Off The Cob

A site consisting of editorials from a fan who has followed Nebraska football for over fifty years. Catch the latest off the beaten path, off the wall, strikingly different thoughts from Lyle Harmon.

The truth is I’m like many other Husker fans. I don’t have access to the football coaches or the players. I’m not a media member who attends games or press conferences. I’m not a former player or part of a Husker inner circle. I’m not a reporter, rather I express my viewpoints or opinions on various topics in order to provoke thought and engage my audience. I’m like most of you, willing to share my thoughts and feelings on Husker football. Join me!

Editorials will be posted each week all year long. You can also find ‘Off the Cob’ at Carriker Chronicles.

Look for postings and videos each week on Face Book, Instagram, ‘X’ & Tik-Tok. Or email me at lyleharmon.otc@gmail.com

-Lyle Harmon

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Hot Off The Field!

This week’s take!

Who Will the 2026 Husker Team Be?

April 8, 2026

If you’re a Husker fan and have followed Nebraska football, then you are familiar with the name Damon Benning. Damon was a Husker and a…
For Nebraska Early Spring Means Early Adjustments

April 3, 2026

There was plenty of bellyaching from fans about Nebraska’s early spring game. With Fred Hoiberg’s success basketball and football overlapped, something Husker fans haven’t dealt…
High Stakes Recruiting – the Big List

April 3, 2026

June looks to be a monster month for Nebraska when it comes to recruiting as the Huskers look to add to their commitment list. Nebraska’s…
The DNA of Winning Football

April 1, 2026

When head coach Matt Rhule took over the Nebraska football program he had one goal in mind. Win football games. It’s a single-minded straight-line goal.…

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The DNA of Winning Football

When head coach Matt Rhule took over the Nebraska football program he had one goal in mind. Win football games. It’s a single-minded straight-line goal. But the path to getting there resembles a coiled double helix chain of cells known as DNA. Yes, over the last eleven seasons winning……..

The Cob’s Spring Game Take

For those who did not watch or attend the Spring Game, and by all accounts there seems to be several of you, Nebraska’s Spring Game was played on Saturday with the Nebraska team defeating the Husker team 22-17. Yes, an actual scrimmage was held rather than the joke we…….

Shout Out to Husker Men’s Basketball

Things didn’t go the way Husker fans and Fed Hoiberg’s team wanted in Houston Thursday night, losing to Big Ten rival Iowa 77-71. It’s rough to take, but you can’t be upset with this Husker team. In my view they are one of the greatest Nebraska basketball……

Hoiberg Increases Pressure on Rhule

Nebraska basketball history is being made. Not only have the Huskers won their first NCAA tournament game, but they have advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time, and with a matchup against Iowa, a team they defeated a couple of weeks ago, they could make the Elite……

The 2027 Class, Who’s Next

Nebraska added their seventh commitment to the 2027 class Friday when wide receiver Kaden Howard announced he would join the Huskers. The 5’10”, 160-pound 3-Star comes from Palmetto High School in Miami, the same school as current Husker Jacory Barney. Howard had offers from Minnesota, Louisville, Missouri……

Pigskin Recruiting Watch

Last week was spring break and everything concerning football has come to a screeching halt. But players will be back Sunday evening and there will be five more practices before the Red-White Spring game on Saturday the 28^th. Real football is back and thank goodness……

The Future of Husker Football

It is a unique time in Nebraska football. A week before the Red-White spring game and all is quiet. The focus of Husker fans is on other sports. Both men’s and women’s basketball are in the NCAA Tournament. The baseball and softball teams are off to a good start……

The Big Red Monster

You will sometimes here people say, “He was born for it.” There is some truth in that. I’m sure I was born for something, but I can’t tell you off the top of my head what that might be. What I will tell you is this, love him or…..

The Passing of a Coach

He started out as a Honey Creek Wildcat, playing at a small country school in the southeastern corner of Nebraska. It was in the mid-fifties and at the time, Honey Creek was a powerhouse in both basketball and football. They played in the Little Eight Conference, consisting of Honey Creek….

One Key Left for 2027 Recruits

It was a big weekend for Nebraska football as they hosted a group of 2027 and 2028 recruits that have the potential to vault the Huskers into the top of the Big Ten. The new coaching staff is taking big swings towards top-tier talent. While many coaches try….

Three Quarterbacks, Three Words

A short history lesson for Husker fans. In 1924 sportswriter Grantland Rice created the legendary “Four Horseman.” His column that day included this passage. Outlined against a blue-gray October sky the Four Horseman rode again. In dramatic lore they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction and death. These…

Stacking the Deck

The landscape of college football is ever changing. It has always been the objective of coaches to build depth at every position. But with NIL and the transfer portal, that is becoming increasingly more difficult. Players who stand out are offered better opportunities, making it harder to retain…..

Maher a Sound Choice

I’ve often criticized Matt Rhule for his hires. And probably unjustly, as often it’s after the fact. I wasn’t a fan of his hiring a young inexperienced coach with no answers to something he’d never seen before. I was even less of a fan of his hiring a high…..

Finally, Coaches Who Sound Like Coaches: Part 2

As I stated before, early in year one Rhule told us about some advice he once got from coaching legends Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells, “Your first staff is never your best staff. It’s usually about two years in when……

Finally, Coaches Who Sound Like Coaches: Part 1

Early in year one Rhule told us about some advice he once got from coaching legends Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells, “Your first staff is never your best staff. It’s usually about two years in when you figure out who everybody is and what they need.” I believe……

Rhule Isn’t Among Hot Seat Coaches in 2026

Even though spring practice has started for the Huskers we have entered that time of year when lists are being created. Pre-season top twenty-five, top ten FBS quarterbacks, ranking the quarterbacks in the Big Ten, and of course, coaches on the hot seat going into the 2026 season…..

Mighty Rhule Steps to the Plate

Tomorrow I’ll post my list of coaches who won’t survive another losing season, coaches under the microscope, and coaches who will more than likely be on the move. You won’t find Matt Rhule anywhere on my list. So, where does he fall on my list of coaches? He is……

Without Doubt, It’s an Improved Quarterback Room

You may be tired of hearing it, but I’m going to continue to say this Nebraska team has the talent to win in the Big Ten. I hear fans whine constantly that Nebraska isn’t getting the best players available. “Why didn’t we get Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby……

A Quick Take on the Spring Presser

Thursday afternoon Matt Rhule kicked off the beginning of spring practice with a press conference. It’s the first time Husker fans have heard from Rhule in close to 50 days. A bit unusual for the man who likes to talk. But fans are tired of talk. They are ready…….

Going into Spring it All Starts at Linebacker

One of the big topics over the last couple of weeks has been identifying which position group needs to improve the most going into the 2026 season. It’s not unusual for people to call out the offensive line. Others quickly point out the defensive line and how they……

Bill Moos Validates What Nebraska Fans Already Knew

Former Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos just released his memoir titled “Crab Creek Chronicles from the Wheat Fields to the Ball Fields and Beyond.” Since its release Moos has done multiple guest appearances on Nebraska radio shows and podcasts revealing events about his time as AD at…..

First Step in Returning to a Legacy

There isn’t enough talk in Husker Nation about what Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson accomplished this season. Yes, we all puff our chest out with pride for Johnson being named the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year. And yes, we are quick to point our……

North Dakota State Decides to Step Up and Be Recognized

It was announced at the beginning of the week that North Dakota State would be leaving the FCS and the Missouri Valley Conference to move up to the FBS and the Mountain West. Hearing the news, my first question was, “What about South Dakota State…..

Roster After Signing Day

The current Husker Roster lists 115 players. Taking 105 into account, that puts the Huskers ten players over the limit, however there are some exceptions due to the grandfathering in some players. But at this point going into spring ball that’s good because there will be some natural attrition. And…

One Step forward, Two Steps Back for the Huskers

Over the last week the Huskers have been riding the waves, signing new recruits like defensive tackle Dylan Berymon and losing quarterback Tanner Vibabul to James Madison. But it hasn’t just been players, there has been coaching turnover as well. Former special teams coach Josh Martin…

Nebraska Rounds Out the 2026 Class

February 4^th, national signing day, was once one of the biggest days in college football, but NIL and the transfer portal have reduced the event to almost another day. I say almost because the Huskers scrambled late into Tuesday evening to sign four-star defensive tackle Dylan Berymon. As of Wednesday…

Co-Coordinators Will Attempt to Keep Special Teams on Track

When Matt Rhule first announced special team coordinator Mike Ekeler was leaving the program he made it clear he would fill the position from within. Husker fans immediately made a list of three names, Josh Martin, Brett Maher, and Nick Humphrey. All three had strong qualifications…

Nebraska’s 2026 Schedule, 3 Games That Will Define the Season

I’ve often been told, “You’re a glass half empty guy aren’t you.” Umm … maybe, but what I can tell you is, I’m one of those people that usually answers a question with a question. My question, “What’s in the glass?” For me, a legitimate response, because..

It’s Not Just Jimmy’s and Joe’s

Anybody that follows me will be tired of hearing this, but winning football games takes much more than athletic talent. For me, it’s more about X’s and O’s than Jimmy’s and Joe’s. And when I say X’s and O’s, I’m also talking about coaches who can develop…

Snapshot of the Roster 01/24/26

I’ll admit, it’s probably way too soon to do this, but if you’re a Husker fan like I am then you want to know what the roster looks like headed into the new spring practice date. Also, as a fan, it’s too easy to convince yourself……

Are We All-In on Baseball?

If you mention the University of Nebraska anywhere in the nation, football used to be the first thing that came up. And why not, Husker football was what originally put the University of Nebraska on the map. It’s what we were known for on the national stage for years……

Google Him, He’s Changed the Narrative of College Football

Love him or hate him, Curt Cignetti has changed the way fans, coaches, players, and athletic directors look at college football. With the addition of NIL, the world changed. There are those that have struggled with it, Dabo Swinney, and there are those that have excelled…….

Quick Synopsis of the National Championship Game

Curt Cignetti still comes up when you Google the word winner, and the football world continues to be dumbfounded over what they witnessed Monday night. But let’s give the Miami Hurricanes credit, they worked their tails off attempting to give the upcoming ‘Hoosiers Part 2’ movie…….

Trae Taylor Takes His Commitment to the Next Level

After Monday night you no longer must Google Curt Cignetti to know he is a winner. After Wednesday morning, if you were to Google the word commitment, the name of future Husker ‘Trae Taylor’ may very well pop up. But I need to correct myself. As far as Husker…….

CFP National Championship – Miami Hurricanes vs Indiana Hoosiers

Due to his stoic behavior and willingness to say things as he sees them Curt Cignetti has been a lightning rod for the media. The days leading up to the national championship game have been no different. In his ambition to……..

A Defiant Rhule Finally Emerges

Matt Rhule and his Nebraska Cornhuskers enter a fourth season in 2026. It’s taken a while, but we are starting to see the Matt Rhule needed at Nebraska. I’ve said all along Rhule can’t be compared to Osborne and other top coaches. Heck, his resume pales in comparison to……..

The Final Take on Dylan Raiola

I’m one for moving on. So, I’m going to share my final thoughts on Dylan Raiola going to Oregon and then I won’t broach the subject again. I wish him well. But it’s hard for me to get too busted up over him leaving. Frankly, I think Nebraska is better……..

Huskers Continue to Build a Roster

During the season it was apparent that the Huskers needed to improve their depth in both their offensive and defensive lines. But before Rhule started bringing in players he made changes to his staff, hiring new offensive line coaches Geep Wade and Lonnie Teasley. He followed that with defensive…….

Corey Brown Checks All the Boxes

I won’t try to deny the fact that last season I was high on the hiring of defensive line coach Terry Bradden and outside backers coach Phil Simpson. Bradden was an assistant with Kansas City for eight years and had worked with guys like Chris Jones. As for Simpson…….

Transfer Portal, Roster Movement, and Recruiting

Nebraska’s roster will look very different in 2026. Thanks to the portal that’s just part of today’s college football. Matt Rhule and his staff continue to stay aggressive in the portal, recruit 2026 high school players, and retain their roster. As far as current players are concerned, I’m sure…….

Nebraska Begins a New Era at Quarterback

It happened sometime during the 2025 season. It’s difficult to say exactly when that occurred, and regardless of what the final straw was, Matt Rhule determined things weren’t working at quarterback and a change was needed. Good on Rhule. Rhule said it in his first year of recruiting…..

CFP Semifinal – Oregon Ducks vs Indiana Hoosiers

This game is a rematch from October 11^th when Indiana defeated Oregon in Eugene 30-20. That game is Oregon’s only loss of the season. This one comes down to the old dog versus young pup. Curt Cignetti is 64 years old. Dan Lanning 39. While there is a gap…..

Portal Activity Update: January 8th

Portal activity continued Thursday as the Huskers picked up their eighth player with the commitment of UCLA defensive lineman Anthony Jones. The 6’5” 265lb Jones plays defensive end and will be needed if the Huskers move to a four-man front. Jones started 10 games for the Bruins…..

CFP Semifinal – Miami vs Ole Miss

Since the college football playoff was expanded to twelve teams, seven of eight games played the team with the bye has gone down in flames. Only Indiana has made it to the semifinal game after a bye week. It’s hard to imagine an extra week causing…..

Portal Activity, Huskers Strike While the Iron’s Hot

After QB Kenny Minchey threw a monkey wrench in things Monday evening Matt Rhule and Pat Stewart decided they were tired of the nonsense and went to work. By Tuesday evening the Huskers had seven new commits in two days and don’t seem to be slowing down…..

Nebraska Lands Their Quarterback – Again

Matt Rhule said before the transfer portal opened, “The portal giveth, and the portal taketh away.” Well, Nebraska fans found out Monday night just how true that statement is. Approximately 24 hours after Notre Dame QB Kenny Minchey committed to Nebraska he decommitted and announced he…..

Huskers Land QB & Portal Intel

The 2026 transfer portal is in full swing as Nebraska continues to have players enter the portal. The Huskers have now had 15 players enter. But more important than entries are players on their way to Nebraska. Big news in that regard is former Notre Dame QB…..

Rhule is the Problem

It’s not uncommon for people to leave Las Vegas with their pockets turned inside out. Not the Huskers, they left town with their hands full after having their butts handed to them – again. Nebraska lost their last three games this season by a point total of 121-48,……

Utah Thumps Knots on Nebraska’s Head

First off, I must apologize for the tardiness of this article. Sometimes family matters take precedent over your fandom. So, while I may not tell you anything new, I will share my thoughts on the game. Better late than never. Nebraska started the Las Vegas Bowl like……

Utah a Tough Challenge for a Tweaked Nebraska

Nebraska versus Utah in Las Vegas. It’s a good matchup and an even better destination for Husker fans. Any other year I might be excited about this matchup, but Utah may be the best team Nebraska faces this season. What worries me is the late season collapse.,……

From Crickets to Jet Engines

The Huskers finished the 2024 season with a 6-6 record, and while many of the fans found the record disappointing, the Huskers qualifying for the Pinstripe Bowl was monumental for the program. Saying that sounds over dramatic. But with the unveiling of the $165 million,……

CFP Quarterfinals – Four In, Four Out

So, why are we talking about the college football playoffs on a Nebraska Cornhuskers website when they aren’t part of it? Because as college football fans this is where we all want our Huskers to be going forward. So, we need to understand what it’s going to take……

Recruiting the Roster – Defense

I will apologize from the start. Many of the first few paragraphs were taken from the ‘Offense’ article. That’s because what I had to say applies to both, and well, if you didn’t read the first article you need to know what was said……

TJ Lateef is the Lone Ranger

The Nebraska vs USC game is just one of the many elimination games that will be played on Saturday. Both teams come into the game with 2 losses, and it’s very unlikely a team with 3 losses will qualify for the CFP. At this point,……

Recruiting the Roster – Offense

Like every college football team, come January 2^nd Nebraska will be hitting the transfer portal hard. There are several positions the Huskers need to upgrade. Maybe I should rephrase that, I should say add more depth and experience rather than upgrade because there isn’t a position on this team……

CFP First Round Games

This season I picked what I thought were the best games each week. Overall, I picked 140 games straight up over the season and went 77-63. I would have done much worse if I had picked the spread. Being a college football fan……

Just Another Legacy or Benedict Arnold

Dyan Raiola and Nebraska are going through a divorce. Most of the time it’s an ugly process. But in this case, everything remains copacetic. Although, there weren’t any goodbye poems from Raiola with his departure. I believe it was a mutual agreement between the two parties, with Nebraska……

Hopefully the Drama is Over

Most Husker fans weren’t surprised with today’s news. Since the day Dylan’s younger brother Dayton decommitted from Nebraska fans have been saying, “Where there is smoke there is fire.” Once Matt Rhule fired offensive-line coach Donavan Raiola, fans held their collective breath waiting for what was sure to come next. Well……

Coaching Carousel or Roulette Wheel

Every season the topic of coaching carousel comes up. Usually there are a half dozen or so coaching changes each season, and most of the time they don’t have much effect on one another. But with the addition of NIL and billion-dollar television contacts things have drastically changed. This….

Kernels from the Cob

There are too many things to talk about, and you can really go down some rabbit holes if you spend too much time on one topic, so, I’ll highlight a few and try to move on……

Hit-N-Miss

I can’t deny it and there are thousands of you who can’t either. As Husker fans we’re spoiled stinking rotten. We’ve been fans long enough to experience the glory years. We lived the 90’s National Championships, and yes, some of us the 70’s too. We sat……

Rhule – A Man of Action

Matt Rhule didn’t waste any time making staff changes once he decided they were needed. Deciding they were needed also wasn’t a difficult process. After Nebraska’s unexpected collapse in their final two games against Penn State and Iowa it was obvious to anyone watching things weren’t working…..

Big Ten Championship, Indiana vs Ohio State

Okay, so you’re asking why this is posted on a predominately Nebraska Cornhuskers website. Well, it’s because our Huskers play in the Big Ten, and as fans we all need to educate ourselves to what level our Huskers need to be at to win this conference. This……

Championship Weekend

With the regular season over, Championship Weekend has finally arrived. I’ll apologize upfront, I haven’t listed every championship game. While it isn’t that I’m not interested, it’s just that I have concentrated on games that will influence the CFP committee’s selection…..

Signing Day, the Portal, and Coaching Changes

Matt Rhule held a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the signing of the 2026 class. The class seems small considering there are schools out there that signed twenty plus players. But you need to stop and remember how young Nebraska’s team is. The Huskers have almost 40…….

DC John Butler is Out, Communication Breakdown

My last article was titled ‘CEO Matt Rhule Needs to Hire a Football Coach’. To do that, you must first have an opening. Head coach Matt Rhule created one today with the firing of defensive coordinator John Butler. I can’t say I’m surprised after the Blackshirts…..

CEO Matt Rhule Needs to Hire a Football Coach

Matt Rhule in his postgame press conference after Iowa said it all fell on him, and if anyone was going to criticize, then criticize him, not his players. That won’ be hard to do. First off, I consider myself a fan, nothing else. Since the season ended…..

Iowa Still Owns the Huskers & Rhule

A quick word of warning, if you are reading this because you want to feel better about your Huskers, don’t. Just move on, you won’t find what you are looking for here…..

Make Mine Ham Not Turkey on Black Friday

Thanksgiving and the end of the football season are upon us and it’s time to be thankful for what we have. As an everyday guy that isn’t difficult. The Lord has blessed me with more than I deserve. There are numerous things to be thankful for…..

Best Games Week 14 & CFP Numbers

This is perhaps the biggest weekend in college football as some of these games will decide who plays for conference titles. Others will be elimination games for the CFP. But it is also the biggest rivalry week in college football, with games like…..

A Soft Team and Fans Who Support It

I anticipate taking a rash of crap for this article and that’s alright. I’ll take it. Controversy can be a good thing sometimes, and if I’m stepping on toes, it’s because I mean to. So, go ahead and call me a dinosaur and move on because I’m….

Who Will the 2026 Husker Team Be?

If you’re a Husker fan and have followed Nebraska football, then you are familiar with the name Damon Benning. Damon was a Husker and a member of the 1994-95 National Championships teams. He now works as color analyst on the Husker Radio Network with play-by-play announcer…

For Nebraska Early Spring Means Early Adjustments

There was plenty of bellyaching from fans about Nebraska’s early spring game. With Fred Hoiberg’s success basketball and football overlapped, something Husker fans haven’t dealt with before. But there’s something fans need to consider. With spring practice over and a spring game in the books, coaches were given time…

High Stakes Recruiting – the Big List

June looks to be a monster month for Nebraska when it comes to recruiting as the Huskers look to add to their commitment list. Nebraska’s 2027 class is currently ranked the 10th best class nationally but with over 50 visitors over the last two weeks…

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