Courtesy Photo — Cincinnati Athletics
With college football kickoff just over two months away, anticipation continues to brew.
For Nebraska, a game-changing season could be on the horizon, and that starts with Cincinnati (2024: 5-7, 3-6 Big 12) at Arrowhead Stadium.
Although the Bearcats struggled in their first season as a Power Four program, Cincinnati presents a legitimate early test for the Blackshirts, with veteran quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The junior QB completed 64% of his passes last season, throwing for 2,813 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Top returning target? Bearcat tight end Joe Royer could be a mismatch problem. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound senior snagged 50 receptions for 521 yards in 2024. Will Cincinnati try to replicate USC’s strategy by attacking Nebraska’s undersized secondary with Royer?
Sorsby also brings a dual-threat ability, rushing for nine touchdowns on 447 yards in 2024. Containment off the edge from Willis McGahee IV and Dasan McCullough, along with field awareness from Vincent Shavers Jr. and Marques Watson-Trent up the middle will be paramount.
One of the Huskers’ main struggles under head coach Matt Rhule has been containing mobile quarterbacks. Yet, defensive coordinator John Butler could change the story — he’s got more speed to work with than former defensive coordinator Tony White.
Schneider is a sports journalist who analyzes Nebraska baseball and football. Follow him on X @bschneider33 for more coverage.