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SHELL · ADVANCE SCOUTING2026 SEASON · WEEK 5 · 2026
INTERNAL ADVANCE REPORT

Scout the
Cornhuskers

INSIDE THIS ADVANCE
IOverview & The Read
IITendency Report
IIISituational Splits
IVDrive Efficiency
VPersonnel Profiles
VIStatistical Leaders
VIIThe Man Across the Field
VIIIMatchup Advantages
IXCoverage & Pressure
XPersonnel & Formation
XICharting Layer
SHELLNEBRASKA ADVANCE · WEEK 5 · 2026
WEEK 5 · 2026 · INTERNAL ADVANCE
MARYLAND· VERSUS ·NEBRASKA
Maryland 4-8 · Nebraska 7-5
Date
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, NE)
Location
Away · at Nebraska
Kickoff
TBD · TBD
Prepared by SHELL · Maryland FootballConfidential · Internal use · Scheme / History / Evaluation / Lineup / Logistics
Contents

Table of Contents

A full advance on Nebraska for Week 5 · 2026: their tendencies, how they line up, who produces, and where the matchup tilts our way.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / Contents
I
Overview & The Read

Nebraska at a Glance

Nebraska · 7-5

Nebraska is a balanced but run-leaning offense that plays complementary football and protects leads aggressively. Their defense bends but does not break, holding opponents below average on success rate while giving up a manageable explosive rate. As a program they are built around controlling the line of scrimmage and winning the field-position game.

The ReadThree keys to defend Nebraska
01KEY 01
On first down, Nebraska runs the ball 56.8% of the time, so your front has to be sound against the run on every early-down snap. Do not let them win first down on the ground -- force second-and-long, because they pass 56.9% of the time in that situation and their overall efficiency (0.22 PPA/play) is good enough that you cannot gift them manageable downs.
02KEY 02
On third and short they run at a 79.6% rate, which means your defense must be gap-sound and physical in short-yardage -- this is not a situation to play soft or guess pass. Stop the third-and-short run conversion and hold them to a 45.8% third-down rate or below; every drive you extend with a conversion extends their 62.8-play-per-game pace and keeps your defense on the field.
03KEY 03
Watch the scoreboard. Nebraska runs 60.7% of the time with a 7-plus point lead and drops to 37.7% run when trailing by 7-plus, so their identity shifts hard based on game script. If you get ahead early, you force them into a pass-heavy mode they are clearly less comfortable in -- their 11.7% explosive rate and 0.13 first-down PPA suggest they are not blowing up drives consistently, so a lead puts real pressure on their offense to manufacture chunk plays they have not proven they can make at a high rate.
★ Bottom Line
Nebraska is a balanced, game-script-driven offense that is solid but not explosive -- they convert just under half their third downs and generate value at a modest 0.22 PPA/play. Get ahead early, stop the run on first down, and make them beat you passing in obvious situations.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / I
II
Tendency Report

Nebraska Run / Pass by Down

Heat-mapped · deeper red = higher rate

Every scrimmage snap split by down and distance. Run rate and pass rate are heat-shaded on a Maryland-red scale so the strong tendencies jump off the page. The top row is all downs combined.

DownDistance PlaysRunPassRun %Pass %
ALL All 754 376 378 49.9% 50.1%
1 10 340 193 147 56.8% 43.2%
2 All 247 106 141 42.9% 57.1%
2 1-2 23 9 14 39.1% 60.9%
2 3-6 95 47 48 49.5% 50.5%
2 7+ 129 50 79 38.8% 61.2%
3 All 144 63 81 43.8% 56.3%
3 1-2 35 28 7 80% 20%
3 3-6 56 22 34 39.3% 60.7%
3 7+ 53 13 40 24.5% 75.5%
LowerHigherRegular season only · shading scales with rate within each cell
Counts and rates are computed from charted play-by-play, regular season only (the CFBD pulls exclude postseason). Personnel groupings, formations, and concept tags are not in this table, they live in the Personnel & Formation charting layer (Section X) where film and Telemetry plug in.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / II
III
Situational Splits

Nebraska Run / Pass by Situation

Field zone · score · half

The same run/pass tendency, re-cut by where the ball sits, the score on the board, and which half it is. Counts are real charted snaps; thin splits are flagged honestly. Run % and pass % are heat-shaded on the same Maryland-red scale.

By field zone
SituationPlaysRunPassRun %Pass %
Backed up (own 10) 12 7 5 58.3% 41.7%
Open field 606 290 316 47.9% 52.1%
Red zone (in 20) 136 79 57 58.1% 41.9%
Goal line (in 5) 34 23 11 67.6% 32.4%
By score
SituationPlaysRunPassRun %Pass %
Leading by 7+ 252 153 99 60.7% 39.3%
Within a TD 335 160 175 47.8% 52.2%
Trailing by 7+ 167 63 104 37.7% 62.3%
By half
SituationPlaysRunPassRun %Pass %
First half 399 209 190 52.4% 47.6%
Second half 355 167 188 47% 53%
Splits are real charted snaps. Read the smaller cuts with care (the lightest split here is 12 snaps); goal-line and two-score-game samples are usually the thinnest.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / III
IV
Drive Efficiency

Nebraska Offense vs Defense

Per-drive, from CFBD drives

Drive for drive: what Nebraska does with the ball, next to what their defense gives up. Points per drive are estimated from the drive result (touchdown counts as seven, field goal as three). Everything here is computed from real CFBD drive data.

Their OffenseWhen they have the ball
Points / Drive
2.6
Red-Zone TD
67.2%61 trips
3-and-Out
23.8%
Explosive Drive
43.1%40+ yds
Avg Start
66.9yds to goal
Drives
130
Their Defense AllowsWhen they are on the field
Points / Drive
2.3
Red-Zone TD
70.6%51 trips
3-and-Out
32.8%
Explosive Drive
34.4%40+ yds
Avg Start
72.5yds to goal
Drives
128
Points per drive is an estimate (TD = 7, FG = 3); it does not separate two-point tries, safeties, or defensive/special-teams scores. Red-zone rate counts drives reaching the opponent 20. Three-and-out is a non-scoring drive of three plays or fewer. Explosive is a drive gaining 40 or more yards.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / IV
V
Personnel Profiles

How Nebraska Lines Up

Both sides of the ball
Their DefenseWhat we will see when we have the ball

Nebraska's defense allows a below-average success rate of 42%, which means they are generally sound and do not give up chunk yardage consistently. However, their explosive rate allowed of 12.6% and third-down conversion allowed of 40.4% show there are shots to be taken against them.

  • Explosive rate allowed of 12.6% is the clearest opportunity -- shot plays and play-action deep shots have produced against this defense, and we should have those called and ready.
  • A 40.4% third-down conversion rate allowed means they can be moved on -- if we sustain drives and get into third and manageable, we have a real chance to convert and keep their offense off the field.
  • They face a 57.5% run diet from opponents, meaning they see a lot of run-heavy teams -- a commitment to the pass early could create schematic stress they do not face every week.
Their OffenseWhat our defense must stop

Nebraska runs the ball as its identity anchor, especially in scoring position and when protecting a lead, but they will commit to the pass on third and long. Their overall efficiency is above the strong threshold, meaning they generate positive value on a consistent basis.

  • Red zone run rate of 58.1% tells us they will try to pound the ball inside the 20 -- our front must be stout and gap-sound when they get down there.
  • On third and long they pass 75.5% of the time, so our coverage needs to be prepared for obvious passing situations with minimal run-game disguise from them.
  • When leading by 7 or more they run 60.7% of the time, meaning if they get ahead they will try to shorten the game and bleed the clock -- we cannot let them get out early.
  • Their 45.8% third-down conversion rate is strong, so we must get them into third and long situations rather than allowing manageable distances -- stop the run on first and second down.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / V
V
Personnel Profiles

Two-Deep & Availability

Ourlads depth chart · updated 06/15/2026 1:55PM ET
Offense
PosStarterBackup
WR-X13 Nyziah Hunter TR RS JR18 Quinn Clark RS SO
WR-Z11 Kwazi Gilmer TR JR19 Cortez Mills Jr. SO
WR-SL2 Jacory Barney Jr. JR4 Janiran Bonner RS SR
LT57 Elijah Pritchett TR RS SR77 Gunnar Gottula RS JR
LG65 Paul Mubenga TR RS JR66 Grant Brix RS SO
C51 Justin Evans RS SR58 Jake Peters RS SO
RG54 Brendan Black TR SR62 Sam Sledge RS JR
RT55 Tree Babalade TR RS JR75 Tyler Knaak TR RS SR
TE44 Luke Lindenmeyer RS SR29 Carter Nelson JR
QB10 Anthony Colandrea TR SR14 TJ Lateef SO
RB22 Isaiah Mozee SO35 Mekhi Nelson RS SO
Defense
PosStarterBackup
LDE11 Cameron Lenhardt SR93 Kade Pietrzak SO
NT5 Riley Van Poppel RS JR92 Sua Lefotu RS JR
DT34 Owen Stoudmire TR RS SR44 Jahsear Whittington TR RS SO
RDE96 Williams Nwaneri TR RS SO15 Anthony Jones Jr. TR RS SR
WLB33 Owen Chambliss TR RS JR40 Dawson Merritt SO
MLB9 Vincent Shavers Jr. JR24 Dexter Foster TR JR
LCB25 Jeremiah Charles RS JR16 Danny Odem III FR
SS13 Jamir Conn TR SR21 Rex Guthrie RS SO
FS26 Dwayne McDougle III TR RS SR23 Caleb Benning RS SO
RCB10 Andrew Marshall TR SR22 Victor Evans III TR SR
NB37 Donovan Jones RS SO31 Mario Buford RS SO
Special Teams
PosStarterBackup
PT83 Archie Wilson SO37 Kamdyn Koch RS SO
PK91 Kyle Cunanan TR RS JR90 John Hohl TR RS JR
KO90 John Hohl TR RS JR91 Kyle Cunanan TR RS JR
LS87 Jack Wills TR SO—
H37 Kamdyn Koch RS SO83 Archie Wilson SO
PR2 Jacory Barney Jr. JR22 Isaiah Mozee SO
KR2 Jacory Barney Jr. JR22 Isaiah Mozee SO
Source: Ourlads NCAA depth chart · updated 06/15/2026 1:55PM ET · TR = transfer · injuries staff-entered
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / V
VI
Statistical Leaders

Nebraska Top Producers

Season to date · regular season only
GroundRushing
— Emmett Johnson off roster 247 car 1,440 yds
2 Kwinten Ives 20 car 133 yds
3 TJ Lateef 30 car 124 yds
4 Isaiah Mozee 25 car 109 yds
5 Mekhi Nelson 26 car 109 yds
— Dylan Raiola off roster 18 car 97 yds
— Kenneth Williams off roster 5 car 22 yds
8 Jacory Barney Jr. 5 car 20 yds
AirPassing
— Dylan Raiola off roster 179 cmp 2,055 yds
2 TJ Lateef 69 cmp 817 yds
— Jalyn Gramstad off roster 5 cmp 24 yds
TargetsReceiving
★ Nyziah Hunter 43 rec 617 yds
2 Jacory Barney Jr. 42 rec 495 yds
— Dane Key off roster 39 rec 478 yds
4 Luke Lindenmeyer 29 rec 318 yds
— Emmett Johnson off roster 45 rec 278 yds
6 Isaiah Mozee 14 rec 155 yds
7 Cortez Mills Jr. 8 rec 143 yds
8 Quinn Clark 5 rec 132 yds
Production is from 2025. Struck-through names are no longer on the current roster (graduated, transferred, or to the NFL) — don't game-plan around them.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / VI
VII
The Man Across the Field

Nebraska's Decision Profile

4th-down tendency · tempo

How the man calling it for Nebraska thinks on fourth down, drawn from every fourth-down snap his offense has taken this season. "Went" means they ran a play (rush or pass); "kicked" means a field goal or a punt. The split is then cut by field zone so you know where he gets aggressive.

4th DownFacedWentKickedGo %
All zones 74 23 51 31.1%
Own half (60+) 20 5 15 25%
Midfield (40-59) 20 4 16 20%
Fringe (21-39) 15 8 7 53.3%
Red zone (in 20) 19 6 13 31.6%
Go-for-it rate
31.1%
on 74 fourth downs
Tempo
62.8/gm
offensive snaps, 12 games
Across 74 fourth downs, this is a fair read on how aggressive he is. The zone cuts show where he hunts a conversion versus where he takes the points or flips the field.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / VII
VIII
Matchup Advantages

Where We Win

Our strengths vs their weaknesses
Maryland StrengthsvsNebraska Weaknesses
  • ★Our ability to throw the ball attacks the fact that Nebraska defenses see mostly run-heavy opponents -- come out in spread personnel and make them defend the whole field from the first snap.
  • ★Shot plays and play-action are the most direct answer to their 12.6% explosive rate allowed -- build a plan with at least three explosive concepts ready, especially on early downs when they may be in run-stop fronts.
  • ★Nebraska runs 56.8% on first down, so our defensive front's first-down run stop is the single biggest variable in the game -- make them one-dimensional and force that 75.5% third-down pass rate to work against our secondary.
  • ★Protecting our own lead is critical because Nebraska shifts to 60.7% run when ahead -- if we go up early they will try to grind us down, so our run defense must stay disciplined for four quarters regardless of the score.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / VIII
IX
Coverage & Pressure

Blitz & Coverage

Charting layer · plugs in next
★ Plugs in from Telemetry / film

This is the charting layer. CFBD play-by-play does not carry coverage shells, blitz, or pressure, so the rates below stay blank until a game is broken down on film or pulled from Telemetry. The sample row shows the shape only, not real numbers.

Blitz & pressure by down
DownBlitz %Pressure %Sack %
1st down ···
2nd down ···
3rd down ···
4th down ···
(example) sample 38%44%9%
Coverage shells
ShellSnap %Explosive allowedEPA / play
Cover 1 ···
Cover 3 ···
Cover 4 / quarters ···
Cover 2 / 2-man ···
(example) sample 31%··
Empty cells are the charting layer. Once a game is broken down on film or pulled from Telemetry, these rates drop straight into the table; nothing here is estimated.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / IX
X
Personnel & Formation

Groupings & Sets

Charting layer · plugs in next
★ Plugs in from Telemetry / film

This is the charting layer. Personnel groupings and formation families are not in CFBD play-by-play; they are tagged off the film or pulled from Telemetry, then drop straight into these tables. The sample row is illustrative shape only.

Personnel groupings
PersonnelSnap %Run %Success %
11 personnel ···
12 personnel ···
21 personnel ···
Empty / 10 ···
(example: 11) sample 62%48%·
Formation families
FormationSnap %Run / Pass tiltNotes
Spread / 2x2 ···
Trips / 3x1 ···
Under center ···
Heavy / tight ···
(example) sample ···
The 11 / 12 / 21 labels are the standard back-and-tight-end personnel shorthand. Rows are marked where a sample is shown; real percentages come off the film and the Telemetry feed.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / X
XI
Charting Layer

Film & Telemetry

What plugs in next
★ Plugs in from film / Telemetry

The numbers above come from charted play-by-play. The detail a coordinator wants next, special-teams maps, opponent media quotes, and player grades, comes off the film and the Telemetry feed. Each item below drops straight into this report once charted.

  • Coverage and blitz tendencies by down and distance (Telemetry / PFF charting).
  • Special-teams punt and kickoff location maps.
  • Opponent media quotes from the weekly press conferences.
  • Player grades, pressures, and coverage data from Telemetry.
SHELLSHELL / Maryland Football
Advance Scouting / Nebraska / 2026 / XI