Jack Hoffman, the 19-year-old college student, Nebraska football fan and longtime fighter against pediatric brain cancer, passed away on Wednesday in Atkinson, Neb. We take this episode to remember his iconic moment at the 2013 Nebraska spring game and to discuss Jack’s legacy and impact on so many in this state and beyond.

Jack formed a bond with Rex Burkhead, the former Nebraska running back, that kicked off Jack’s public introduction. From there, he won an ESPY. He met the president of the United States. He served as the grand marshal of the Nebraska homecoming parade. And he raised money and awareness for pediatric brain cancer research.

The effort that Jack ignited continues. Support the Team Jack Foundation.

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.

This week in Charlotte, college football coaches got together at their annual convention and offered a proposal to move the window for players to enter the transfer portal. It was a nice start to the conversation that needs to happen in this sport. It also missed the larger point.

Connor and Mitch tell you in this episode why the need for change in college football must be viewed from a wider angle than to simply address one topic on the minds of most people in January. Mitch’s co-worker at The Athletic, friend of the pod Scott Dochterman, offered a 10-point proposal to fix the college football calendar. Check it out here.

We like many of Scott’s ideas, such as shifting of offseason practice sessions to June from the spring. We take issue with other aspects. Regardless, leaders in college football can take a page from Scott’s work and move to enact the real calendar reform that’s needed. Join us as we tackle this topic.

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A pair of Nebraska signees played over the weekend in the Navy All-American Bowl. Linebacker Christian Jones and wide receiver Cortez Mills showed well in practice sessions in San Antonio. Remember them? They helped headline the class of 20 incoming freshmen who signed with the Huskers way back in early December.

The fast-paced college football world has left us in a place to move on quickly from recruits out of high school. But no so fast… Connor and Mitch are here to revisit the discussion on Jones, Mills and their classmates, many of whom start school in Lincoln next week. Did the portal movement accelerate their timeline to contribute at Nebraska – or slow it down? There are examples of both in the Class of 2025.

Also, we update the conversation on offensive tackle Shiyazh Pete, a primary portal target of Nebraska, and we discuss the happenings with Colorado coach Deion Sanders as the NFL coaching carousel heats up.

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The College Football Playoff final is set. And for the second consecutive year, it does not include a member of the SEC – a stretch of football unlike anything we’ve seen in almost 20 years. Our question today is this: How does this specific shift in the sport impact Nebraska?

It’s not necessarily a slam dunk to help the Huskers that the balance in power is shifting north. But Connor and Mitch come to some conclusions after a discussion about Nebraska’s place in the college football hierarchy and the new opportunities available to Matt Rhule.

Also, Nebraska basketball laid an egg at Purdue. And there was more action to discuss in various sports that touch Husker Nation as the final busy week of transfer portal activity in football arrives. Join us.

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Questions from the mailbag on this College Football Playoff semifinal Friday included a concern from the audience that Connor and Mitch are obsessing about Nebraska’s need to find reinforcements on the offensive line. Is this right? Do we need more faith in the ability of young linemen at Nebraska to step up in 2025?

We dive into the O-line discussion. How big was that need? Also, was Matt Rhule taking a page out of the Deion Sanders coaching playbook as Nebraska hit the portal this offseason? Our hosts have thoughts on that topic, too.

How will the 105-man roster limit impact special teams? A brief overview of the tight ends in Lincoln. And a solution to our problem in breaking the tie from a season of picking Nebraska games. Join us to close out the week.

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Welcome to the newest episode of Big 10 Squad! Hosted by Craig Shemon of Locked On Big 10, this roundtable podcast brings together the best analysts from Locked On podcasts to break down everything happening in Big Ten football. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love college football, this episode is packed with all the insights and predictions you need!

🚀 In This Episode:

• Game Previews & Predictions: Get a comprehensive look at the upcoming matchups featuring teams like the Illinois Fighting Illini, Indiana Hoosiers, Iowa Hawkeyes, Maryland Terrapins, Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers, Nebraska Huskers, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oregon Ducks, Penn State Nittany Lions, Purdue Boilermakers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, Washington Huskies, and Wisconsin Badgers.
• Expert Analysis: Hear Locked On hosts discuss game strategies, key players, and the tactical edge each team brings to the field.
• Player Spotlights: Learn about the standout players to watch who could make a big impact this week.

Why You Should Tune In: Whether you're following the latest in Big Ten football or looking for expert predictions, this episode offers everything you need to stay ahead of the game and ready for the next round of action.

🔔 Subscribe to Big 10 Squad for weekly previews, expert commentary, and all the latest Big Ten football insights! Hit the bell icon to stay updated on every new episode.

Join the Conversation: Share your thoughts, predictions, and insights in the comments below — we want to hear from you!

#Big10Squad #Big10Football #LockedOnBig10 #CollegeFootball #FootballAnalysis #CraigShemon #LockedOnPodcast #BigTenTeams #NCAA #FootballPreviews #BigTenRoundtable

Nebraska landed the offensive tackle that it desired out of the transfer portal on Wednesday. Elijah Pritchett, the former Alabama starter, is headed to Lincoln after his visit this week, filling the biggest need left for the Huskers. Is everything else just gravy at this point as Nebraska builds the roster for 2025?

Connor and Mitch give some thought on the competition about to unfold in Lincoln as a result of portal additions. We pick the CFP semifinal games and review our bowl and season-long picks against the spread. Finally, we take a look back at our picks on Nebraska this year.

Included is a review of our predictions at midseason, when the Huskers were 5-1 and conditions looked a lot different than now inside the football program. Oh, how much things can change in a couple months. Join us.

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The offseason of change continues at Nebraska as more prospects from the transfer portal schedule January visits to Lincoln. With all that Matt Rhule has to juggle – coaching moves and revenue sharing included – the first six months of 2025 are set to challenge everything about the way that Rhule has built his college programs.

What does it mean for Nebraska? Well, Rhule is adaptable. He has seemingly embraced the new world of college football, even when it’s not aligned with his vision from 2023. Connor and Mitch are here on this Wednesday to take a step back and put in perspective all that’s in front of Rhule and the Huskers this year. And to tell you why the Temple-Baylor measuring stick no longer applies in Lincoln.

Also, Nebraska basketball took a tough loss on Tuesday night in Iowa City. We discuss. And get us your mailbag questions for a Friday review of the week and look ahead. Send questions to LockedOnNeb@gmail.com.

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FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)