I’ve got a feeling these poll results will keep landing on Sundays.
That makes sense when college football spends the whole weekend doing what it does best: turning every clean prediction into a mess. This week’s Nebraska question was simple enough - which part of the 2026 team do you like best, or think is working best? There were four choices that made the graphic, plus one more that didn’t get a single vote: the defensive line.
That might look a little strange in light of what happened against North Dakota. The Huskers held UND under 100 rushing yards and piled up 5 sacks with 6 more quarterback hits. If the poll were taken again today, the big guys might at least sneak onto the board.
At the top of the results, Anthony Colandrea and the three backs - Rule, Nelson and Mozee - were dead even at 32% apiece. After the UND game, that split probably wouldn’t move much.
Another 23% pointed to the Hog Mollies, with the opening holes in non-conference play drawing plenty of approval. The transfers and new offensive line coach Geep Wade have made their presence felt fast.
The final Nebraska option got 14%: the new lack of confusion-time outs, or the issue of getting plays and players in quickly enough. That one didn’t hold up especially well, since a few of those exact kinds of timeouts showed up on Saturday. Hopefully things settle down in East Lansing.
There were also a few national and team polls mixed in from around college football, and the reasons behind them were pretty easy to spot.
Everyone remains undefeated, and plenty of voters are buying Notre Dame, the soft schedule, and the “baby revenge rage” after the Domers didn’t get what they wanted in the 2025 postseason for the first time ever.
On the SB Nation side, both the national group and LSU fans figured the Tigers would go on the road and win the Kiffin Bowl. They were wrong.
The party is apparently still rolling in dark corners of Oxford, Mississippi, while everybody else is left holding their heads and, in some cases, dry-heaving pieces of whatever they drank and probably ate in the early hours. Broken ribs might be part of the story, too.
Nebraska’s first Big 10 and road opponent next week stayed with Notre Dame into the fourth quarter, but when the dust settled, 55% of Sparty fans had it right as Notre Shame pulled away for a 27-10 win.
And then there was the poll that probably deserves its own redo. Iowa won the week’s “I Bet It Would Turn Out Different If We Voted Again Today” trophy, with 60% of the Dirt of the Earth fan base saying the season outlook hadn’t changed. That vote came in when expectations were still sitting at 9-10 wins and the Squawks were being treated like dark horse CFP contenders.
That outlook may look different now after Iowa had to come from behind for a shaky 16-13 win over Iowa State, a team that lost 55 players to the portal after Matt Caampbell’s late defection to Penn State.
In Other News...
Nebraska Suddenly Faces Another Carter Nelson Concern
Nebraskas win over North Dakota came with a fresh concern when Carter Nelson and Jahsear Whittington both exited early because of injuries. Nelsons exit drew the most attention, with the tight end needing help off the field before later being spotted with a knee brace and crutches, a development that naturally raises questions about his status moving forward.
Matt Rhule has not offered specifics yet, leaving the Huskers to wait for more clarity on both players. For a team trying to build momentum, any injury news is a distraction, and Nelsons situation is the one Nebraska will be watching closest when the coach next meets with the media. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas 3-0 Start Still Leaves One Big Ten Concern
Nebraska kept rolling with a 34-7 win over North Dakota to move to 3-0, and the latest victory again showed why this start has felt so steady. The defense was the headline, piling up five sacks and smothering an offense that never found much room to breathe, while the offense continued to move the ball with 493 total yards. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea looked comfortable and in control, making the kind of decisions that have helped give the Cornhuskers a calmer edge early in the season.
Still, even with three wins in hand, there is a clear area Nebraska has to clean up before Big Ten play begins. The next step is less about proving the team can win and more about how sharp it can be doing it, especially with penalties and turnovers still hanging around as fixable issues. Against bigger conference opponents, those mistakes tend to matter more, which is why this unbeaten start has come with a reminder that the tougher part is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Handled Business But One Big Ten Concern Still Lingers
Nebraska took care of business against North Dakota, rolling to a 34-7 win in a game it controlled from the opening stages. The Huskers piled up 496 total yards, held North Dakota to 205, and were sharp enough on offense to score on five of eight drives before reserves began taking over in the fourth quarter.
Jamal Rule set the tone with 119 rushing yards and a touchdown, giving Nebraska the kind of ground production it can build on as Big Ten play comes into sharper focus. Even with the one-sided result, the late defensive push still left a small opening for concern after North Dakota did not get over 200 yards until the final play, a reminder that the level of resistance will only rise from here. [Read more 🡒]