Nebraska’s football team’s week was already defined by hard choices before kickoff. Senior defensive back Malcolm Hartzog will undergo season-ending surgery and redshirt after appearing in two games, a move Matt Rhule framed as prioritizing long-term health with an eye to 2026 eligibility, per On3.
The Husker secondary loses a proven producer from 2024, and while a bowl appearance could open a door late, his regular season is done. Against that backdrop, Nebraska still handled its business versus Northwestern, only for the postgame conversation to shift to officiating.
Asked about a pivotal fourth-down sequence in which it appeared the Wildcats might have been short, Rhule said communication from the crew was lacking…