Yes, I’m a sicko
-
Welcome to The Platinum Board! We are a Nebraska Cornhuskers news source and community. Please click "Log In" or "Register" above to gain access to the forums.
2026 Roster Spreadsheet
- Thread starter SolichFan1987
- Start date
Schedule detail
Should work now
Sorry, we only have room for 5-6 portal players. A lot of really smart people have told me this.
Yeah, in doing this I was really struck by just how unimpressive we are on paper going into 2026.
I think their bowels will be fine.
Here's how I'm kind of seeing the 2026 roster looking. As a reminder from last year's version:
- I'm basing this on a Top 55. I've noticed over the past 3 years or Rhule as HC, that we have about 30 players with noticeable snap counts, and another 25 that see the field at a much smaller clip. Rhule has also stated that he looks at his roster in NFL terms of a main roster and then a reserve/developing roster; 55 on his main roster and when we are limited to the 105, 50 on the reserve roster. Ideally we don't have so many players in the Non-Contributor column, but I think it's the reality of the roster.
- Some of the cross-outs are verified, while others are just predictions. Don't hold me to them or put too much weight into them.
- I've also taken a stab at predicting where I think we'll add players.
- Lastly, the color coding is based on recruiting rating blended for that group.
You've out-autism'ed me!!! Congratulations
I'll add in a tab with potential portal additions
I spent a few minutes thinking through what it would take for us to get to 7 wins next year. And then what it would take to get to 8.
As a reminder, we have Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State all on the schedule. It would be nice to build an argument for how we can beat them, but I don't think it's the reality we are in right now. We also have North Dakota, Ohio, and Bowling Green that we should beat with an average P4 roster. So, right off the bat, we are 3-3.
So, what's in question are what I'd look at as B-, B, and B+ rosters. We have to have a B- roster to beat Rutgers and Maryland. A B roster to beat Michigan State. And a B+ roster to beat Cockeye, Washington, and Illinois.
I think we have the B- roster without any more additions. To get to that 6th win, we need to plus up a lot. We need to find new staters for:
- LG
- RG
- C (assuming Evans hits portal)
- NT
- Edge
- LB
Looking at @SolichFan1987 target list, this appears to be exactly where the staff is focusing.
But most importantly, what will it take to beat 1 or 2 of Cockeye, Washington, and Illinois?
So, yes, we need to nail the above list and find new depth. But I think we need to find a Nickel and a Boundary (we need to improve over Jones), plus another WR, TE, RT, and S. With that, I think we can reasonably get to 7-8 wins. So, here's what I think we need to add to be a 7-8 win team next year <that also means we'll hit the over as I bet we're a 6.5 win team per vegas>.
QB (2)
- Starter: Kenny Minchie
- Backup: Tyler Hughes
RB (2)
- Starter: Cam Edwards
- Starter: Marty Brown
WR (2)
- Starter: Ian Strong
- Backup: Kyle Parker
TE (1)
- Starter: Luke Reynolds
*Perhaps we believe Carter Nelson is ready to take a leap, or Markway has fully recovered, and this is unneeded. But to not risk it, I think we need to go portaling. Plus, we're trying to convince Ahmad Hudson to play here so this needs to look better than it has.
OT (3)
- Starter: Ben Murawski
- Backup: Tree Badalade
- Backup: Bennett Warren
IOL (4)
- Starter: Malachi Breland
- Starter: Nick Sharpe
- Starter: Anthony Boswell
- Backup: Trovon Baugh
NT (2)
- Starter: Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder
- Backup: Horace Lockett
Edge (2)
- Starter: Trey White
- Backup: Toby Anene
LB (2)
- Starter: Owen Chambliss
- Backup: Will Hawthorne
CB (2)
- Starter: Elijah Dotson
- Starter: Caleb Ricks
S (1)
- Starter: Dalesean Staley
I think with a haul like that we are in position to win every game that isn't against a top 5 team.
As a reminder, we have Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State all on the schedule. It would be nice to build an argument for how we can beat them, but I don't think it's the reality we are in right now. We also have North Dakota, Ohio, and Bowling Green that we should beat with an average P4 roster. So, right off the bat, we are 3-3.
So, what's in question are what I'd look at as B-, B, and B+ rosters. We have to have a B- roster to beat Rutgers and Maryland. A B roster to beat Michigan State. And a B+ roster to beat Cockeye, Washington, and Illinois.
I think we have the B- roster without any more additions. To get to that 6th win, we need to plus up a lot. We need to find new staters for:
- LG
- RG
- C (assuming Evans hits portal)
- NT
- Edge
- LB
Looking at @SolichFan1987 target list, this appears to be exactly where the staff is focusing.
But most importantly, what will it take to beat 1 or 2 of Cockeye, Washington, and Illinois?
So, yes, we need to nail the above list and find new depth. But I think we need to find a Nickel and a Boundary (we need to improve over Jones), plus another WR, TE, RT, and S. With that, I think we can reasonably get to 7-8 wins. So, here's what I think we need to add to be a 7-8 win team next year <that also means we'll hit the over as I bet we're a 6.5 win team per vegas>.
QB (2)
- Starter: Kenny Minchie
- Backup: Tyler Hughes
RB (2)
- Starter: Cam Edwards
- Starter: Marty Brown
WR (2)
- Starter: Ian Strong
- Backup: Kyle Parker
TE (1)
- Starter: Luke Reynolds
*Perhaps we believe Carter Nelson is ready to take a leap, or Markway has fully recovered, and this is unneeded. But to not risk it, I think we need to go portaling. Plus, we're trying to convince Ahmad Hudson to play here so this needs to look better than it has.
OT (3)
- Starter: Ben Murawski
- Backup: Tree Badalade
- Backup: Bennett Warren
IOL (4)
- Starter: Malachi Breland
- Starter: Nick Sharpe
- Starter: Anthony Boswell
- Backup: Trovon Baugh
NT (2)
- Starter: Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder
- Backup: Horace Lockett
Edge (2)
- Starter: Trey White
- Backup: Toby Anene
LB (2)
- Starter: Owen Chambliss
- Backup: Will Hawthorne
CB (2)
- Starter: Elijah Dotson
- Starter: Caleb Ricks
S (1)
- Starter: Dalesean Staley
I think with a haul like that we are in position to win every game that isn't against a top 5 team.
Great breakdown as usual Bor
I really hope we are able to pull something like this off.. I am pretty encouraged by the start to portal season and the known visitors we have so far (including those already visiting this weekend). Need to get a lot of these guys wrapped up in the first week to ten days, the longer we go the further down our list we will need to go to find guys for next year’s team
No problems with the list. But did I miss something on Justin Evans? Why are we expecting him to portal?
I was wondering that too.
Nothing firm, just a belief that he was close to Don and won’t want to stick around after his firing.
Also, we are following a fair amount of centers in the portal which indicates to me that they think he’s gone.
That would suck. Hes probably not an NFL guy, but hes a pretty damn solid college center.
