Dana Holgorsen didn’t waste much time getting to the point on Nebraska’s offense. The Huskers need more points, more consistency and more help around Anthony Colandrea. But when he talked about his quarterback, the offensive coordinator made sure the praise landed just as hard as the criticism.
"I do want to mention that, man, our quarterback is a warrior," Nebraska's offensive coordinator said. "He played his tail off in that game.
Whatever we're asking him to do, no complaints. Just does it.
So us, using him in the run game like we did, just based on necessity, he's all about it."
That willingness to absorb whatever the offense throws at him has made Colandrea a central figure as Nebraska comes out of the bye week trying to find a better finish after a 17-14 loss to Oregon. Holgorsen said he spent last Saturday watching college football and thinking about the extra score Nebraska couldn’t manufacture in that defeat.
Colandrea, for his part, didn’t duck the responsibility.
"I think it's on me. I've got to play better with my guys," he said.
"I've got to stay on schedule with certain throws. At the end of the day, playing quarterback, it comes on you, the good and the bad.
So I've got to play better for my guys."
Holgorsen said that kind of response fits the player Nebraska has every day, not just on game day. The coach pointed to Colandrea’s energy and reliability as a constant, and said the offense still has room to grow with the quarterback’s numbers.
One area that stands out is completion rate, which sits at 62.6 percent. Holgorsen said that number could rise, and he also pointed to chances the offense left on the field against Indiana when plays were available late.
Even so, Colandrea’s legs have been a major reason Nebraska has been able to stay afloat in spots. He has 334 net rushing yards, second only to Jamal Rule’s 391. Remove the sacks, and Colandrea’s 471 positive rushing yards lead the team.
Holgorsen said the quarterback is helping keep things alive while the Huskers keep searching for the right finishing touch after back-to-back disappointing losses.
"I think the quarterback is doing a pretty good job of keeping things alive," Holgorsen said.
The next piece, in Holgorsen’s view, is getting more from the backs and more steady production from the receivers to complement Colandrea. He said explosive plays have shown up, but not with enough regularity.
"Kwazi had a couple pretty good ones in that game the other night. That catch right before halftime was an elite catch," Holgorsen said.
"And Jacory made an elite catch towards the end of the game. So just consistency is the thing that I keep preaching with them.
The potential is there. It's been good football at times.
I'm not going to panic because we scored 14 points on the road against a good defense. We have to do better, and we're going to get there."
For Holgorsen, the bottom line on Colandrea never really changes.
"Keep playing your ass off. That's what he does.
The kid is bouncing around at practice last night. He's the same guy every day, whether it's in practice or whether it's in the game.
That kid's a warrior."
In Other News...
Nebraskas Blackout Is Becoming Something Much Bigger For Husker Fans
Nebraskas Blackout is no longer just a one-night gimmick. Athletic director Troy Dannen said the Huskers will make it an annual event, and this years version against Washington is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff, giving the atmosphere a prime-time stage that should fit the look and feel the school is building around it. Dannen also pointed to new field design elements tied to the event, while tying the presentation to the bigger picture of a program he said has made competitive progress under the current coaching staff.
The Blackout announcement was part of a broader afternoon of news around Nebraska athletics, including word that longtime Husker basketball announcer Kent Pavelka will retire after this season. For football fans, though, the annual Blackout adds another layer to a home schedule that now has a defined signature game, and one that Nebraska clearly wants to turn into a recurring part of the identity around Memorial Stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Face A 2027 Schedule Shakeup They Didn't Expect
Nebraskas football calendar is headed for a reset, and not just in the abstract future-tense way schedule talk usually gets handled in January. Athletic director Troy Dannen said the plan for next year will change to fit the expected 24-team playoff model, which would require 10 games against Power Four opponents. The Big Ten is already working through the scheduling adjustments, and that means the kind of boardroom math that can quickly alter who shows up on a fall Saturday in Lincoln.
For Nebraska fans, the ripple effects could be felt well beyond the opponents list. Some nonconference games may disappear, other Power Four matchups could be added, and Memorial Stadium will also be operating with reduced seating capacity because of renovations. Put together, its a reminder that the Huskers are not only dealing with a changing postseason landscape, but also a home schedule that may look different in ways that matter to fans planning around it. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Walks Into A Tougher Nebraska Test Than Oregon Saw
Nebraskas defense spent the bye week looking back as much as looking ahead, with coordinator Rob Aurich addressing the late-game issues that have cropped up in recent losses, including the 17-14 defeat to Oregon. He said the Huskers used the time to self-evaluate and hold each other accountable, a sign the staff knows the margin for error has been thin when games get into the stretch run.
Now comes Washington, and Aurich pointed to a fresh wrinkle in the matchup: the Huskies have shown two different quarterbacks, which means Nebraska has to prepare for more than one look. The bye appears to have helped sharpen some things on the defensive side, but the next test will be whether that work translates against an offense that can change shape on the fly. [Read more 🡒]