Nebraska’s 48-23 win over Maryland did more than keep the Huskers unbeaten. It gave this team another reminder that when the game gets messy, somebody different can step forward and change everything.
That was the story on Saturday, after Nebraska stumbled into a 23-14 hole in the second quarter and needed a spark. Dwayne McDougle delivered it in the biggest possible way, taking an interception 81 yards for a pick-six that flipped the afternoon on its head. Memorial Stadium came alive, Nebraska grabbed control, and Maryland never scored again.
That one play said plenty about this group. The Huskers have multiple guys who can swing a game in an instant.
McDougle did it against Maryland. Kade Pietrzak added an interception.
Jeremiah Charles blocked a punt. Anthony Colandrea kept finding ways to move the ball with his legs when Nebraska needed answers.
It’s not a flawless team. Nebraska still has issues in the downhill run game, and the penalties piled up again.
Special teams remains a roller coaster, and there were game-management decisions that left the Common Fans shaking their heads. Those are real concerns, and they’ll matter a lot more when Indiana and Oregon arrive.
Still, there’s something different about this Nebraska team. When Maryland grabbed the early lead, there wasn’t the familiar feeling of everything slipping away.
Colandrea’s presence is a big reason why. He missed a few throws he usually makes, but he also finished with 108 rushing yards, hurdled a defender along the sideline and kept creating with his legs.
That’s what a true dual-threat quarterback gives you: a way to stay alive even when the clean answers aren’t there.
More than anything, Colandrea seems to bring a fight and confidence that’s spreading through the roster.
The timing of all this makes it even better for Nebraska. The Huskers are 5-0 for the first time in a decade, and the next two weeks bring a real chance to make noise.
The defending national champions are headed to Lincoln. Big Noon Kickoff is coming too.
Memorial Stadium should be rocking, and Nebraska suddenly has a shot to end a nearly decade-long drought against ranked opponents and put itself on the national radar.
There are plenty of reasons to worry about Indiana. Twenty-seven, if you want to count them that way. But for one week, maybe it’s worth setting those aside.
Nebraska fans have lived through enough disappointment to know better than to get carried away too early. But the Huskers have earned something they haven’t had in a long time: a meaningful October game with everything still on the table.
So dig into the practice reports, argue with Indiana fans online, and get to Memorial Stadium early. Nebraska finally has a stage worth showing up for.
In Other News...
Nebraska Gets Rare Good News Before A Big Test Against Indiana
Three days before kickoff, Nebraska is getting a cleaner injury picture than it has seen in a while heading into a Big Ten test against Indiana. Only tight end Carter Nelson and linebacker Gage Stenger are listed as doubtful, while five players have remained out since the start of league play. On the other side, Indiana is dealing with its own mix of availability, though cornerback A.J. Harris and defensive end David Ndukwe are back in the fold.
That matters for a Nebraska team that has spent much of the season managing personnel issues and trying to keep its depth intact. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said running backs Jamal Rule and Mekhi Nelson have been practicing and could be available if needed, which at least gives the Cornhuskers some flexibility as they prepare for a game that could hinge on who is able to suit up and who can handle an expanded role. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Defining Test Against Indiana In Brutal Conditions
Nebraska gets a measuring-stick opportunity in Lincoln on Saturday morning, with Indiana coming in as the defending national champion and FOX carrying the game to a national audience. The matchup arrives with wind expected to be a major factor, which should put an even bigger spotlight on Nebraskas improved offensive line and how well the Huskers can handle a disciplined Indiana team that has earned plenty of respect for the way it plays.
For Nebraska, the challenge is as much about structure as star power, because this is the kind of game that can expose flaws quickly in rough conditions. Indiana arrives favored at the betting window, but the early kickoff and the weather figure to make this feel less like a standard Big Ten showcase and more like a test of poise, execution and coaching at every level. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Defining Week With One Big Roster Concern
Nebraska heads into this week with some clarity on the injury front, even if not complete comfort. Jamal Rule and Andrew Marshall are available as the Cornhuskers prepare to face Indiana, which helps stabilize a roster that has been trying to get itself organized at just the right time. It is the kind of update coaches and fans can at least build around, especially with conference play continuing to demand depth and flexibility.
Carter Nelson remains doubtful, though, and that is the detail Nebraska will keep monitoring as the matchup approaches. For a team trying to stack together enough healthy pieces to handle a meaningful stretch, availability can be as important as game plan. There is also broader Nebraska interest elsewhere this week, with former Husker Cam Jurgens landing in a trade from the Eagles to the Ravens, a reminder that the states football storylines rarely stay in one place for long. [Read more 🡒]