NEBRASKA CITY — Husker Radio Network analyst Damon Benning introduced his son, Nebraska defensive back Caleb Benning, at Thursday’s Big Red Buzz luncheon at Valentino’s in Nebraska City, where both shared their perspective on what it will take for Nebraska football to return to playoff contention.

Caleb Benning, who recorded 13 tackles in the Las Vegas Bowl, said progress begins with continued buy-in from players. When it comes to outside opinions—especially those circulating on social media—he said he filters them carefully.

Caleb: “I compare it to what I’m hearing from someone I love and trust, and that’s Coach Rhule.”

Damon Benning, a member of Nebraska’s back-to-back national championship teams, said he was encouraged by his son’s mindset. He pointed to Indiana’s recent emergence as the nation’s top-ranked team as an example of what can happen when a program operates without the burden of past success or fear of future failure.

Benning: “It doesn’t have anything to do with whether a guy is a five-star or a four-star. It’s because they can do hard things when it matters most, at any moment of the game. That’s what we haven’t been able to do here.”

Benning said Nebraska is not in position to play it safe and he expects transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea to help Nebraska in game situations.

He also reflected on Nebraska’s history, noting that some of the program’s greatest players never won national championships, and those who did were not nullified by the weight of outside expectations.

Benning: “At some point, you cannot care about the outcome. You have to just let it ride regardless.”

Benning recalled a speech given by Curt Cignetti nearly 15 years ago—long before Indiana reached the top of the college football rankings—about the importance of focusing on the six-second span of a football play.

He talked about how, during those six seconds, you can’t think about the past or the future. You have to stay in the play.

According to Benning, Nebraska’s struggles have been rooted as much in mindset as in physicality or talent.

Benning: “The ability to function under duress with a clear mind is what’s held Nebraska. You can talk about physicality --  that’s part of it. You can talk about not having good enough players, that may be part of it, but the fact is, you guys realize, this is a program where we still talk about an onside kick ruining a season …

“It’s a perspective. How can an onside kick ruin a season? It’s inexcusable, right? But it did because emotionally we’re in this group-think thing where it’s doom and gloom and woe is me. We let a bad second half in Boulder ruin the season. It can’t happen that way.

“Same as these guys. A guy breaks a long run because you don’t set the edge, you miss three tackles, he runs down the sideline at State College. The game can’t be over. It can’t be over. but it’s the same team that had two PIs on crucial plays in Kansas City and found a way to make a play late.”

Benning said quarterbacks like T.J. Lateef and Colandrea benefit most when the focus stays on competing in the moment, not dwelling on what’s already happened or what’s at stake.

Benning: “I’m always going to ride with guys that are not afraid to fail."