Maverick Noonan plans on leaving Nebraska when the transfer portal opens on January 2. However, before that happens, the Husker legacy is doing something no college football fans see very often. He's sticking around to try to help win a bowl game.
Noonan's father, Danny, was a three-year letterwinner for the Huskers, and as a senior in 1986, was a unanimous first-team All-American and the Big Eight Athlete of the Year. He's still considered one of the best defensive linemen to ever play in Lincoln. He recorded 140 tackles in his career with 36 TFLs and 25 sacks. A first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1987 NFL Draft, the elder Noonan went on to play in 73 games in his six-year NFL career.
"After a lot of thought and conversations, I've decided that following our bowl game, I will be entering the transfer portal," the Nebraska legacy wrote on X, Sunday afternoon. "I'm looking forward to finding a program where I can continue to develop and contribute to winning."
Nebraska football legacy Maverick Noonan prepares for portal entry
Maverick Noonan's development with NU was hampered by an early career injury. That injury caused him to redshirt in 2023. He saw action in three games in both 2024 and 2025, notching one tackle each season. Earlier this fall, he recovered a fumble during the 68-0 rout of Akron.
In the new era of opt-outs and the transfer portal, it's almost unheard of for a player to announce they're leaving and still play with the team. However, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has said in the past that he would allow those who wanted to do so to participate until they're gone. That the portal now comes after the season ends for the Huskers makes it easier for Noonan to show his intent without technically leaving.