Beware Ohio Say Huskers Coaches and Players: “They Ain’t Coming In Here Scared”

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First of all, I’m not new to the press dances and puffing up outmatched opponents prior to non-conference rollover games.

But the coaches and players at least sounded pretty sincere discussing the Ohio Bobcats, showing more animation than, say, the usual rushed, monotone responses when trying to explain why Houston Christian was going to be a real handful, then having 3rd-stringers in the game as teams switched ends before the 4th quarter.

However, and especially after Illinois’ struggles with Alabama-Birmingham and Rutgers being dismantled 37-21 by 0-12 in 2025 UMass on Thursday night, perhaps we might want to at least consider their thoughts, if not exactly letting genuine unease creep in.

HEAD COACH MATT RHULE:

“They still retain his (Frank Solich) DNA of being a tough, physical football team…(Last year at Rutgers) early on, they were down 31-17, and they just kept coming back. Made it 31-31. Rutgers kicked a field goal (to win), but they battled all the way back. They were down 16-7 or 16-3 – I don’t know the exact score…at this moment, Ohio State at The Shoe, unbelievably well-coached football team, great players. (They were down 13-0 2nd quarter, battled back to 13-9 in the 3rd)

“They’ve scored a ton of points…They play great defense.”

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR DANA HOLGORSEN

That culture is pretty strong. They’ve won a lot. It’s a developmental program, but they’re gritty. They’re tough. They ain’t coming in here scared… One of the most impressive things that I’ve seen from a Group of Five team going to a Power Four school was what they did at Rutgers last year. They’re down 31 to 14 at halftime. I think most group of fives are gonna- they’re gonna quit. That group didn’t, and they beat West Virginia the next week…went to Ohio State, played their tail off. So we we know they’re gonna come here and play their their tail off.

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR ROB AURICH

“Good program, man. Nine wins or more the last four seasons.”

TIGHT END 5TH YEAR LUKE LINDENMEYER

“They’re they’re a good team. They have good players, a bunch of new players…every opponent every week – they’re gonna come in here and they want to take what’s ours. And it’s all about defending what’s ours.”

And, finally, there Nebraska’s new QB1, who will be facing the Bobcats for the second straight game. In losing 17-10 to Ohio with his previous UNLV squad, Anthony Colandrea was sacked twice and held to subpar totals of 184 yards passing and 28 yards rushing. Of everyone here, he is probably best equipped to speak on Saturday’s opponent. So what did he take away from the 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl?

“They’re a really good football team. They play fast. They’re big. They’re physical. They’re super well coached. Just a good, good football team.”

So is there reason for real concern here?

There’s two ways to take it. The first is that everything above is probably 100% true. In the past four seasons, they have won 10-10-11-9 games. That would have been by far the best stretch of Frank Solich’s tenure in Athens, Ohio, as he, despite having winning records in all but two of his 14 seasons there, only reached 10 wins once.

A run like that doesn’t lie and, despite only five starters returning, that’s still a roster full of players who have known anything but winning and going bowling.

But, therein lies the disadvantage as well – they have only five returning starters. And even in the world of the transfer portal, that’s a lot of experience to replace and mesh together. You can read more about Ohio in Mike Jaixen’s Bobcats team preview by CLICKING HERE, but while we can safely expect to see a very competitive team across the ball Saturday, expecting them to put it all together for a full four quarter challenge in there first outing with a new-look starting 22?

That’s probably a bit too high a mountain to climb.

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