Matt Rhule reveals changes made to avoid Nebraska turnovers

Nebraska wasn’t dead last in turnover margin in 2023 — but they were pretty close.

The Huskers finished last season with five wins despite boasting a -17 turnover ratio, good for the second worst mark in the country. They put the ball on the ground 30 times, losing 15 of those via fumble, while the three Nebraska quarterbacks combined for 16 interceptions during Matt Rhule’s first year as the program’s head coach.

Rhule has addressed the need for improved ball security and better decisions by his gunslingers throughout the offseason, and recently doubled down on his demand for less turnovers.

“The number one thing is the players believing,” Rhule said. “When the player starts seeing Gabe [Ervin Jr.] run with the ball like this — and they start saying like, ‘Oh, high and tight.’ That’s where it changes, or guys will even start getting on each other because we’re not punching at the ball. That’s what starts to change.

“And so I believe that our players — I keep telling them everything you go through in life prepares you for something unless you ignore it. Losing all those close games last year — and some of them have done in multiple years — and having a -17 turnover ratio. If that would have been even we might have won nine games. It’s ridiculous. And I don’t think we were necessarily a nine-win team, but that speaks to the credit of a lot of good things we did. But one thing messed it up. We’ll fix it.”

To help improve this, Rhule said that Nebraska has begun taking preventative measures at practice each day to emphasis the need for added ball security. That includes holding ball takeaway drills, which sees offensive skill position players run across a path of defenders who are trying to strip the ball as they pass them.

Not only that, but Rhule said that his players are holding each other accountable on both sides of the ball. If someone isn’t trying to strip the ball on defense, it’s noticed. If the ball is fumbled or picked off on offense, it’s noticed.

Given the added competition brought into the Big Ten this past offseason coupled with the need to improve to at least bowl contention or better in 2024, reducing their turnover ratio is going to pivotal to that effort this fall.

Nebraska’s regular season begins during Week 4 against Illinois at home.