Vincent Genatone had been lurking as a hidden piece for Nebraska since last August, and on Saturday he finally turned that into a real moment. The fullback scored his first career touchdown on a short dump-off pass, broke it 12 yards into the end zone, and helped push the Cornhuskers to a 24-10 halftime lead.
That’s where the fun stopped for Dana Holgorsen.
Nebraska’s offensive coordinator was plainly irritated Tuesday when he met with reporters for his weekly press conference, pointing to the way the Huskers handled the aftermath of Genatone’s score and the way the offense bogged down from there. The third quarter, not the touchdown, was what stayed with him.
“Guess we spent too much time and energy celebrating Genatone making a spectacular play in a big-time moment,” Holgorsen said. He later said the rough stretch after halftime left a stronger impression than the positive plays in Nebraska’s 31-13 win.
Still, Holgorsen didn’t paint the whole day as a disaster. He said there was enough good mixed in for the offense to take something from it and keep moving.
“But at the end of the day, it didn’t all suck,” Holgorsen added. “There was some good in there too, right?”
Part of Nebraska’s offensive unevenness, Holgorsen said, came from Michigan State’s defense. He described the Spartans as a team whose strength is on that side of the ball, and pointed to how they handled the week before against No. 3 Notre Dame, staying close in a 17-10 game at halftime.
Against Nebraska, the Spartans weren’t able to get to Anthony Colandrea with sacks, but they still made him uncomfortable early and often. A batted-down pass was part of it, and Colandrea never looked as settled in the pocket as he had during Nebraska’s first three games. Michigan State’s defensive front also shut down the run game, especially after true freshman Jamal Rule went down after just four carries.
The test gets no easier this week. Maryland comes in with what Holgorsen called an “improved” defense from a year ago, built with bigger bodies and quick pass rushers, even after the Terps gave up 54 points to UCLA last weekend.
And despite the frustration Holgorsen voiced about Nebraska’s execution, Genatone appears to have carved out a role that’s not going away. Holgorsen said the fullback has been working in short-yardage situations behind Rule since the start of fall camp, and that job is expected to continue.
In Other News...
Jamal Rules Nebraska Breakout Comes With One Huge Worry
Jamal Rule has gone from under-the-radar recruit to one of Nebraskas early season revelations, and the freshman running back is already drawing national attention for the kind of start that can tilt a depth chart fast. Through the first month of the 2026 season, Rule has piled up 333 rushing yards in four appearances and two starts, while scoring six touchdowns in three games, production that has him sitting No. 4 on The Athletics list of the most impactful freshmen.
For Nebraska, the excitement comes with a catch, because Rules recent injury against Michigan State has left his availability uncertain at the exact moment his role was starting to expand. Coaches and analysts have been impressed by how quickly he adapted after arriving as a lower-ranked recruit, but the bigger question now is whether the Cornhuskers can keep building around a back who has already changed the look of their offense, if only they can get him back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Former Huskers Are Giving Nebraska Fans Something To Track On Sundays
Week three of the NFL season gave Nebraska fans a familiar kind of Sunday viewing, with several former Huskers surfacing in game action and others staying part of the conversation from the sidelines. For a program that has long sold itself on developing pro-ready players, those weekly checks are becoming an easy habit for fans who want a little extra reason to keep one eye on the NFL schedule.
Ty Robinson showed up in Philadelphia with tackles for the Eagles, while Emmett Johnson was part of Kansas Citys win, giving Nebraska supporters a couple of names to follow beyond just box-score watching. The broader list of former Huskers on practice squads also keeps the pipeline visible, even if the biggest questions now are which of them can keep turning those Sunday opportunities into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Tree Babalade Is Forcing A Nebraska Lineup Decision Up Front
Tree Babalades steady rise has become one of the more interesting developments along Nebraskas offensive front. After a strong showing against Michigan State, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said the lineman is improving and earning more playing time, which is the kind of progress that can start to change how the Huskers think about their protection up front.
Holgorsen also pointed to Elijah Pritchett turning in his best game, and the next step may be figuring out how to fit Babalade, Pritchett and Gunnar into the rotation together. There is still some sorting to do, and the same goes for quarterback Anthony Colandrea, whose quick decision-making and mobility could give Nebraska another layer if the staff finds the right way to use him. [Read more 🡒]