Offensive identity: A key component to winning football team. It is something we can hope (and I fairly confident it has been) determined already by both Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson. The basic strategy for the offensive scheme lays the foundation for the whole offense and in turn, having that foundation set by spring is crucial.
Rhule came into Nebraska wanting to run the ball. The BIG 10 is a physical league, and Nebraska, as he remarked, was a tough blue collar type team. They were going to win the line of scrimmage and run the ball. Rhule’s first year saw a depletion of the quarterback room, receivers and the running back room. Still, he commanded a good run heavy team, that got them close enough to win most games they were in.
In year 2, Rhule had a shiny new toy in Dylan Raiola. The Huskers, of course, attempted more balance in the run and pass game with the 5 star under the helm. The run game never really developed last year, with the absence of the threat of the QB run.
Enter Dana Holgerson, known to be an “air raid” type coordinator, to run the offense in 2025. If you think you know what’s coming, I would caution you to wait and see.
Holgerson, although known as an air raid disciple, has also had teams that ran the ball more than thrown it. I think he will take into account a few things: The changing landscape of college football offenses and what works today; Matt Rhule’s vision; his quarterbacks ability; and the strength of his skill players. If Holgerson thinks he has the running back room that can consistently run for 150 yards a game, I’m pretty confident he will commit to it more than Marcus Satterfield did. Keep in mind though, he the Huskers got an influx in talent in the receiver room from the transfer portal.
My best guess is that it’ll be balanced.
I think they will want to run the ball and spread the defense with the deep passes. The old school Huskers fans may want the dominant run game to be the primary, but I think most would agree that college football offenses have changed and whatever it takes to win, will be good enough for most.
Time will tell, we won’t get a spring game to preview it. We will have to wait for Cincinnati in Arrowhead stadium for that. Go big red.