Rhule hopes hard work and playing with a 'ruthless mindset' will pay off for the Huskers
By Aaron Bonderson 
, Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
Aug. 26, 2025, 2:30 p.m. ·
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Year three of Matt Rhule leading the Nebraska football program starts Thursday evening.
In a neutral site matchup at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Huskers open the 2025 season vs. the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Leading up to Thursday’s season opener, the head coach said he expects the level of intensity in Kansas City to rival a game at Memorial Stadium.
“I don't even consider it a neutral site,” Rhule said at a press conference Tuesday. “Arrowhead seems like part of our DNA, our footprint.”
The players should be excited, Rhule said, adding he has high hopes for this year’s team.
“We've worked on this for a long time, worked on it for three years,” he said, “so I'd sure like to see it come to fruition now where we just go out there and play with a ruthless mindset.”
Rhule said his team is more prepared this year, compared to the last time the Huskers opened the season against a Power Four opponent. In Rhule’s first year in Lincoln, the Big Red fell to Minnesota on a late touchdown and walk-off field goal.
Cincinnati went 5-7 overall and 3-6 in Big 12 Conference competition last season. One of those wins was against Arizona State, which won the Big 12 and made the College Football Playoff.
The Cornhuskers return nine starters from last year’s team, which finished the regular season 6-6, and then won the Pinstripe Bowl for its first bowl win since 2015. Those key returnees include sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola, junior running back Emmett Johnson, and three offensive linemen in Gunnar Gottula, Justin Evans and Henry Lutovsky.
On defense, it will be all new starters among the defensive line and linebacker groups. The secondary returns four of its five starters. Led by DeShon Singleton, fellow seniors Marques Burford Jr., Malcolm Hartzog Jr. and Ceyair Wright all started eight or more games last year.
On Thursday, tuck the kids in before this late kickoff. The Huskers face the Bearcats at 8 p.m. CT. ESPN will televise the twilight matchup.