NEBRASKA – Husker Radio Network Analyst Damon Benning and his Big Red Buzz audience rejoiced in agreement regarding the fun of watching Nebraska’s 2025 football team.

Benning: “You guys hear stuff in press conferences about chemistry and the culture. It’s easy to roll your eyes, but I’m telling you it’s fun to watch.”

Benning relayed stories at Valentino’s restaurant in Nebraska City of coaches joining in competitions with players during the road trip to Maryland.

Benning: “It’s a different group. They really get along. They cheer one another on.”

He said the "us vs. them" feel of the road game graduates to the coach sending the players out to greet the fans after a come-from-behind win.

Benning: “The team clearly gets along. They enjoy one another’s company. In this day and age, with NIL, I’m telling you guys it’s super important.”

Benning, a running back on Nebraska’s back-to-back national championship teams, joked that he is jealous.

Benning: “Coach Osborne would never have allowed us to have that much fun.”

Benning said Nebraska grew from the first half of its two-game traveling segment that includes a Friday kickoff at Minnesota.

Benning: “I’m telling you that it’s intentional. When (Coach Matt Rhule) talks about being appreciative and loving on one another and doing hard things and being uncomfortable, it’s not just lip service.”

He said even after a pick six that gave Maryland a 31 to 24 lead in the third quarter, the team’s body language was optimistic.

Benning: “Even I was in disbelief at the ease in which they moved down the field in crunch time because they believe in what they are doing. … It’s just what Coach Rhule wants for these guys,  to embrace doing hard things.”

Nebraska has found wins over Minnesota hard to come by. Nebraska has not beat Minnesota since 2018, but Benning claims an advantage in special teams this year and says the Golden Gophers are searching for identity.

Benning: “Why is Minnesota throwing the ball nearly 60 percent of the time? They are trying to find themselves. I think Nebraska clearly knows who they want to be.”

He said the fourth quarter has been fun for Nebraska, especially with a scoring drive when the team trails and a defensive stop to win the game with a Nebraska lead. Both of those scenarios have mostly eluded Nebraska in its recent past, but both happened at Maryland.