Nebraska completes non-conference play on Saturday night when the Huskers take on North Dakota at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:15 p.m., and the game will be televised by BTN.
The Huskers come into the contest with a 2-0 record, after a 56-7 victory over Bowling Green on Saturday. For the second straight week, Nebraska showed offensive explosiveness and balance, racing to a 35-0 halftime lead after scoring on five straight drives in the first half. The Blackshirt defense limited Bowling Green to less than 50 total yards in the first half and allowed only a fourth-quarter touchdown.
Nebraska will be looking to complete non-conference play unbeaten for the third consecutive season while going for its 11th consecutive regular-season victory over non-conference foes.
North Dakota comes into Saturday's game in Lincoln with a 3-0 record following a 47-23 victory at Portland State on Saturday. The Fighting Hawks are ranked sixth in the FCS Coaches Poll, up one spot from the previous week.
UND has been impressive in its three victories, averaging 50.3 points per game. The Fighting Hawks feature a balanced offensive attack that ranks second in FCS by averaging 540.0 yards per game, including 251.3 rushing yards and 288.7 passing yards per game. Defensively, North Dakota has allowed 297.3 yards per game, including only 78.7 rushing yards per contest.
North Dakota's visit to Lincoln is its second in the past five seasons. Nebraska defeated the Fighting Hawks, 38-17, in 2022.
Nebraska Looks to Close Unbeaten Non-Conference Slate
Nebraska has opened the 2026 season with victories over Ohio and Bowling Green, and will conclude non-conference play against North Dakota on Saturday night.
- Coming into Saturday's game, Nebraska has won 10 straight regular-season conference games dating back to the 2023 season.
- A victory over North Dakota would give Nebraska three straight undefeated non-conference seasons. The last time the Huskers went undefeated in regular-season non-league play for three straight years was a five-year stretch from 1997 to 2001.
Osborne to Join State of Nebraska Hall of Fame
Legendary Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne will join the Nebraska Hall of Fame this week. Osborne will be inducted into the state's Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the State Capitol building on Friday. His induction will also be recognized with a short on-field recognition following Nebraska's game against North Dakota.
- Osborne is the first living person in the state's history to be voted into the historical society's Nebraska Hall of Fame. The state legislature in April passed a law paving the way for Osborne's entry. The law set aside the stipulation that a person must be deceased at least 35 years before he or she can be considered. The hall of fame commission voted 7-0 in favor of Osborne's induction.
- After retiring from coaching after the 1997 season, Osborne was a three-term congressman representing Nebraska's 3rd District from 2001 to 2007. He and his wife, Nancy, founded the Teammates youth mentoring program in 1991.
- Osborne grew up in Hastings, played at Hastings College and was an assistant at Nebraska under Bob Devaney before he took over as head coach in 1973. Osborne had a 255-49-3 record over 25 seasons, and his .836 winning percentage ranks seventh all time in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
- Nebraska won three national championships in Osborne's final four seasons, capturing titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.
- Nebraska has surpassed 500 yards in both games, marking the first time NU has topped 500 yrds of total offense in back-to-back games since last September against Akron and Houston Christian. The Huskers have now topped 500 yards five times under Matt Rhule.
- Nebraska topped 200 yards in both rushing and passing in each of the first two games. It marks the first time Nebraska has reached that statistical milestone in consecutive games since 2021 when the Huskers posted 200-200 games in back-to-back games against Fordham and Buffalo. Nebraska has now topped 200 yards in both categories four times in Rhule's tenure.
- The Huskers have 15 offensive plays of 20 yards or more through two games, a total that ranks 12th nationally. Against Bowling Green, Nebraska had three touchdowns of 30 yards or more.
Blackshirt Defense Off to Strong Start
The Husker defense has been strong through two games, particularly over the past six quarters. Against Bowling Green, Nebraska allowed only 169 total yards, the fewest by the Blackshirts since allowing 160 yards to Houston Christian last season.
- Nebraska is allowing 236.0 yards per game through two games to rank fifth in the Big Ten in total defense. The Huskers rank 12th nationally allowing only 124.0 passing yards per game.
- The Huskers are third nationally with just two plays of 20 yards or more allowed. Nebraska allowed a 68-yard play on Ohio's first play from scrimmage in the season opener, and a 20-yard pass play later in the first quarter against the Bobcats. However, over the past seven quarters Nebraska has not allowed a play of 20 yards or more.
- Nebraska allowed Ohio only 167 yards over the final three quarters and held Bowling Green to 169 total yards. In the past seven quarters, Nebraska has allowed a total of 336 yards on 101 snaps, an average of 3.3 yards per play.