Anthony Colandrea’s second game in a Nebraska uniform came with a weekly award to match.
On Monday, the Huskers quarterback was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after carving up Bowling Green for 20 completions on 24 attempts, 222 passing yards and a career-high four touchdown passes in Nebraska’s 49-point win.
That performance helped fuel a blistering start for the Cornhuskers offense in 2026. Through two games, Nebraska is putting up 534.5 yards and 52.5 points per contest, with 1,069 total yards on 143 offensive plays. That works out to 7.47 yards per snap and leaves the Big Red with the nation’s 14th-ranked offense through Week 2.
Yes, Nebraska has done it against opponents that don’t stack up with some of the heavyweights other power conference teams have already faced. But the Huskers have still looked every bit the part of a team handling business the way it should.
Colandrea has been the centerpiece. In two games, the UNLV transfer has piled up 553 all-purpose yards and eight scores. He’s already picked up his first Big Ten weekly honor after earning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week four times during the 2025 season.
The advanced numbers backed up the eye test, too. Pro Football Focus gave Colandrea a 92.0 overall grade in Week 2, the best mark a Nebraska quarterback has posted under Matt Rhule. Dylan Raiola’s high-water mark was 86.6 in a 44-24 win over Wisconsin in November 2024.
PFF also charged Colandrea with zero turnover-worthy plays for the second straight week, even with an interception on a ball that was ripped away from the receiver as he was going to the ground. He didn’t let that turnover linger. Nebraska answered with five straight touchdown drives after it.
That’s the kind of complete outing Husker fans wanted to see, and Colandrea delivered it while pushing his season completion rate to nearly 68%, right in line with what offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said he wanted.
Now the challenge gets a little sharper. Nebraska plays under the lights at Memorial Stadium on Saturday evening against North Dakota, the sixth-ranked team in the FCS and a 3-0 squad led by quarterback Jerry Kaminski, who has 801 passing yards and 11 touchdowns.
North Dakota’s defense has been stingy, allowing just 260.3 total yards and 23.3 points per game. So Colandrea’s award doesn’t buy Nebraska anything this week. If the Huskers are going to win the way they’re expected to, they’ll need another polished night from QB1.
In Other News...
Nebraska Faces Its First Real Test Up Front Against North Dakota
Saturday night gives Nebraska a different kind of measuring stick, one that goes beyond the record column. The Cornhuskers and North Dakota both arrive at 3-0, but the point spread and the setting still put the spotlight squarely on how Nebraska handles a visiting team that has earned its way into the conversation. The game on the Big Ten Network should also offer a clearer look at where the Huskers really stand as the schedule starts asking harder questions up front.
North Dakota brings a quarterback in Jerry Kaminski who has given the opposition a reason to pay attention, and that is where Nebraskas defense starts to matter most. Just as important, the Cornhuskers offensive line will be under the microscope in a game that should say a lot about whether Nebraska can control the line of scrimmage the way it wants to. A lopsided line on paper does not erase the need for a clean performance in a matchup that feels like the first real test of physicality. [Read more 🡒]
Emmett Johnson Just Gave Nebraska Fans A Reason To Track Chiefs Snaps
Emmett Johnsons first NFL action gave Nebraska fans a little something extra to follow on Sundays. In his debut with the Kansas City Chiefs, the former Cornhusker worked as the backup running back and handled 10 touches, a mix that included 8 carries for 24 yards and 2 catches for 44 yards. The rushing numbers were modest, but the receiving work stood out and offered a glimpse of the kind of versatile role that can keep a young back in the conversation.
Kansas City leaned heavily on Kenneth Walker in the opener, but the short turnaround before the next game could open the door for Johnson to see more work. For Nebraska supporters, that makes this a worthwhile subplot to monitor, especially if the Chiefs decide they need more help in the backfield and keep leaning on Johnsons ability to contribute in different ways. [Read more 🡒]
Holgorsen Sends Clear Message To Nebraska Wideouts Despite Fast Start
Nebraskas offense has opened the 2026 season with a cleaner look through the air, and Dana Holgorsen is seeing enough progress to point to the passing game as a real early strength. The Cornhuskers offensive coordinator said the team has been more accurate and more efficient in the first two weeks, while also noting that the group still has work to do up front with protection and the kind of blocking penalties that can stall drives before they get rolling.
Holgorsen also used the conversation to zoom in on the next layer of growth, especially in the receiver room as Nebraska prepares for North Dakota. Running backs have already added value in the passing game, and Nyziah Hunter was singled out as a player Holgorsen wants to see do more with his opportunities. The fast start is encouraging, but the message from the coordinator was clear: the offense can still be sharper, and the wideouts are part of that next push. [Read more 🡒]