'This Is Our Life Moving Forward': Rhule Addresses Team Focus, Preparation for Minnesota

Nebraska is out to a 5-1 start for the second time in as many years, so it was no surprise to see fans concerned about the focus of the team in the wake of the James Franklin firing and Matt Rhule's name being connected to Penn State.

During his media availability Wednesday, Rhule said everything is business as usual.

"The only time players did media, they had to answer some different things," Rhule said. "But we're ready for a great football game, and this is our life moving forward. It's gonna be all about being a good team and things that come along with a good team."

Matt Rhule played at Penn State and coached in Pennsylvania at Temple under Nittany Lions athletic director Pat Kraft. | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Rhule's first game at the Husker helm was back in 2023, with a season-opener at Minnesota.

"It was an elite environment," Rhule said. "The crowd was electric. We’ve prepared all week with insane crowd noise, and we’re counting on Husker Nation to show up and even out the volume to a degree. It will come to a time where, like last game, where silent cadence was done inside the 10, and it’s just what it is in the Big Ten and big-time football.

"We’ve prepared since camp, so we’ve done sound all the time. We’ve done sound this week, so we’ll be ready if needed. The rest of it, when the game starts, is going to be who blocks and tackles better."

The trip north will be a homecoming for running back Emmett Johnson. The Big Ten Conference's second-leading rusher, Johnson is from Minneapolis. His high school will even be part of the trip.

"He’s a guy that could easily be a captain for us based on the voting, and he’ll be a captain next year," Rhule said. "I’m just excited for him to have a chance to go back home and play in front of those people. Our Friday walk-through will be at his high school, which I think is really cool.

"My only thing to him has been just keep it football; don’t get too high, don't get too low, just stay neutral. Just play each play the way Emmett is capable of. If you look at the last two games, when it comes to carries with all of our backs, not scrambles, but carries, we’re averaging 7.1 yards a carry. Versus an excellent run defense, we’ll need Emmett to be at his best."

Emmett Johnson's 650 rushing yards through six games trail only Justice Haynes (705) in the Big Ten Conference. | Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

On the injury front, Rhule said left tackle Elijah Pritchett is good to go. Pritchett rolled an ankle last week and was questionable for Maryland, eventually playing. Nickel Malcolm Hartzog is out this week, which will be his fifth missed contest of the year.

You can watch the full media session from Wednesday below. Continue scrolling for more coverage.

Coverage

Husker247 | Matt Rhule Wednesday quick hits, news and notes
Nebraska Athletics | Oct. 15 report
Omaha World-Herald* | Nebraska focused on Minnesota challenge, not rumors, as end of short week nears
HuskerOnline* | Rhule Report: A final update as Nebraska wraps up its prep for Minnesota
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From the Other Side

Minnesota On SI | Slowing down ex-Minnesota Mr. Football tops 5 keys for Gophers against Nebraska
Daily Gopher | Who is to blame for the Gophers’ offensive line woes?
Pioneer Press* | Minnesotan Emmett Johnson starring at Nebraska
Gophers Nation | Gophers aim for faster starts in second half of season
Minnesota On SI | Can Gophers take advantage of Rhule-Penn State rumor distraction?
Daily Gopher | RoWINg to Nebraska: I have a bad feeling about this

More Info

Nebraska Football 2025 Schedule

Aug. 28 Nebraska 20, Cincinnati 17
Sep. 6 Nebraska 68, Akron 0
Sep. 13 Nebraska 59, Houston Christian 7
Sep. 20 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
Oct. 4 Nebraska 38, Michigan State 27
Oct. 11 Nebraska 34, Maryland 31
Oct. 17 (Friday) at Minnesota 7 p.m. FOX
Oct. 25 vs. Northwestern TBA
Nov. 1 vs. USC TBA
Nov. 8 at UCLA TBA
Nov. 22 at Penn State TBA
Nov. 28 (Black Friday) vs. Iowa 11 a.m. CBS

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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