Husker Doc Talk

On this episode of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka break down the late-night heartbreaker against Oregon and what went wrong in the closing minutes of a game that felt like a wild movie script. A tough one for Big Red faithful to watch as former Husker Dylan Raiola’s came off the bench in the fourth quarter after sitting for three quarters to go 11-of-18 through the air and engineer Oregon’s go-ahead scoring drive. It’s almost like a broken record for the Huskers. We look closely at why Nebraska’s long-standing struggles to finish out high-stakes games go well beyond Raiola, examining how the offense must shoulder more responsibility to sustain drives and put points on the board. The discussion dives deep into a tremendous effort by the Blackshirt defense, which held Oregon to two field goals through three quarters before gassing out under the weight of two massive Oregon possessions totaling 37 plays and nearly thirte

Nebraska gave Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers everything they could handle on the stat sheet, dominating in almost every category, yet still walked off the field with a heartbreaking loss. How do you beat a top-ten squad in almost every single metric and still leave with an L? On this episode of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka break down the good, the bad, and the downright frustrating from the game with the Hoosiers. The loss means Nebraska has now lost 31 straight games to teams ranked in the Top 25. The last time the Huskers scored an "upset" was in September of 2016. They will get more chances as the season goes on, but Matt Rhule is in desperate need of a signature win.  Speaking of Rhule, were the Huskers outcoached?.  Matt Rhule’s fiery, constant lobbying with the officiating crew helping this football team or hurting it? We dig into coaching composure, comparing Rhule’s sideline demeanor to the stoic, measured approac

Dr. Rob is out, but former TD Ameritrade CEO and Coastal Carolina head coach Joe Moglia steps into the studio to talk with Travis Justice for a powerhouse midweek episode of the Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation! Joe is back in Omaha with a documentary film crew chronicling his improbable journey from a two-bedroom Bronx apartment to Wall Street dominance and championship college football sidelines. In this candid, wide-ranging interview, Joe and Travis discuss: The Making of a Movie: Inside the upcoming documentary and feature film project directed by Todd Robinson and produced by Mark Ciardi, plus what happened with Mark Wahlberg. Talking Leadership with Matt Rhule: Joe’s visit to Memorial Stadium and his perspective on building a culture versus navigating the modern portal era. Fixing College Athletics: Why NIL without contracts is unsustainable, what’s missing from current legislation, and why college football needs an NFL-style model with real transparency. The "BAM" P

Hope is building in Nebraska football. The Huskers are 5-0 for the first time since 2016. Their 2-0 start is their best in Big Ten Conference play since 2017.  Welcome to the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, with Travis Justice and former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka.  Nebraska got off to a slow start last Saturday against Maryland. After a bad first quarter, the Huskers rebounded in the final three quarters to beat the Terrapins 48-23. Not only is Nebraska off to its best start since 2016, but they have beaten every team this year by 17 or more points. It's the first time they have done that since 2001.  When the Huskers started playing well, it was impressive. They intercepted Maryland quarterback Malik Washington twice, including an 81-yard return for a touchdown by Dwayne McDougle III. It was Nebraska's first pick-six since 2024. One stat that may get overlooked is third-down conversions. Maryland was held to 1-for-14 on third down.  Things start to get real for the Big Red

Nebraska still has a lot of the season left, but 2026 is already starting to look very different for the Huskers.  For the first time since 2016, Nebraska went unbeaten in September. The Huskers improved to 4-0 last Saturday with a 31-13 win at Michigan State. It's also the first time since 2019 that Nebraska won its Big 10 Conference opener. It may not seem like much, but for a fan base looking for a return to relevance, it's a big deal.  On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka and Travis Justice dive into the win over the Spartans and look ahead to what is possible for Nebraska as the season moves along. Does this team have a ceiling? The Huskers forced three turnovers against Michigan State. Those takeaways were a big reason the scoreboard made the game look like a blowout. But it also sparked a deep conversation on turnovers. Dr. Rob breaks down the difference between a takeaway and a giveaway. Most fans, even media member

Nebraska is in a familiar place, 3-0 after the first three non-conference games of the season for the third straight year. The Huskers beat North Dakota 34-7 last Saturday. Three straight 3-0 non-conference games is the Huskers' longest streak since 1997-2001.  On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka look back at Nebraska’s latest win. The offense was impressive: 493 yards, including 277 on the ground. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea continues to impress: 15-of-21 passing, 195 yards and a touchdown. The transfer also rushed four times for 19 yards and a touchdown.  Building momentum for what's to come, freshman running back Jamal Rule is solidifying himself as the number one running back: 15 carries, 119 yards and two touchdowns. Rule's longest run from scrimmage was a 55-yard touchdown in the third quarter that put Nebraska up 24-0. Maybe the most impressive part of the win over North Dakota was the defense. S

On the bright side, Nebraska is 2-0 on the season with two very easy wins against teams from the MAC. The downside is this: with the inferior competition the Huskers have played so far, we really don’t know how good this team is. On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and former Husker offensive lineman Dr. Rob Zatechka take a look back at the Bowling Green game and look ahead to Saturday’s showdown with North Dakota. On paper, the numbers echo the glory days. Averaging 535 yards a game, 256 yards a game on the ground, and 53 points per game! A mobile quarterback in Anthony Colandrea who can make plays with his feet and his arm. Jamal Rule, a running back who has future All-Conference written all over him, and maybe All-American. The defense may finally be worthy of being called “The Blackshirts” again. Giving up just 28 points in two games. Bowling Green was held to just a touchdown. Is this for real, or just smoke and mirrors? How about to

Nebraska opens the season with a convincing win over Ohio, 49-21.  On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka and Travis Justice dive deep into the game, highlighting the positives and areas for improvement for the next game. The Nebraska running game was impressive against the Bobcats. The Huskers racked up 248 yards on the ground, led by true freshman running back Jamal Rule, who carried the ball 15 times for 122 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rule also caught a touchdown pass. Rule is the first true freshman to rush for 100+ yards since Adrian Martinez did it in 2018. He did not start the game, but his performance against Ohio was clearly the best among the running backs who played.  Anthony Colandrea had a very good debut at quarterback for Nebraska. 18-32, for 275 yards and three touchdowns. As Dr. Rob discusses in this episode, Colandrea clearly fits the Nebraska system and makes the offense run more efficiently. Nebraska did have

The talking is over! It's time to start playing the games. On this episode of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and former Husker Dr. Rob Zatechka preview the Huskers' season opener against Ohio. This is the first meeting between Nebraska and the Bobcats. Call it the Frank Solich game. Solich will receive the Legends Award from the Nebraska football Hall of Fame and be part of the coin toss. Solich was also head coach at Ohio from 2005-2020. In total, he won 173 games coaching both schools, 58 at Nebraska and 115 at Ohio. Nebraska will be looking to build early-season momentum and get its timing down with a handful of transfers. Sure, the newcomers have lots of experience, but this will be the first time playing together as a unit.  The Huskers have a good balance of returning experience to mesh with the transfers, with six returning starters on offense and six on defense.  All eyes will be on transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea. There are huge expectations on the UNLV transfer. He's started 31 g

We are less than two weeks away from the kickoff of the 2026 season, and the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, is coming with some fresh analysis.  Travis Justice and former Husker All-American, Dr. Rob Zatechka, dive deep into the defensive side of the ball.  Dr. Rob believes that if the Huskers are going to move beyond six or seven wins in 2026, they'll need to improve significantly on defense. Especially upfront on the defensive line and in their ability to stop the run against Big 10 opponents.  Dr. Rob believes that with a new Defensive Coordinator, new defensive position coaches, and a good mix of returning players and transfers, the pieces are in place. But he’s been burned before, and that’s why he’s taking a wait-and-see approach before he comes to any conclusion on how talented the defense really is.  One of the last remaining records for Husker Football going back to the “Glory Days” is the sellout streak. It currently is at 410 consecutive games, dating back to

Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule told the Big 10 Network that the 2026 Huskers are his best team, by far! If that’s the case, the offense is going to have to make some major improvements if that statement reflects in the win column. On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka dive deep into Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen and specifically the running back room. Holgorsen is in the last year of his two-year contract with Nebraska. In his first full season as the Big Red’s play caller, the Huskers offense made significant improvement in every offensive statistic with the exception of passing yards per game, where they actually went backward. We aren’t saying Holgorsen is on the hot seat, but if this is the best team by far since Rhule arrived in Lincoln, the offense will be expected to make another big jump. A lot is still unknown about whether that will happen.  An offensive line that has not played together. A new quarterb

If there's one thing Dr. Rob Zatechka knows a lot about, well, it's actually two things.  Medicine and offensive line play. For the sake of this podcast, we will focus on the O-Line.  Welcome to another edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation.  Dr. Rob points out there is a lot to be optimistic about for a unit that has struggled over the last couple of coaching staffs.  This year's team has three incoming transfers and is expected to start or see significant playing time up front. But Dr. Rob says to hold your horses and expect the pipeline's return. He admits there is talent, but talent may not be as valuable as time!  Listen to the episode for the full breakdown.   Subscribe to the channel, leave a comment, and send us an email if you have a question: doctalksports@gmail.com. If you like this podcast, please support  our sponsors who make this all possible: Strategic Solutions The food safety and contract sanitation experts built by industry veterans. They deliver

Welcome back to the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, now presented by Strategic Solutions.  A sure sign that the season is right around the corner, Big 10 Media Days take place this week. Six teams on the stage on Tuesday, six teams on Wednesday, and six more, including Nebraska, on Thursday.  Travis Justice and Former Nebraska All-American Dr. Rob Zatechka don't expect to learn a lot from the made-for-TV/Internet event. But they are interested in hearing what Big Ten Commissioner Tony Pettiti has to say about the "Save College Sports Act," which is not expected to pass before the November elections. Pettiti isn't expected to be as straightforward as his SEC counterpart Greg Sankey, but it's no secret the Big 10 is opposed to the "Save College Sports Act" in its current form. Matt Rhule will take the stage on Thursday; the ESPN Power Index has Nebraska finishing 7-5 on the season. If the Huskers do finish with this record, does it put Matt Rhule on the hot seat?  As we get closer to the season starting, Travis and Ro

After years of talking about it, the renovation of Memorial Stadium is finally going to take place!  On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka talk about the $600 million project.  The project will bring major changes to the 103-year-old stadium. The south stadium will be completely demolished and rebuilt. This will create a 360-degree concourse and more fan amenities. Capacity will drop to 80,000 but will include 20,000 additional chairback seats and a 7,000-seat student section. Change does not come without complaints. People are unhappy with the project's price tag. They are also upset about the decision to eliminate legacy season tickets. As Travis and Dr. Rob Discuss, this is all part of doing business in today’s world of college football.  Stealing a line from “The Godfather,” it’s not personal, it’s business. The podcast covers a lot of ground, including the proposed 5-for-5 eligibility rule. The Big Ten’s record payout to schools from the first full year of th

On this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka are tapping into their artistic side. Our guest is Ashley Spitsnogle. You may not know her name, but if you are a Husker fan, you have definitely seen her art. Some of you may even own one of her prints, or if you have a lot of money, an original painting. Ashley is an officially licensed Husker Artist who has captured the hearts, minds, and emotions of Husker Nation.  Spitsnogle grew up on a farm in Odell, Nebraska. She attended Doane College and studied art. A lifelong Husker fan, she developed a passion for painting the Big Red after doing a live painting at a Teammates event. After that, opportunities kept presenting themselves, and her business continued to grow.  You can find prints of her work at Husker Hounds or on her website. Decorate your man cave with spectacular pieces of Memorial Stadium, or some of the best players and coaches in Husker History.  Getting to this point in her career has been a journey that she sh

In this episode of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justsice and Dr. Rob Zatechka are joined by former Husker sharpshooter Cary Cochran to celebrate a historic milestone: Nebraska’s deep run into the Sweet 16. Recorded on the eve of their high-stakes matchup against Iowa in Houston, the conversation captures a fan base and a program operating on "house money," balanced by the anxiety of a storied regional rivalry. The conversation centers on the transformative culture under Fred Hoiberg, a coach whose reputation has soared to the point where Cochran jokes they might soon build him a statue in Lincoln. The trio discusses how this particular roster has defied the "curse" of Nebraska basketball by embracing a brand of unselfishness that overcomes their lack of traditional first-round NBA talent. Cochran highlights the team's recent hot streak, noting that when the Huskers shoot as well as they have lately, specifically, their performance against teams like Vanderbilt, they become a threat to anyone in the cou

The Husker Doc Talk Podcast with Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka welcomes a guest Husker fans are going to enjoy: former Nebraska fullback Barrett Liebentritt. Before the interview even starts, the guys go on a classic Doc Talk tangent—this time sparked by Rob sending Travis a “strange times, strange places” text… from the campus of Grand View University in Des Moines. That turns into a fun (and surprisingly informative) conversation about NAIA athletics, wrestling weekends, and why Rob is basically fluent in Olympic and Big Ten wrestling while Travis is… not. Then it’s time for the main event: Barrett’s journey from being a Husker fan who wanted Nebraska first, to landing at Notre Dame during the weirdest recruiting era imaginable—COVID. Barrett explains what it was like to choose a high-level football path without camps, visits, or the normal recruiting process… and how his first real look at Notre Dame’s facilities happened when he literally showed up for school. From there, Barrett gets candid about t

Nebraska fans finally get the official 2026 football schedule, and on Episode 3 of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast, Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka waste no time breaking down what it really means: this thing is a gauntlet. They debate how much the order of games matters (Rob’s “one game at a time” mindset vs. the reality of how fans live and die with back-to-back matchups), then land on a blunt early takeaway: five wins might be the expectation, and seven should be celebrated considering the slate. The guys walk through the opening stretch (including why North Dakota could be sneakier than people think), the early Big Ten swing at Michigan State, and the brutal middle chunk featuring heavyweights like Indiana, Oregon, and Washington. From there, the conversation turns into a larger debate about modern roster building, how portal “rankings” can be fool’s gold, why production matters more than stars, and why recruiting services seem to magically boost ratings the second a player commits to a blueblood. It’s fu

Travis Justice and Dr. Rob Zatechka welcome back one of the most iconic names in Nebraska football history—Dave Rimington—for his first appearance on the show since 2018. And it doesn’t take long to remember why a conversation with Rimington always turns into a mix of laughs, perspective, and some real talk about the state of college athletics. The guys kick things off on a bitter-cold January night—while the national championship game is literally starting in the background—then go straight into the origin story of Husker Doc Talk and Rimington’s role in helping get the podcast off the ground in the first place. From there, it’s classic Rimington: quick wit, candid honesty, and a few “only Dave” stories (including a deep dive into AI prompts, Facebook ads, and whether that Tai Chi chair guy is even real). But the heart of the episode is a thoughtful, wide-ranging discussion on what college football has become in the NIL + transfer portal era. Rimington and Zatechka unpack what “commitment” even means anymore

Welcome to Husker Doc Talk Podcast — 2026, Episode 1, and the first show of the new year kicks off the only way this crew knows how: a little chaos, a lot of laughs, and a deep dive into Husker football—plus some side quests that only happen when you put Travis Justice, Dr. Rob Zatechka, and a former Blackshirt in the same room. This episode is “about 20 years in the making,” as Travis and Rob finally welcome former Nebraska standout Zach Potter to the show.  Potter’s visit turns into a fascinating walk through his career arc—from highly recruited Creighton Prep athlete, to Nebraska defender, to a four-year NFL run with the Jacksonville Jaguars after a whirlwind, last-second position switch that had him signing a contract, hopping a flight, and suddenly playing tight end in the Florida humidity. Zach shares what it’s really like living practice-squad life, grinding all day at the facility, trying to survive roster math, and navigating the less-glamorous realities fans rarely hear about—like taxes in multiple