WATCH: Nebraska Football Coach Matt Rhule Postgame; Cornhuskers Top UNI Panthers

Huskers Win Season Opener

Nebraska Cornhuskers football coach Matt Rhule spoke to the media following his team's 38-17 season-opening win over the Northern Illinois Panthers on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. Here's a look at some of the key takeaways from Rhule's postgame press conference.

Rhule Praises Team Effort

Rhule began his press conference by praising his team's effort in the victory.

"I thought our guys played really hard tonight," Rhule said. "We had a lot of guys step up and make plays for us. It was a great team win."

Turnovers a Concern

Despite the win, Rhule expressed concern about his team's turnovers. The Huskers committed three turnovers in the game, including two interceptions by quarterback Casey Thompson.

"We can't afford to turn the ball over like that," Rhule said. "We need to be more careful with the football."

Areas for Improvement

Rhule also identified several areas where his team needs to improve.

"We need to get better on third down," Rhule said. "We were only 4-of-14 on third down today. We also need to improve our pass rush. We didn't get enough pressure on the quarterback today."

Looking Ahead

Rhule said he is looking forward to seeing his team continue to improve as the season progresses.

"We have a lot of potential," Rhule said. "We just need to keep working hard and getting better every day."