LINCOLN — Noah Vedral’s helmet popped off so fast — on his fourth play of the game — that Husker coach Scott Frost barely had time to discuss with his quarterbacks coach who might play if, well, the helmet of Nebraska’s No. 2 signal-caller popped off.
“Without thinking about it,” Frost said, he told Mario Verduzco that true freshman Luke McCaffrey would go in for Vedral in case of an emergency. Next thing Verduzco knew, Vedral’s helmet came off and he had to leave for one play, and McCaffrey was already on the field.
“I must have breathed it in into existence,” Verduzco joked.
McCaffrey’s single play, just two years ago, would have cost him his redshirt season. Like Harrison Beck’s one shining moment in the 2005 Kansas State game cost him his redshirt. Or Niles Paul’s one catch for 6 yards in 2007 cost him his redshirt. But a new NCAA rule allows players who have yet to take a redshirt season — usually true freshmen — to retain it while participating in four or fewer games. That one play burned one of McCaffrey’s four games, but not his redshirt.
And if coaches have more plans for the precocious, highly praised freshman, they can still use them in three more games.
“It’s an awesome rule,” said McCaffrey, who’s drawn raves from coaches and teammates while he redshirts and works to push Adrian Martinez for the starting role next season. “I think it’s fantastic.”
Nebraska coaches and players agree. The rule helped Darrion Daniels retain his redshirt at Oklahoma State last season after a serious hand injury limited him after four games. That redshirt led to a graduate transfer to NU, where he has 21 tackles this season. Defensive end Deontre Thomas used the rule last year to redshirt when injuries sidelined him after four games. Nebraska even has the option to use the four-game rule with kicker Barret Pickering, who has missed all season with an undisclosed leg injury. Should Pickering recover by November, he could in theory kick a game-winner and return next season as a sophomore.
But as the rule expanded opportunity for players, it expanded the amount of thought coaches have to put in to using those four games wisely.
“We just have to talk about it every week,” Frost said. “I think you can have a plan going into the season, but things change. It’s impossible to come up with a strategy and stick to it.”
Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said there is “indecision” each week about which redshirting players will participate in the game or travel with the team.
“I don’t know that we’ll ever know the right answer on some of those things until you lose a game and somebody says, ‘You should have played that guy,’” Chinander said.
Three of the signees in NU’s 2019 recruiting class — receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, outside linebacker Garrett Nelson and cornerback Quinton Newsome — have burned their redshirts.
A few others, including walk-on linebacker Luke Reimer, are bumping up against the four-game limit. Almost all of the 2019 signees are headed for a redshirt and some combination of games. Usually, they get rotated on and off special teams.
“The guy we want to reserve the redshirts for, the biggest question is: Who’s going to help us on special teams?” Chinander said. “Who’s down? If Cam Taylor-Britt’s down, then another safety comes up and gets plugged in at some special teams spots. If a linebacker is down, Luke Reimer — or hopefully Nick Henrich sooner or later — he’s got to take linebacker reps, but he’s got to get plugged in to all the special teams. That’s the juggling act right now. Who can fill in? Who can play special teams?”
Defensive backs, linebackers and tight ends, generally.
Against Northwestern, freshman tight end Chris Hickman played his first game on the kickoff return unit. Safety Myles Farmer, meanwhile, rotated off three special teams units after appearing on them for the Ohio State game. Hickman replaced Farmer on the kickoff unit. Javin Wright played in the Illinois game. And so on. This rotation, Chinander said, helps save multiple redshirts. Two years ago, one player likely would have sacrificed his redshirt and played all year on special teams to save the redshirts of his teammates. Tyrin Ferguson did something similar in 2015 before redshirting in 2016.
McCaffrey, receiver Darien Chase and running back Rahmir Johnson have appeared on offense. Johnson, who had 9 yards rushing in the win over Northern Illinois and a couple of token snaps against Northwestern, is an “on-the-cusp” player who, two years ago, may have burned his redshirt and played all season, Frost said.
“He’s practicing really well,” Frost said of Johnson. “He’s fast. He’s going to give us a weapon somewhere down the road. He’s played in two games — we got him in for a series on Saturday but probably didn’t get him in enough. That’s two games, so we’re going to try our best to keep him around here for four more years after this. You never know what’s going to happen with injuries and other things with the teams. We might end up having to play him.”
The same is true of at least one offensive lineman, true freshman Bryce Benhart, the No. 2 right tackle. He’s appeared in one game this season; Nebraska would like to redshirt him. Every lineman who’s signed under Frost is on a redshirt track. That includes junior defensive end Keem Green, who joined an already-deep defensive line in August and needed time to get in football shape after a summer spent trying to get academically eligible.
Green, essentially, is the co-No. 5 defensive end with redshirt freshman Casey Rogers. Two of the ends in front of him, Carlos and Khalil Davis, graduate after this season, so the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Green is headed for the rare third-year redshirt. He’ll vie for a starting job in 2020.
Green still has three games left this season. Nebraska opted not to play Green in the 13-10 win over Northwestern — junior Ben Stille logged 70 snaps at defensive end instead — and may keep those three games in its back pocket until Wisconsin and Iowa come to town in November.
“I need to pick the games where he fits best into what we’re doing, because he’s got to be ready to go for next year, and those game reps are important,” Chinander said. “You don’t get better playing football without playing football.”
The rule keeps younger players engaged in the process, too, senior linebacker Mohamed Barry said. Because of a shoulder injury suffered in his freshman season at NU, Barry said he wouldn’t have played four games had the rule been available, but “a lot of guys” in his recruiting class would have liked the option.
“Some were not ready to redshirt, some were,” Barry said. Eight 2015 signees — Devine Ozigbo, Stanley Morgan, Antonio Reed, Aaron Williams, Dedrick Young, Tyrin Ferguson, Jordan Stevenson and Jordan Ober — played immediately as true freshmen. Seven remained at NU their entire careers.
In 2016, that number dropped to four — Tre Bryant, Lamar Jackson, Caleb Lightbourn and JoJo Domann. Because of good depth at receiver, Nebraska chose to redshirt JD Spielman, already one of the most accomplished wideouts in school history.
What if NU had Spielman for four games in 2016? Does he turn heads as a returner or receiver in a way that earns him more playing time? If he’s on the field at Wisconsin for the Huskers’ final two drives — one in regulation and one in overtime — does the outcome change?
“Someone like JD was so small, it helped him to develop his body in the weight room,” Barry said. “You play some kids too early, they get banged up and it really messes up their confidence. You don’t want that kid going through all those injuries, when, with just one more year in the weight room, that probably wouldn’t have happened. It’s more than just talent level. It’s durability.”
In that sense, McCaffrey is in the ideal situation. He hasn’t been dinged up. He’s spent just a week with the scout team. He’s played in one game — one play — but he’s prepared like a starter. Barring a long-term injury to one or both quarterbacks in front of him, McCaffrey is headed for a redshirt like his older brother Dylan, a quarterback at Michigan. But like his other two older brothers at Duke and Stanford, he’ll play as a true freshman.
“It’s not so much wondering, but staying prepared, staying on top of it every week,” McCaffrey said. “When that game comes, there’s no switch (to flip). Stay prepared so you don’t have to get prepared.”
Husker History: Nebraska football's record every day of the year
How does Nebraska fare all time every day of the year? Well, it's usually pretty good. Enjoy classic photos, along with several statistics, of the Huskers' history everyday of the calendar. Is a day not listed? That just means NU hasn't played. And be sure to give Husker History a follow on Twitter for even more tidbits about the Huskers.
The Huskers are 1-0 all time on Aug. 24. The lone game? A 48-10 win over Arizona State in 2002.
The Huskers are 1-0 all time on Aug. 25, a 21-7 victory over TCU in 2001. NU allowed just six first downs and 186 yards.
The Huskers are 1-0 on Aug. 27, a 23-14 win over No. 10 Texas A&M in 1988. Gregg Barrios, a sophomore kicker out of Omaha Creighton Prep, made three field goals.
The Huskers have more wins (1) than points allowed (0) all time on Aug. 28. Nebraska beat No. 24 West Virginia 31-0 in 1994.
The Huskers are 2-0 on Aug. 29, including a 44-6 win over No. 4 Penn State at Giants Stadium in 1983.
The Huskers have won all four of their games on Aug. 30 by an average score of 44.5-13.
The Huskers have defeated all four of their foes on Aug. 31.
Baylor, Troy, Nevada and Southern Miss have challenged the Huskers on Sept. 1. All went home with losses.
The Huskers have one all-time loss on Sept. 2 — 20-3 against top-ranked Alabama in 1978. NU has since won three games on that date.
The Huskers are undefeated on Sept. 3, outscoring opponents a combined 171-37.
The Huskers have had no problem with their four all-time opponents on Sept. 4. NU has won by an average of 43.8 points.
The Huskers won their first four games on Sept. 5 against Utah State, Utah, UAB and Florida Atlantic, but lost to BYU in 2015.
The Huskers have played four games on Sept. 6. None may be more memorable than the 34-17 win over No. 11 Florida State in 1986.
The Huskers lost their first game on Sept. 7 — against Florida State in 1985 — but have since recovered to win four of their last five.
The Huskers' history on Sept. 8 includes two games against UCLA. Nebraska beat the No. 10 Bruins 40-13 in 1973, but UCLA got revenge in 2012.
The Huskers are 5-2 on Sept. 9, including a 2017 loss to Oregon. Nebraska beat No. 23 Notre Dame 27-24 in 2000.
After falling to No. 5 UCLA in 1988, the Huskers have won three straight games on Sept. 10 — against Wake Forest, Fresno State and Wyoming.
The Huskers are 5-1-1 on Sept. 11, including a 42-7 victory over the Hawkeyes in 1982. The tie was against LSU in 1976.
The Huskers have allowed single digits in each of their last four games on Sept. 12. They have a 6-1 overall record.
The Huskers are undefeated on Sept. 13. Only two of those games were decided by single digits, a 10-7 victory over LSU in 1975 and an 18-10 win against Penn State in 2003.
The Huskers are 4-2 on Sept. 14, including a 71-14 win over Colorado State in 1991 and a 61-7 victory against Oregon in 1974.
The Huskers were 3-1 on Sept. 15, including a 49-31 loss against No. 1 USC in 2007, until losing to Troy in 2018.
The Huskers won their first five games on Sept. 16, but have since lost the last two — in 2006 against No. 4 USC and in 2017 against Northern Illinois.
Nebraska lost 6-0 to Hawaii in 1955. The Huskers have since won eight straight on Sept. 17, including over No. 4 Alabama, No. 13 UCLA and No. 22 Oregon.
Eight teams have challenged the Huskers on Sept. 18. Eight have fallen.
Close your eyes. Sept. 19 has been rough to the Huskers, who are 2-5-1 on the date. The tie was against No. 3 USC in 1970.
The Huskers beat No. 2 Washington 27-14 in 1997, part of an 8-1 overall record on Sept. 20.
Nebraska is 4-4 on Sept. 21. That includes the Huskers' 19-0 loss to Arizona State in 1996, which snapped a winning streak that stretched nearly 1,000 days.
The Huskers were 8-0 on Sept. 22 before losing to Michigan in 2018.
The Huskers are undefeated all time on Sept. 23. Four of those games were shutouts. All but one were decided by 29-plus points.
The last time the Huskers lost on Sept. 24? 1960 against Minnesota. Nebraska has since won seven straight.
The Huskers' first game on Sept. 25 was a 19-15 win over Iowa State in 1948. NU is 8-2 overall.
Since a six-point loss to No. 3 Penn State in 1981, the Huskers are 5-0 on Sept. 26, including a 35-28 victory over No. 12 Arizona State in 1987.
The Huskers are 7-3 on Sept. 27, including a 21-7 win against No. 11 Penn State in 1980.
Nebraska has three wins by 50-plus points on Sept. 28, but the Huskers also have four losses by 20-plus points.
A loss to Purdue snapped the Huskers' five game winning streak on Sept. 29, which included Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa State, Missouri and Oregon State.
Nebraska went 0-1-3 in its first four games on Sept. 30. The Huskers have since won seven straight, with only two decided by single digits.
The Huskers are 13-4 all time on Oct. 1. That includes a 27-20, double OT win over No. 23 Iowa State in 2005.
The Huskers are 11-2-1 on Oct. 2, including seven straight wins dating back to 1954. One of those was a 14-8 victory over Kansas in 2004.
The Huskers have five shutout victories on Oct. 3, boosting their record to 12-3 on the date.
Of Nebraska's last six opponents on Oct. 4, four have been ranked. NU has one win in those games, a 56-26 victory over No. 17 Kansas State in 1997.
The Huskers haven't lost on Oct. 5 since 1940, going 9-0 in that span with three wins over Kansas State.
So the last two games Nebraska has played on Oct. 6 haven't gone so well ... But the Huskers also won 100-0 on Oct. 6, 1917, so that probably makes up for it.
The Huskers were a perfect 15-0 on Oct. 7 until a loss to Wisconsin in 2017.
Remember the last time the Huskers played on Oct. 8? Taylor Martinez led a huge comeback to topple Ohio State.
Remember the last time the Huskers played on Oct. 9? Maybe try not to.
The Huskers played on Oct. 10 three times from 1981 to 1992. The average score of those games? 56 to 0.67.
The Huskers are 9-6-1 on Oct. 11. The first game? A 17-0 win over Grinnell in 1902.
The Huskers had five straight losses from 1946 to 1974 on Oct. 12. Five straight wins followed before Minnesota snapped that streak in 2019.
In six games on Oct. 14 from 1972 to 2006, the Huskers outscored opponents 294-27.
Remember when the Huskers beat Oklahoma State 63-42 in 1988? That's part of an 11-5-1 all-time record on Oct. 15.
The last time the Huskers played on Oct. 17, they went on the road and defeated Minnesota 48-25 in 2015.
Oct. 19, 1974: No. 12 Nebraska travels to No. 13 Kansas. The Huskers won 56-0, part of an 8-6-1 all-time record on Oct. 19.
The Huskers are 12-5-1 on Oct. 20, including a 7-0 win over Notre Dame in 1917.
The Huskers are 12-5 on Oct. 22, including 3-0 since joining the Big Ten. NU beat Minnesota 41-14 in 2011, Purdue 27-14 in 2016 and the Gophers again, 53-28 in 2018.
Plenty of points were scored the last time the Huskers played on Oct. 23. No. 14 Nebraska beat No. 17 Oklahoma State 51-41.
Oct. 24 hasn't been kind to the Huskers lately, albeit a 15-4 all-time record. NU lost 30-28 to Northwestern in 2015 and 9-7 to Iowa State in 2009.
Stay out of the Huskers' way lately on Oct. 25. The last four results? 1997: NU 35, Kansas 0. 2003: NU 28, ISU 0. 2008: NU 32, Baylor 20. 2014: NU 42, Rutgers 24.