LINCOLN -- Nebraska's defense forced two turnovers, held an opponent to fewer than 100 yards passing and, ultimately, delivered a victory when the Husker offense couldn't finish the game on the field.

So coach Matt Rhule didn't find the Blackshirts' season-opening performance, in a 20-17 win, without significant positives.

"I thought we covered really well," Rhule said of a pass defense limited UC quarterback Brendan Sorsby to 13 of 25 completions. "In modern college football, to play a Power Four team and hold them to 69 yards passing, I don't know how often that happens ... we're way stickier."

A work in progress, too. Especially that pass rush, which failed to sack Sorsby and also allowed him to escape for scramble plays that made up a good chunk of his 96 rushing yards. None of Nebraska's quarterbacks, Rhule said, can run like Sorsby does.

Enjoying your free access? Help support the local journalism you love. Subscribe

"We'll have to work on that," Rhule said of prepping the defense for more mobile, running quarterbacks. "We talk a lot about it, but I don't know if we did a good enough of coaches at doing it ... we have to play better, we have to get off blocks better, we have to level out our rush better."

And play, as Rhule said, "faster" to the ball. When Rhule arrived at Nebraska, his defense played lightning quick in most of its game, finishing the 2023 No. 13 nationally in points per game allowed and No. 7 in yards per play allowed.

"We weren't running good angles, which is disappointing because that's all we talk about," Rhule said. "And that comes down trust, to trusting yourself, trusting your teammates. Sometimes you have to go out and play a game or two and see it, like 'Oh, jeez, I have to fix this.' We had guys breaking down (to tackle) a little too early."

Photos: Nebraska football vs. Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City