Are you ready for it?
Come one, come all, it’s happening again. Can you feel this magic in the air? College football is back. Sure, we had our appetizer last week with the assorted Week 0 matchups. But now we’re officially back to the best time of year on the sports calendar — windows flung right open, autumn air, multiple TVs tuned to various channels to catch as many potential instant classics as possible.
But on Thursday night, there’s one game that truly matters: Nebraska vs. Cincinnati in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
In the lead-up, it’s no secret that plenty of the Huskers have walked a very thin line — allowing themselves to celebrate this special and rare opportunity, while also acknowledging that it’s a business trip, not a bowl game or a weekend getaway.
"It'll be different," quarterback Dylan Raiola said. "Normally, I'm going down to have a good time, watch some good ball, but it's a different mission to go down there and win a football game. Obviously, my mindset will be different. The guys will be juiced up and ready to go on both sides of the ball."
People are also reading…
But for the several Huskers with ties to the Kansas City area — including linebacker Dasan McCullough, defensive lineman Will Nwaneri, receiver Keelan Smith, running back Isaiah Mozee, defensive back Jamir Conn, senior football assistant Jamar Mozee and defensive line coach Terry Bradden— there’s no denying that this hits different.
“It’s a surreal feeling to be able to play there,” said McCullough, the son of former Chiefs running backs coach Deland McCullough, who calls Kansas City, Kansas, home.
“It’s almost like a story out of a book,” said Nwaneri, a native of Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
“It’s going to be a dream come true to play at home,” said Conn, a Lee’s Summit North alumnus.
Bradden knows a thing or two about what it takes to win in that stadium, considering he served in several different roles for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2017 to earlier this year.
What’s his advice?
“No distractions. It’s a beautiful stadium,” Bradden said earlier this month. “... It’s just one day at a time, focus on the small things. But it’s a beautiful stadium. It’s history there.”
No distractions? It all seems so simple, but, easier said than done.
For one, the who’s who of who’s that are poised to be there, and, honey, it’s a sideshow.
Raiola said that Patrick Mahomes will be there — “on our side,” he said. Former Husker linebacker turned Nebraska superfan Will Compton, along with his “Bussin’ With the Boys” co-host Taylor Lewan, should be there, too. Bradden said Chiefs linemen George Karlaftis and Chris Jones are expected to make an appearance. And, then, of course, former Cincinnati Bearcats Jason Kelce and the newly-engaged Travis Kelce will be there, supporting the technical home team. Will Taylor Swift join them?
What's the message from defensive coordinator John Butler on all that noise?
“You’re playing game No. 1, and you’re playing in a pro football stadium — don’t make it bigger than it is; it’s a football game,” Butler said. “… Just do what we’ve practiced to do, don’t lose your minds, play with energy and enthusiasm, but don’t make it bigger than it is.”
For two, this is a two-for-one showcase.
It allows Nebraska to further make inroads in the Kansas City metro for recruiting, and also gives a special nod to the team members who are having their personal homecoming.
“Kansas City is a really important place for us,” coach Matt Rhule said earlier this month. “... There’s nothing more important to us than Kansas City, St. Louis, those areas in recruiting, right? It’s so close. It’s drivable.”
Ah, yes, therein lies the third part.
For three, this is a road game dressed like a home game.
“It’s a virtual home game,” athletic director Troy Dannen said earlier this month, noting that only 6,000 of the 66,000 tickets sold at that time were from the Cincinnati-area addresses. “I think they expect to sell out before game day.”
And that’ll make a difference.
In Rhule’s mind, this is a home game. Even isn’t technically one.
“I don’t even consider it neutral-site,” Rhule said this week. “I just think it’s Arrowhead. Arrowhead seems like part of our DNA, our footprint. This feels like a home game lite. I expect it to have the same home game intensity, if not maybe even more so, because we’re more excited as a fan base to see this team for the first time.”
Nebraska and Cincinnati kick off at 8 p.m. Thursday on ESPN.
Let the games begin.
PHOTOS: Take a look inside Nebraska football practice, Aug. 12, 2025
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska assistant coach Donovan Raiola gives instructions during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska wide receiver Dane Key will make his Husker debut on Thursday night. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star file photo
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska assistant coach Donovan Raiola gives instructions during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Julian Marks (56) is blocked by Nebraska's Sam Sledge (62) on Tuesday at Hawks Championship Center. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's TJ Lateef (14) throws a pass during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Kyle Cunanan (91) kicks a field goal during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Kyle Cunanan (91) kicks the ball during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Riley Van Poppel (5) runs to his position during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Sua Lefotu (92) tries to get past Nebraska's Justin Evans (51) during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) reacts as he heads inside to continue practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska players exit onto the practice field outside during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Aidan Flege (94) is seen during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Kenneth Williams (25) runs the ball during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Henry Lutovsky (59) leads players inside during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Player run through drills during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Ethan Duda (55) is seen during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Henry Lutovsky (59) and other Husker offensive lineman participate in practice earlier this week at Hawks Championship Center. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
NU Football Practice, 8.12
Nebraska's Tristan Alvano (30) follows through with a kick during practice at the Hawks Championship Center on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Lincoln. KENNETH FERRIERA,Journal Star
Bengals Chiefs Football
Nebraska assistant coach Terry Bradden, far left, is a former coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. What's he telling Husker players about Arrowhead Stadium? "No distractions, it's a beautiful stadium." Associated Press file photo
0 Comments
• Texts from columnists
• The most breaking Husker news
• Cutting-edge commentary
• Husker history photo galleries
Get started
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!