Thousands of Husker football fans get a sneak peek of 2024 squad

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About 3,500 Husker football fans lined the stands of Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. The NU faithful caught a glimpse of the 2024 Husker football squad, during the first ever Big Red Preview practice.

Fans watched, while also financially supporting the school’s official Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective, 1890 Nebraska. It was the first time the Huskers held an open practice where profits from ticket sales will help Husker athletes sign NIL deals through the collective, according to the athletic department.

According to the 1890 collective, athletes competing in five of the school’s 24 varsity sports have signed on with the organization. Those include volleyball, football, men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling.

Other schools across the nation have offered open practices in an effort to support a school’s official NIL collective. But Chief Executive Officer for 1890 Nebraska Carson Schott says this is a first-of-its-kind event because of the ticket price: $25.

“There's no other school that has offered the ability to come into their stadium at this price point, at this low of a price point,” Schott said.

In an interview prior to the event, Schott said 1890 Nebraska hoped the accessibility of the open practice would set it apart. The collective and Husker Athletics hope to draw in enough fans to justify making Big Red Preview an annual event.

Big Red Preview could help recruiting, but bringing athletes on campus for a visit is more effective in showing high school athletes that Lincoln, Neb., has more to offer than what many expect, Schott said.

“If anything, it shows the support that the fan base has for the collective, but I don't think it'll change their stereotype of what Nebraska is until they actually come here,” Schott said.

The team started with a short scrimmage. On the first possession, Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola threw a touchdown to senior Jahmal Banks in the corner of the end zone.

On the next possession, Junior quarterback Heinrich Haarberg threw an interception and a small skirmish broke out.

Later, Nebraska worked on special teams, turnover drills and a few others into the night.

“We’ll have competitive periods but I think it’s also important that, even just our drills, we do that with people watching,” Head Coach Matt Rhule said before the practice. “I think it’s great for our fans to see. Everyone sees the final product. I want them to see the moving parts and all the things that happen.”

In July, 1890 Nebraska became the official NIL partner of Husker Athletics. Fans can donate to the collective and receive Huskers Athletic Fund priority points, which can be redeemed for perks like early ticketing options, VIP experiences and more.

Husker supporters can also give to the 1890 Foundation, the collective’s nonprofit wing. Giving to the foundation helps athletes market for nonprofit organizations and is potentially tax deductible, without the chance to earn priority points through the university.

Schott said the new partnership helps the athletic department and collective provide a more united message to the public.

Events like Big Red Preview and the increasing involvement of NIL in college athletics is the new normal, Rhule said.

“On our end, it’s a good faith gesture. 1890 has done so much. They’ve stepped up so much. And the fans and the donors and the people who give to 1890 have stepped up so much,” Rhule said. “I don’t want anybody watching my practices, but I can’t sit there and ask and not give back.”

Schott said Big Red Preview “will help our athletic department overall.”

Big events in Memorial Stadium

August has become a busy month inside Memorial Stadium. In the last few years, NU has been willing to get creative with its usage of the historic college football venue.

In August 2023, the volleyball team hosted an in-state volleyball event, which broke the world-record for the largest crowd to attend a women’s sporting event called Volleyball Day in Nebraska.

That same month in 2021, country music superstar Garth Brooks held a concert inside the historic football venue, drawing almost 90,000 fans.

On Saturday, several Husker fans said they were eager to support the school’s NIL collective.

Nakia Mallory of Winnebago, Neb., brought his son to Saturday’s practice.

“[I’m a] big time Husker fan, born and raised, so we're gonna be here until the wheels fall off,” Mallory said.

He’s excited to get a sneak peek of Rhule’s second team at Nebraska and said he’ll watch the offensive line and quarterback Dylan Raiola closely during the practice.

Jake Smallcomb of Broken Bow, Neb., said he found out about the practice on Twitter, now called X.

The 1890 Foundation helps athletes make deals with nonprofit organizations. Supporting the collective is essentially philanthropy for student athletes, Smallcomb said, and he’s happy to pitch in. Plus, no other fanbase would support a practice like Nebraska has, he said.

“That's what Nebraska does best,” Smallcomb said. “And I'll be here every single year, if it means I can support the 1890 initiative.”

With her son on the equipment team and being a season ticket holder for 16 years, Amy Argo wanted to be in Memorial Stadium Saturday.

“This is incredible. The crowd out here is fantastic,” Argo said. “I think it's awesome that Coach Rhule came out and signed all these little kids’ autographs. We sat right in front of it. It was just great to see and can't wait for Aug. 31. We're ready for the season to start.”

To kick-off the season, the Huskers take on the University of Texas-El Paso at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Memorial Stadium.