After a second straight game without Jamal Rule in the Nebraska backfield, the Huskers struggled to get rushing yards from anyone but quarterback Anthony Colandrea. The good news is that it sounds like the freshman phenom will be back for this weekend's big game against Indiana.
During NU head coach Matt Rhule's weekly press conference, he indirectly addressed Rule's availability without saying whether he would play. “He said he felt good to go (against Maryland), so he was going to go as needed. Just felt like with him it was worth another week.”
That certainly sounds like Rule could have gone if Nebraska absolutely needed him to go against Maryland. However, though he was listed as a "game-time decision" on Saturday, he never played, and Mekhi Nelson (also banged up last week) and Isaiah Mozee got most of the carries.
In retrospect, it appears the Husker coaches wanted Rule to sit out one more week to get as close as possible to 100% for the team's biggest game of the year. It's in fact one of the biggest games the program has seen in the last two decades.
Jamal Rule could return as Nebraska football prepares for undefeated Indiana
Nebraska is 5-0 for the first time since the 2016 season and while Indiana is the defending national champion, the No. 7 Hoosiers have at least looked like a team that can be beaten, if everything goes the right way. Curt Cignetti's squad is also 5-0 but came very, very close to losing to Northwestern a few weeks ago.
Saturday afternoon gives Matt Rhule and Co. a chance to prove the 5-0 record is more than smoke and mirrors against a weak schedule. It would also be the first time NU has beaten a Top 25 team in the Rhule era. The pressure is even greater, since the last time Rhule and his team faced an undefeated Indiana team, it was also expected to be a statement game for the Big Red.
In 2024, Nebraska was 5-1, but the 56-7 loss to the Hoosiers was the first of four straight losses. That end of the season slide has been the norm during Rhule's career, which makes the game that much more important to prove that Year 4 is different.
Having Jamal Rule back could be a big step towards beating Indiana.
Against Michigan State, Rule carries just four times before exiting early with an injury. That Monday, Rhule said he wouldn't give injury updates as he had been and would instead leave it to the availability reports the Big Ten requires teams to issue this season. Rule first appeared on the report as doubtful on Wednesday, then questionable on Thursday and Friday, and then Game Time Decision on Saturday morning.
Through 3+ games, Rule led all freshmen running backs with 333 yards on 42 carries (7.9 yards per carry) and 5 touchdowns while adding 4 catches for 82 yards and another score. He still leads Nebraska in rushing while Mekhi Nelson is second on the team with 266 yards and 4 touchdowns on 56 carries. Nelson managed just 39 yards on 14 carries (though he did score two touchdowns) against Maryland.
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