Nebraska made a bit of program history on Friday morning, and it came with a practical payoff, too. Anthony Colandrea became the first player to ever receive a contract extension from the Huskers, locking in the quarterback for his fifth and final season in Lincoln in 2027.
Pete Thamel reported that Nebraska officially signed its QB1 to the extension, giving Matt Rhule and his staff clarity at the most important spot on the field as the offseason approaches. In a landscape where keeping your own players can matter just as much as landing new ones, the move allows Nebraska to shift its attention to other needs.
Rhule had already tipped the hand earlier this month when he said multiple SEC teams were trying to tamper with Colandrea and pry him away when the Transfer Portal opens this winter. He also said retention conversations had already begun, and things evidently picked up fast.
Colandrea had been signaling the same thing in public. He repeatedly made it clear he wanted to remain with Nebraska, and there was also the detail that he had already set up a football camp for the summer of 2027, which hardly looked like the plan of someone preparing to leave.
Thamel noted that Colandrea was “miffed” by the idea that he might be headed elsewhere after the season, and that irritation may have been sharpened by what he went through last year. He had originally said he intended to return to UNLV before entering the Transfer Portal, a turn some Rebels fans treated as a slight even though it was simply part of the sport’s reality.
Now there’s no ambiguity. Nebraska knows its quarterback is back, and the rest of the roster can build around that fact.
If the Huskers dip into the portal for help at running back or receiver, those additions will know exactly who is delivering the ball. Offensive linemen will know who they’re protecting, and defensive players will have a better read on what Nebraska wants to do on offense.
The extension also gives Nebraska an added benefit with Trae Taylor. The highly regarded 5-star quarterback will now have a 5-year veteran in front of him to learn from, and because the Huskers didn’t bring in a younger option to muddy the picture, the path to Taylor potentially taking over in the future looks cleaner. Colandrea, meanwhile, remains the starter and sits third in the Big Ten in total offense at 271.9 yards per game.
In Other News...
Ryan Walters Just Handed Nebraska Fans More Fuel For Memorial Stadium
Ryan Walters may have done Nebraska a favor without meaning to. The Washington defensive coordinator and former Purdue coach revisited Memorial Stadium in comments that acknowledged the places passionate fan base and the way it can go quiet when the Huskers make plays, a reminder of just how much the environment matters when Nebraska is at home.
Given Walters history with the program and his previous critical remarks, it is no surprise his latest take has landed in Lincoln. Nebraskas athletic department now has fresh material to work with, and fans can probably expect those comments to be hanging around the stadium atmosphere when the next game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Gets A Timely Boost As Washington Injury Questions Grow
Matt Rhule said Riley Van Poppel will be back for Nebraskas game against Washington after missing the last two contests with an injury, a welcome development for a defense that can use all the help it can get heading into a tricky matchup. The latest injury report still leaves some moving parts, though, with Gunnar Gottula ruled out and Vincent Shavers listed as questionable.
The timing matters for more than just Saturdays lineup. Nebraska is also set to host more than 50 recruits this weekend, including five-star offensive tackle Antijuan Wilkes Jr., giving the program a big-stage chance to sell its momentum in person while the Huskers try to keep stacking positive news on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Got A Huge QB Boost For Its Playoff Push
Nebraskas postseason push just got a significant lift with the news that senior quarterback Anthony Colandrea will be back for the 2027 season, his agent confirmed. Colandrea, who arrived after transferring from UNLV, has quickly become a central piece of the Huskers offense, and the added year of eligibility created by the NCAAs 5-for-5 ruling gives Nebraska a chance to keep some continuity at the most important spot on the field.
For a program trying to build momentum in the Big Ten, keeping a proven quarterback in place matters almost as much as any portal addition. Coach Matt Rhule has already been navigating the realities of transfer portal tampering and the week-to-week grind of conference play, so retaining Colandrea gives Nebraska a little more certainty as it tries to keep its playoff hopes moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]