Akron Athletics
Nebraska football finally gets to bring it home this Saturday night. After opening the season with a tight 20-17 win over Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium, the Huskers (1-0, 0-0 B1G) will run out of the Memorial Stadium tunnel for their 2025 home opener against Akron (0-1, 0-0 MAC). Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CDT on Big Ten Network.
The Basics
Nebraska enters the matchup as one of the largest favorites in the country this weekend, listed between 33–34.5 points depending on the sportsbook. Akron limps into Lincoln after a 10-0 loss to Wyoming where the Zips managed only 113 total yards and failed to find the end zone. The last and only time these two teams met was in 1997, a 59-14 Nebraska blowout. A 2018 meeting was scheduled but canceled due to storms.
Key Matchups
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Dylan Raiola vs. Akron’s secondary: The sophomore QB was steady in his debut, completing nearly 80% of his passes for over 200 yards and two touchdowns. He should have plenty of opportunities to air it out against an overmatched defense.
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Nebraska’s defensive front vs. Akron’s offensive line: The Zips couldn’t generate much push against Wyoming, rushing for minimal yardage. Nebraska’s front seven will look to build on last week’s effort when they held Cincinnati to under 100 yards passing.
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Turnovers: The Huskers were plus-two in takeaways last week, and Matt Rhule emphasized the importance of protecting and stealing possessions. If Akron coughs it up, this could spiral quickly.
Player to Watch
Dylan Raiola (QB, Nebraska). The sophomore showed composure and accuracy in Week 1, making smart decisions late in a tight game. This weekend gives Raiola his first chance to take the field at Memorial Stadium, and the expectation is that he’ll open up the passing attack against an Akron secondary that simply doesn’t have the talent to keep up.
Jaylen Lloyd (WR, Nebraska). The freshman speedster is one to keep an eye on. Lloyd has the type of burst that can flip the field in one play, and in a matchup where Nebraska should have the upper hand, this could be the perfect opportunity for him to showcase his big-play potential.
What to Watch For
The theme is simple: improvement. Rhule was blunt after the Cincinnati game — Nebraska needs to take a big step forward. That means finishing drives, staying sharp on special teams, and putting a team like Akron away instead of letting them hang around. With Michigan looming in a few weeks, this is the chance to clean things up.
Final Thoughts
Nebraska’s opener showed progress but also left plenty of room for growth. Saturday’s matchup isn’t expected to be close, but it matters because it’s a chance to set the tone at home and give the fan base a glimpse of how much sharper this team can look in Week 2.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CDT on Big Ten Network. Nebraska will look to roll into Memorial Stadium, notch a convincing win, and build momentum before the meat of the schedule arrives.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
