Nebraska is enjoying a stable season under HC Matt Rhule, sitting comfortably with a 6-3 record. They are unbeaten outside the conference, while looking threatening for most of the season. All this on-field success has translated to their recruitment efforts. They have acquired a plethora of talented recruits, including 4-star CB Danny Odem. But things are looking to fall apart at the wrong time, just like their conference fortunes, after they suffered their third conference loss at the hands of USC (17-21) last week. A fellow Big Ten program looks to pry Odem away from them.

It’s none other than Michigan, as they look to bolster their 10th-ranked recruitment class and push for the top 5. Now the Michigan Wolverines are having an amazing 2026 recruiting cycle. They have swelled their ranks in recent weeks after flipping the likes of Savon Hiter and Carter Meadows. And now they have their eyes on Nebraska commit Danny Odem. All this sums up Greg Smith’s take on the Wolverines’ recruitment strategy when he joined Josh Newberg on the Inside Scoop podcast on Nov 6.

“Danny Odem is a Nebraska commit out of Florida,” Greg said. “Who, it seems, has been circled by a lot of schools. There have been many schools that have been trying to poke around there and move him off that commitment to Nebraska. Nebraska is well aware of that, and they’re trying to keep him in the fold. But I think that Michigan is a team that has done a really nice job behind the scenes with him. They’re trying to get him on campus like a lot of these kids for that big game against Ohio State.” He continued.

Danny Odem is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound CB who can also play as a receiver, showcasing his versatility. A standout star of the First Academy in Orlando. Odem recorded an impressive 45 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and two fumbles in his junior year. He is ranked as the 22nd CB and 247th overall in the 2026 class by 247 Sports. He has impressed analysts and coaches with his versatility, instincts, and physicality.

Nebraska and Matt Rhule are putting in a lot of effort into retaining the commitment from Odem. But the truth is, Michigan has done a really great job in flipping star recruits this time around. Also, Michigan ranks higher on the Big 10 table. All this, coupled with their own dominant (7-2) run, pitches them as the better destination. Plus, the game against Ohio State would serve as the perfect opportunity to show the recruits how big a program they are. Although nothing is sure for now as Odem remains a Nebraska commit for the time being.

Meanwhile, Nebraska’s injury woes seem to be growing with every passing game. They seem to have lost Dylan Raiola for the rest of the season. It happened as he suffered a fibula injury against the USC Trojans in their latest outing.

Nebraska’s injury woes continue

Nebraska is dealing with injuries to several key players that have derailed their winning momentum. The most significant blow came when star quarterback Dylan Raiola suffered a season-ending broken fibula during the third quarter of their 21-17 loss to USC last week. This ends a promising campaign in which he passed for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns through nine games.

Moreover, the offensive line has been particularly depleted, with both starting offensive tackles Gunnar Gottula and Elijah Pritchett ruled out for the remainder of the season due to significant injuries. Right guard Rocco Spindler suffered a fractured hand/finger against Minnesota in mid-October that required hospitalization, further weakening Nebraska’s already depleted protection unit. The Offensive line’s struggles have forced Nebraska to constantly adapt its blocking tactics throughout the season.

All these injuries, combined with the latest one of Dylan Raiola, have the Cornhuskers in a steady decline. After Raiola went out, freshman QB TJ Lateef took the field. But even after impressing with his strong rushing game, he was no match for a resurgent USC defense that took advantage of the depleted offensive protection.

Amidst all this chaos and an uncertain future, HC Matt Rhule looked optimistic in his latest address to the press on Monday. He said, “We’re sitting at a crossroads right now as a team. It’s an unbelievable opportunity for us. These next three games are some of the most important times for our team and for our program moving forward.”