The 2021 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska as a member of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Scott Frost and played its games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The 2021 Nebraska Cornhuskers were the first team in Division I history to lose nine games by single digits, six of which came against ranked teams (three against Top 10 teams).
Offseason
2021 NFL draft The following players declared for the 2021 NFL draft:
Name Number Position Height Weight Class Hometown Dicaprio Bootle #7 CB 5'10" 195 Senior Miami, FL Matt Farniok #71 OL 6'6" 330 Senior Sioux Falls, SD Brenden Jaimes #76 OT 6'5" 300 Senior Austin, TX Dedrick Mills #26 RB 5'11" 220 Senior Waycross, GA Jack Stoll #86 TE 6'4" 260 Senior Lone Tree, CO
Transfers
Outgoing Name Number Position Height Weight Class Hometown Destination David Alston #45 LB 6'4" 235 Junior St. Paul, MN Montana State Matthew Anderson #72 OL 6'6" 255 Sophomore Leesville, LA Louisiana-Lafayette Jared Bubak #80 TE 6'5" 245 Graduate Lincoln, NE Central Missouri Niko Cooper #32 LB 6'5" 225 Junior Memphis, TN Western Kentucky Ronald Delancy III #0 CB 5'11" 160 Freshman Miami, FL Toledo Will Farniok #68 OL 6'3" 295 Junior Sioux Falls, SD Tulsa Marcus Fleming #6 WR 5'10" 160 Freshman Miami, FL Maryland Jimmy Fritzsche #78 OL 6'7" 290 Sophomore Greenville, SC TBD Jamin Graham #89 DL 6'4" 265 Sophomore Attalla, AL Jacksonville State Keem Green #4 DL 6'4" 320 Senior Sumter, SC South Carolina Demariyon Houston #10 WR 6'0" 180 Sophomore Oklahoma City, OK Missouri Austin Jablonski #47 WR 6'2" 215 Sophomore Lincoln, NE Concordia (NE) Luke McCaffrey #7 QB 6'2" 200 Sophomore Highlands Ranch, CO Rice Caden McCormack #59 LB 6'0" 235 Sophomore Lincoln, NE Nebraska–Kearney Jamie Nance #3 WR 6'0" 180 Sophomore Blanchard, OK Utah State Ryan Novosel #32 K 6'0" 160 Freshman Wilmette, IL Georgetown Kurt Rafdal #82 TE 6'7" 245 Senior Carmel, IN Boise State Wan'Dale Robinson #1 WR 5'10" 185 Junior Frankfort, KY Kentucky Ronald Thompkins #25 RB 5'11" 195 Sophomore Loganville, GA Retired Kade Warner #81 WR 6'1" 210 Senior Scottsdale, AZ Kansas State Boe Wilson #56 OL 6'3" 300 Graduate Lee's Summit, MO Western Kentucky Branson Yager N/A OL 6'8" 330 Freshman Grantsville, UT TBD
Incoming
Name Position Height Weight Class Hometown Previous Chancellor Brewington WR 6'3" 185 Junior Chandler, AZ Northern Arizona Kyan Brumfield DB 6'0" 185 Senior San Antonio, TX Texas Tech Brendan Franke K 6'3" 235 Sophomore Gretna, NE Morningside Josh Jasek K 6'1" 175 Sophomore Iowa City, IA Iowa Western Tyreke Johnson DB 6'1" 190 Junior Jacksonville, FL Ohio State Chris Kolarevic LB 6'1" 225 Junior Traverse City, MI Northern Iowa Markese Stepp RB 6'0" 235 Junior Indianapolis, IN USC Samori Toure WR 6'3" 190 Graduate Portland, OR Montana
Recruits The Cornhuskers signed a total of 20 scholarship recruits and 20 walk-ons during national signing period.
Scholarship recruits
Walk-on recruits
Preseason
Award watch lists Johnny Unitas AwardAdrian MartinezQBJRGroza AwardConnor CulpKSRMackey AwardAustin AllenTEJRMaxwell AwardAdrian MartinezQBJRNagurski TrophyJoJo DomannLBSRRimington TrophyCam JurgensCJR
Preseason Big Ten Media poll and awards Below are the results of the preseason Big Ten media poll with total points received next to each school and first-place votes in parentheses. For the 2021 poll, Ohio State was voted as the favorite to win both the East Division and the Big Ten Championship Game. This is the 11th iteration of the preseason media poll conducted by Cleveland.com, which polls at least one credentialed media member for each Big Ten team. Only three times in the last 11 years has the media accurately predicted the Big Ten champion. East 1 Ohio State 238 (34) 2 Penn State 192 3 Indiana 169 4 Michigan 144 5 Maryland 79 6 Rutgers 77.5 7 Michigan State 52.5 West 1 Wisconsin 233 (29) 2 Iowa 202 (5) 3 Northwestern 160 4 Minnesota 146 5 Nebraska 91.5 6 Purdue 72.5 7 Illinois 47 Media poll (Big Ten Championship) 1 Ohio State over Wisconsin 28 2 Ohio State over Iowa 5 3 Wisconsin over Ohio State 1
Below are the results of the annual Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year awards conducted by Cleveland.com.Ohio State's Chris Olave voted Preseason Big Ten Offensive Player of the YearNorthwestern safety Brandon Joseph voted Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in Cleveland.com poll.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year 1 Chris Olave WR Ohio State 58 (11) 2 Michael Penix Jr. QB Indiana 44.5 (8) 3 Mohamed Ibrahim RB Minnesota 36 (4) 4 Tyler Linderbaum C Iowa 13 (1) 5 Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State 12 (1) 6 David Bell WR Purdue 10 (1) 7 C. J. Stroud QB Ohio State 6 (2) 7 Jahan Dotson WR Penn State 6 (1) 7 Graham Mertz QB Wisconsin 6 (1) 10 Tyler Goodson RB Iowa 5 (1) 11 Ty Fryfogle WR Indiana 4 (1) 12 Tanner Morgan QB Minnesota 3.5 (1) Preseason Defensive Player of the Year 1 Brandon Joseph S Northwestern 49 (11) 2 George Karlaftis DE Purdue 33 (8) 3 Haskell Garrett DT Ohio State 30.5 (5) 4 Micah McFadden LB Indiana 28 (6) 5 Olakunle Fatukasi LB Rutgers 18 (3) 6 Aidan Hutchinson DE Michigan 11 7 Jack Sanborn LB Wisconsin 7 7 Tiawan Mullen CB Indiana 7 (1) 9 Zach Harrison DE Ohio State 3.5 10 Jaquan Brisker S Penn State 3 10 Sevyn Banks CB Ohio State 3 12 Boye Mafe DE Minnesota 2 12 Chris Bergin LB Northwestern 2 12 Cam Taylor-Britt CB Nebraska 2 12 Jake Hansen LB Illinois 2 16 JoJo Domann S/LB Nebraska 1 16 Tyshon Fogg LB Rutgers 1 16 Owen Carney LB Illinois 1
Schedule
The Big Ten released a revised conference schedule on February 5, 2021 to correct home/away matchups that were altered from the 2020 COVID-stricken season.Changes to 2021 Big Ten Football Schedule Announced
Personnel
Roster
Due to COVID-19, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to student-athletes who competed during the 2020–21 season where it would not count against a student's years of eligibility. As a result, all returning players are listed as the same class as 2020.
Depth chart
Game summaries
at Illinois
Statistics NEB ILL First downs 19 18 Total yards 392 326 Rushes/yards 39–160 48–167 Passing yards 232 159 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–32–0 15–19–0 Time of possession 25:05 34:55 Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 16/32, 232 yards, 1 TD Rushing Adrian Martinez 17 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD Receiving Oliver Martin 6 receptions, 103 yards, 1 TDIllinois Passing Artur Sitkowski 12/15, 124 yards, 2 TD Rushing Mike Epstein 16 carries, 75 yards, TD Receiving Deuce Spann 1 reception, 45 yards
vs Fordham
Statistics FORD NEB First downs 12 34 Total yards 292 633 Rushes/yards 28–129 65–329 Passing yards 163 304 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–30–3 21–30–0 Time of possession 23:39 35:21 Team Category Player StatisticsFordham Passing Tim DeMorat 17/29, 165 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Trey Wilson III 13 carries, 75 yards Receiving DeQuece Carter 5 receptions, 69 yardsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 17/23, 254 yards, 1 TD Rushing Markese Stepp 18 carries, 101 yards Receiving Samori Toure 8 receptions, 133 yards
vs Buffalo
Statistics BUFF NEB First downs 19 19 Total yards 359 516 Rushes/yards 33–135 41–220 Passing yards 224 296 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–50–1 14–20–0 Time of possession 32:00 28:00 Team Category Player StatisticsBuffalo Passing Kyle Vantrease 27/50, 224 yards, INT Rushing Kevin Marks Jr. 21 carries, 85 yards Receiving Quian Williams 8 receptions, 93 yardsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 13/19, 242 yards, 2 TD Rushing Adrian Martinez 9 carries, 112 yards Receiving Samori Toure 2 receptions, 136 yards, 2 TD
at No. 3 Oklahoma
Statistics NEB OKLA First downs 18 21 Total yards 384 408 Rushes/yards 38–95 35–194 Passing yards 289 214 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–25–1 24–34–0 Time of possession 29:10 30:50 Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 19/25, 289 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Rahmir Johnson 11 carries, 42 yards Receiving Zavier Betts 6 receptions, 31 yardsOklahoma Passing Spencer Rattler 24/34, 214 yards, TD Rushing Eric Gray 15 carries, 84 yards Receiving Jadon Haselwood 6 receptions, 61 yards
at No. 20 Michigan State
Statistics NEB MSU First downs 26 12 Total yards 442 254 Rushes/yards 50–194 30–71 Passing yards 248 183 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–36–1 14–23–1 Time of possession 37:28 22:32 Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 24/34, 244 yards, INT Rushing Rahmir Johnson 19 carries, 76 yards Receiving Zavier Betts 5 receptions, 62 yardsMichigan State Passing Payton Thorne 14/23, 183 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kenneth Walker III 19 carries, 61 yards Receiving Tre Mosley 6 receptions, 70 yards
vs Northwestern
Statistics NW NEB First downs 17 28 Total yards 293 657 Rushes/yards 26–37 53–427 Passing yards 256 230 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–40–0 15–21–0 Time of possession 25:55 34:05 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwestern Passing Ryan Hilinski 29/35, 256 yards, TD Rushing Evan Hull 7 carries, 31 yards Receiving Stephon Robinson Jr. 8 receptions, 116 yards, TDNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 11/17, 202 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jaquez Yant 13 carries, 127 yards Receiving Samori Toure 2 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD
vs No. 9 Michigan
Statistics MICH NEB First downs 26 19 Total yards 459 431 Rushes/yards 42–204 32–140 Passing yards 255 291 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–39–1 18–28–1 Time of possession 34:24 25:36 Team Category Player StatisticsMichigan Passing Cade McNamara 22/38, 255 yards, 3 TD Rushing Hassan Haskins 21 carries, 123 yards, 2 TD Receiving Daylen Baldwin 6 receptions, 64 yardsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 18/28, 291 yards, 3 TD Rushing Rahmir Johnson 17 carries, 67 yards Receiving Rahmir Johnson 6 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD
at Minnesota
Statistics NEB MINN First downs 19 22 Total yards 377 396 Rushes/yards 31–136 43–182 Passing yards 241 214 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–33–0 21–25–2 Time of possession 21:59 38:01 Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 18/33, 241 yards, 1 TD Rushing Rahmir Johnson 11 carries, 83 yards, 2 TD Receiving Austin Allen 5 receptions, 121 yards, 1 TDMinnesota Passing Tanner Morgan 20/24, 209 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Bryce Williams 17 carries, 127 yards, TD Receiving Chris Autman-Bell 11 receptions, 103 yards, TD
vs Purdue
Statistics PUR NEB First downs 23 19 Total yards 349 399 Rushes/yards 41–116 29–130 Passing yards 233 269 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 34–45–0 14–29–4 Time of possession 38:38 21:22 Team Category Player StatisticsPurdue Passing Aidan O'Connell 34/45, 233 yards, 2 TD Rushing King Doerue 17 carries, 74 yards Receiving David Bell 9 receptions, 74 yardsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 14/29, 269 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT Rushing Jaquez Yant 6 carries, 60 yards Receiving Omar Manning 4 receptions, 75 yards, 1 TD
vs No. 5 Ohio State
Statistics OSU NEB First downs 25 18 Total yards 495 361 Rushes/yards 30–90 34–113 Passing yards 405 248 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 36–54–2 16–31–1 Time of possession 33:52 26:08 Team Category Player StatisticsOhio State Passing C. J. Stroud 36/54, 405 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing TreVeyon Henderson 21 carries, 92 yards Receiving Jaxon Smith-Njigba 15 receptions, 240 yards, TDNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 16/31, 248 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Rahmir Johnson 16 carries, 62 yards Receiving Samori Toure 4 receptions, 150 yards, 1 TD
at No. 15 Wisconsin
Statistics NEB WISC First downs 22 15 Total yards 452 397 Rushes/yards 35–101 31–252 Passing yards 351 145 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–35–2 12–18–0 Time of possession 33:17 26:43 Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 23/35, 351 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Brody Belt 7 carries, 31 yards Receiving Austin Allen 7 receptions, 143 yardsWisconsin Passing Graham Mertz 12/18, 145 yards, TD Rushing Braelon Allen 22 carries, 228 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jake Ferguson 8 receptions, 92 yards