Nebraska Cornhuskers mascot Herbie Husker during the game against the Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 3, 2015, in Champaign, Illinois. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images) ...

The Cornhuskers and Omaha played in front of an announced crowd of 92,003 at Memorial Stadium, the usual home of Nebraska's football team.

Nebraska features a core of emerging young leaders, led by Raiola. But Rhule believes in the older players on the roster, he said, to direct the Huskers through their toughest challenges.