Not long after the Nebraska football team announced the players who will wear Blackshirts and single-digit jerseys in 2026, it became clear that one of the defense's leaders would not play in the season opener.
Linebacker Owen Chambliss, who will wear No. 0 this season, was not in uniform during warmups and won't appear in the game against Ohio. Chambliss has been nursing a hamstring injury for the last few weeks. There was hope he'd be able to shake it off in time for Saturday's 11 am kickoff, but it was not to be.
Nebraska football will not have Owen Chambliss for season opener against Ohio
Chambliss' absence certainly wasn't a huge surprise, even if Nebraska mostly kept the extent under wraps. That there was any problem at all only surfaced when defensive coordinator Rob Aurich mentioned on August 22 that the transfer linebacker hadn't been in practice all week.
However, just a few days later, head coach Matt Rhule reported that the Huskers were relatively injury-free, noting only one player out for the year, Kahmir Prescott. That seemed to indicate that while Chambliss had missed several practices, he was back and healthy. It turns out he wasn't all the way back.
Nebraska's "projected starters" released just ahead of the game demonstrated that Chambliss, who did get one of those single-digit jersesy but didn't get a Blackshirt yet, isn't expected to play. The linebacker was nowhere to be found on the list.
Instead, the starting lineup is expected to include Cam Lenhardt and Anthony Jones Jr. at defensive end, Owen Stoudmire and Jahsear Whittington at defensive tackle, Vincent Shavers Jr. and Dexter Foster at linebacker, Donovan Jones at Nickel and Andrew Marshall at corner, Dwayne McDougle III or Rex Guthrie at one safety and Jamir Conn at the other. The expected starting defense was rounded out with Victor Evans II or Jeremiah Charles at the cornerback position opposite Marshall.
Chambliss missing the Ohio game shouldn't impact Nebrska's season opener as the Huskers should be able to beat the Bobcats handily without him. Where his absence will be felt is further on down the schedule if the hamstring injury continues to bother him (which they tend to do).
The former San Diego State Aztec was one of the biggest Transfer Portal gets this offseason because he understood and could team his Nebraska teammates Aurich's system. Owen Chambliss also brought over immense talent as he totaled 109 tackles, 5 pass breakups, 4 sacks and an interception in 2025.
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