No. 7 Indiana to Memorial Stadium Saturday at 11 a.m., marking the teams’ 24th all-time meeting. Indiana leads the series 11-9-3. The Hoosiers are 8-6-2 in Lincoln.
Watch Matt Rhule’s full press conference here:
Scouting Indiana
No team in college football had a better 2025-26 season than the Indiana Hoosiers.
Of course, this is the defending national champion, as the Curt Cignetti-led Hoosiers took down Miami 27-21 this past January to give the Big Ten its third consecutive title.
So far this season, the Hoosiers are picking up right where they left off with a 5-0 record – including the recent win over Rutgers 47-15.
But, Indiana has been challenged once so far, as it survived two weeks ago against Northwestern at home 29-23.
Leading the Hoosier offense is TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover, who has thrown for 1101 yards, 15 touchdowns and no interceptions on a 71% completion rating through the five wins. Hoover has led the IU offense to score an average of 44.2 points per contest. Additionally, Indiana is putting up nearly 490 yards per game.
The Hoosier rushing attack has shown strengths as well, putting up over half of those total averaged yards per contest. It’s a backfield by committee featuring Turbo Richard (117.4 yards per game) and Lee Beebe Jr. (104 yards per game). Nebraska’s secondary will have to deal with receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. Becker has hauled in eight touchdowns, with Marsh finding pay dirt four times.
Defensively, Indiana is once again among the nation’s best. The Hoosiers have only allowed opposing offenses to score just 10.8 points per game, which ranks fifth nationally and first in the Big Ten. Northwestern’s 23 points are the only time an opponent has scored over 20. Opposing teams are only averaging 237.8 yards against Indiana’s defense.
On top of that, the Hoosiers have recorded 15 total sacks. Tobi Osunsanmi leads Indiana with four and Stephen Daley has three. Two other Hoosiers each have a pair of sacks. Daley has also forced two fumbles.
But, Indiana has only forced three turnovers in five games. A key to look out for on Saturday, in what will without a doubt be the Huskers’ biggest test yet.
Score Predictions
Nick Eriksen: 21-17, Nebraska
Will Charlton: 30-20, Indiana
