Common Fan

We’ve hinted at it. It’s come up before. But we have never devoted an entire episode to the discussion. Until now. This week, the Common Fans take on a slightly uncomfortable question about Nebraska football: are we part of the problem? Not the administration. Not the coaches. Not the players. The fans. It’s a conversation that came directly from the Common Fan community, and it turns into an honest, passionate, wide-ranging discussion about the role of the fans, and whether or not our passion has inadvertently made it harder for the football team to get back to its winning ways. Does an Empty Seat Speak Louder Than a Filled One? Nebraska’s sellout streak is one of the most iconic things in college football. It’s a badge of honor for the fan base. It’s a recruiting tool for the team and the coaching staff. It’s a point of pride from Omaha to Scottsbluff. But…what if it’s also part of the issue? We dig into whether constant support from the fans, no matter the results, has removed any real pressure on the people running the program. Would fewer fans in the stands send a stronger message? Or would it just create more instability in a program that’s already had plenty of it? Are Husker Fans Too Loyal…or Too Intense? On one hand, Nebraska fans show up. To borrow a phrase from Tom Shatel that the boys reference regularly, Nebraska football fans are undefeated against apathy. That’s one of the things that makes Husker football special. On the other hand, that same passion creates a “fishbowl” dynamic: a level of scrutiny and expectation that’s hard to fully understand unless you’ve lived it. From message boards to social media to talk radio to podcasts and beyond, there are more outlets than ever for frustration, criticism, and, let’s be honest, occasional insanity (the fellas point out they are proud to be part of the insane in this case). So the question becomes: does that environment help drive success…or quietly work against it? Great Expectations At some point, this conversation always comes back to expectations. Are we projecting 1990s-era expectations of dominance onto today’s players and coaches? And if we are…is that unfair? Or is that exactly what makes Nebraska Nebraska? Because the reality is, for a lot of us, this isn’t just a team. It’s part of our identity. It’s basement walls covered in memorabilia. It’s part of our family tradition. It’s Saturdays in the fall. It’s something that’s been woven into the fabric of who we are for decades. And if we let go of those expectations, we risk ceasing being what has always made us great. So…Who Actually Deserves the Blame? If it’s not the fans, then who? When you step back and look at the last 20+ years, one thing stands out: Nebraska hasn’t acted like a blue blood when it comes to hiring coaches. Fired NFL coaches. First-time head coaches. “Value brand” hires. These were huge misses that feel obvious in hindsight and, when taken together, combined to set the program back to a level we could never have imagined 20 years ago. The Program’s Greatest Asset At the end of the day, this fan base is still here. Still showing up. Still caring. Still investing time, money, and emotion into something that hasn’t given enough back in a long time. And the boys decide that’s not the problem. Maybe that’s the one thing that still gives Nebraska a chance to get this right. At the end of the day, this is the life we’ve chosen, and there is only one guarantee: Husker Nation doesn’t need to apologize for anything. Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts. As always, GBR for LIFE! #nebraska #collegefootball #football #bigten #sports #bigtenfootball #blackshirts #nebraskafootball #nebraskacornhuskers #huskers #huskerfootball #mattrhule #collegefootballplayoff #collegefootballpodcast #cfp #cfb26 #LNK #OMA #podcast #footballpodcast #commonfan #commonfanpodcast

There is definitely some uncertainty among the passengers on the HMS Rhule at this point in the coach’s tenure in Lincoln. But how many have actually jumped ship? The boys dive into this question and much more on the latest episode of the Common Fan Podcast! Everything But Football School? The crew kicks things off by celebrating Fred Hoiberg being named National Coach of the Year—and what that means for the future of Nebraska basketball. The investment is going up, the fan base is all-in, and for the first time in maybe forever, it feels sustainable. Beyond hoops, the baseball and softball teams are rolling (and ranked!), volleyball is a national powerhouse, and wrestling, track, bowling…you name it, the Cornhusker athletic teams are firing on all cylinders. There’s significant momentum across Troy Dannen’s department, and Nebraska is relevant again in a lot of places. Nothing Can Replace Football Even with the success of all the other sports, when Husker football isn’t competitive, something’s missing and everyone can feel it. Nebrasketball’s run and having the other sports show up certainly help things, and they make the long football offseason go by quicker. But this school and this fan base need Nebraska football to get back to being nationally competitive. What is the View of Rhule Among the Fan Base? How bad is it out there? How much of the fan base is truly out on Rhule? It’s clear people are frustrated, but what’s not clear is what percentage of the fan base actually wants him gone, versus how many people are simply getting nervous, and hoping he can figure it out. And the boys ask – is all this hand wringing and gnashing of teeth fair? Is it impatience? Residual frustration from the last 20 years? Or is it the combination of talking a big game without enough results to back it up? The guys debate whether Husker fans need to relax—or if the skepticism is justified. What Do the Numbers Say About 2026? The early SP+ rankings are out, and they provide a sobering reminder. While not everyone buys into the SP+ rankings, they are at least a data point, and they illustrate the challenge for this coming season. Nebraska sits at #37, but will face three top-5 teams, and three others currently ranked ahead of them. Are We Closer Than It Feels…or Further Away Than Ever? The most maddening part is that Nebraska hasn’t been getting blown out. They’ve been close. That’s been a painful reality for more than a decade. But the Big Red have been on the losing end of way too many of those contests, and that’s what’s driving fans crazy. There’s a lot to like right now in Lincoln. But until football matches the rest, something’s always going to feel incomplete. Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts. As always, GBR for LIFE! #nebraska #collegefootball #football #bigten #podcast #bigtenfootball #blackshirts #sports #nebraskafootball #nebraskacornhuskers #huskers #huskerfootball #gobigred #gbr #gbr4life #mattrhule #fredhoiberg #nebraskasports #nebraskaathletics #commonfan #commonfanpodcast #nebraska #football #podcast

This week, the Common Fans are joined by Brandon Vogel to process Nebrasketball’s program-changing season—and to ask what it might mean for the athletic department and the future of Husker football. Nebrasketball Resets the Standard From the first NCAA Tournament win in program history to a Sweet 16 run that had the entire fan base locked in, this wasn’t just a “nice season.” It felt bigger than that. We talk about what this run meant—not just in the moment, but long-term. The way it pulled in casual fans. The way it created core memories for kids. The way it turned Nebraska basketball into our team for a few weeks in March. Is this the new baseline? Or was this lightning in a bottle? Why Did It Have to Be Iowa? Let’s just get it out. If Nebraska loses to a one-seed, we all tip our cap and move on. But losing to Iowa—after leading for most of the game—adds an entirely different layer. We unpack why that matchup felt different, why the loss hit harder, and how it somehow managed to be the most Nebraska ending imaginable. From missed shots late…to that moment with four players on the floor…it all felt painfully familiar. And then we collectively agree: we’re done talking about Iowa (for now). Where Was Nebraska Football This Spring? In one of the strangest developments of the offseason, football just…took a back seat. With basketball dominating the conversation, and disappointment from the 2025 season still lingering, spring ball came and went with far less hype than we’re used to. The boys discuss why that might actually be a good thing—and whether “flying under the radar” is exactly where this program needs to be right now. What’s the Football Version of This Basketball Run? If what we just experienced with basketball felt like a breakthrough…what’s the equivalent for football? Is it making the playoff? Winning 9–10 games? Just being in the conversation again? And maybe the bigger question: would one season be enough to reset the narrative—or does this fan base need to see it for a sustained period of time? Spring Ball Takeaways Brandon gives his main takeaways from the Spring Game and spring ball in general. We dive into: Why the defense is the biggest swing factor What Tony C brings to the offense (and the risk that comes with it) Whether this team can finally generate something unexpected And why “prove it mode” is still the only mindset that matters Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts. As always, GBR for LIFE! #nebraska #collegefootball #football #bigten #podcast #bigtenfootball #collegefootballpodcast #sports #huskers #nebraskafootball #nebraskacornhuskers #huskerfootball #nebrasketball #mattrhule #fredhoiberg #blackshirts #nebraskapodcast #lnk #oma #nebraska #commonfan #commonfanpodcast

The guys kick things off by celebrating the Common Fans’ run to the Final Four of Mike’l Severe’s local podcast bracket challenge. Thanks to an incredible push from the Common Fan community, the pod took down some major names–including the Pick Six Podcast and Nick Bahe’s podcast–before finally losing in a razor-close matchup with the Schick and Nick Podcast. It was shameless, deeply competitive, and wildly fun. In other words: it was perfect. What should we make of Nebraska’s 2026 projected win total? The conversation then turns to FanDuel’s early over/under for how many games the Nebraska football team will win in 2026. It opened at 5.5, quickly moved to 6.5, and that number says a lot about where the outside world sees this program right now. The boys dig into what that means, why expectations have dropped so considerably, and whether that might actually be a good thing (at least for now). For once, Nebraska is not winning the offseason. There’s not much hype. There’s not much juice. And maybe, just maybe, that’s better than the annual offseason national championships. Does Matt Rhule need a Fred Hoiberg season? Watching Nebraska basketball explode past expectations this year naturally raises the question: can Matt Rhule do the same with football? Fred Hoiberg’s team wasn’t just “better than expected.” It shattered expectations. It changed the conversation. It reset belief in the entire program for years to come. That’s the kind of season Nebraska football badly needs. Not necessarily a playoff run, but a season that feels undeniably different. A season that makes fans stop bracing for disappointment and start believing the trajectory has finally changed. The fellas wrestle with what that would actually look like. Is 7-5 enough if the team looks better? Is 8-4 the line where people finally exhale? And how much of Nebraska’s long, strange post-Osborne drift is about unrealistic expectations… versus just repeatedly hiring the wrong guys? Can Husker fans still enjoy the ride? The episode closes with some love for Nebraska basketball, some NCAA tournament hype, and a reminder that this has been one of the most enjoyable Husker sports years in a long time. The footballization of fandom has made everybody a little insane, but the guys make the case for stepping back and appreciating what’s happening — even while still demanding more from football. Ending with Gratitude The crew also reflects on just how invested they got in the aforementioned bracket challenge, and how cool it was to see so many Common Fans show up and vote. There’s a lot of gratitude here — and also a lot of laughing at themselves for how emotionally attached they got to a Twitter poll. But bottomline: we’re so grateful to all the Common Fans who have joined us on this ride, and can’t wait for a lot more fun and frivolity to come! Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts. As always, GBR for LIFE! #nebraska #collegefootball #podcast #football #bigten #bigtenfootball #nebraskacornhuskers #nebraskafootball #huskers #huskerfootball #collegefootballpodcast #collegefootballplayoff #mattrhule #fredhoiberg #nebrasketball #blackshirts #commonfan #commonfanpodcast #nebraska #podcast #nebraskapodcast

Clester Johnson joins the Common Fans for one of the most fun conversations we’ve had in a while: a mix of Husker history, current program talk, and some unfiltered truth about what has gone wrong at Nebraska over the last two decades. Put on some Common Fan socks, kick up your feet, and enjoy this conversation with one of the major contributors on two of Nebraska’s national championship teams. Bring Back the Wingback Before diving into the current state of Nebraska football, the guys spend time with Clester reflecting on his own story, from growing up in Memphis, to starring at quarterback at Bellevue West, and eventually becoming a Husker. Clester shares how Tom Osborne’s leadership helped turn things around when he hit a crossroads early in Lincoln, and how a mindset shift and a position switch to wingback changed the course of his career. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the mentality of those championship-era teams and the standard that made Nebraska great. Tom Osborne’s Influence Clester’s stories about Osborne alone are worth the listen. He talks about TO’s presence, wisdom, and the way he could challenge players without calling them out by name. One speech in particular stuck with Clester for life — a message about accountability, distractions, and whether players were really doing everything they could to become the best version of themselves. The Frost Era, Loyalty, and Accountability The conversation also takes a more serious turn when the guys ask Clester about a tweet he recently sent regarding Scott Frost, the people around him, and the larger failures that deepened Nebraska’s slide. CJ does not duck the topic. He explains that he was excited when Frost came back and believed, like many fans did, that Frost was the right choice. But when things began to unravel, he became frustrated with the people inside the program and around the program–especially former players–who protected personalities instead of staying committed to the standard. It is an honest, thoughtful discussion about accountability, loyalty, and why Nebraska’s problems have gone far beyond just one coach. The Future Under Matt Rhule The boys also discuss Matt Rhule and the current state of Nebraska football. Clester gives his candid read on Matt Rhule, and why 2026 feels like a massive year. There’s still hope. There’s still belief that Nebraska can get back. But Clester makes it clear: this season has to look like progress. Real progress. Not spin. Not promises. Not another reset. Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts. Or watch now! As always, GBR for LIFE! #nebraska #collegefootball #football #bigten #bigtenfootball #collegefootballpodcast #sports #huskers #huskerfootball #nebraskafootball #nebraskacornhuskers #bigten #big10football #tomosborne #mattrhule #scottfrost #blackshirts #lnk #oma #gbr #gbr4life #gobigred #nebraska #podcast