Week 1 gave Nebraska fans a little unease, but not enough to overshadow a 49-21 win over Ohio. The Huskers looked rough around the edges early, as teams often do in the first game without the NFL’s exhibition games, then settled in during the second quarter and finally put the scoreboard away in the fourth.
When Corn Nation readers were asked which part of that performance bothered them most, penalties came out on top. Nearly half of the vote - 49% - landed on the Huskers’ penalty yardage, and that concern was easy to understand after Nebraska was flagged seven times in the first half. The number got a little better in Week 2, though not by much: seven penalties for 65 yards.
The holding calls in particular drew attention, especially because several looked soft. One of them wiped out a 45-yard rushing touchdown by Anthony Colandrea in what was the second straight week Nebraska had a big play touchdown erased. The punt-return holding calls also stood out.
Dropped passes finished second in the voting at 29%, but that issue looked much cleaner against Ohio. Kwazi Gilmer, who was among the culprits in the Ohio game, responded with six catches on six targets, including a highlight-reel grab and drag for a touchdown.
Containment was another area fans noticed. Only 8% chose the 68-yard completion on the Bobcats’ first play, and that did not repeat itself on Saturday, just as Rob Aurich said it wouldn’t at Tuesday’s presser. BG’s quarterback was held to 4 yards on 5 carries, with sack yardage included.
The poll roundup also included some national results. Michigan fans were not shy about their own outlook, with only 18% saying they thought the Wolverines would beat the spread as underdogs against Oklahoma. That number looks a lot different after Michigan’s win over Western Michigan, and the new confidence level would clearly be much higher if the same poll were run again.
There was also plenty of respect for Lane Kiffen’s side after the 51-10 win over Dabo Swinney’s Clemson team. The result was so lopsided that the only real downside, according to the reaction, is that Clemson probably just isn’t very good.
As for Michigan, the broader takeaway from the Western loss was that no team shows more growth from Week 1 to Week 2. The offense is still described as garbage ever since Connor Stalions was removed from the payroll, but the defense should still be enough to get them to a bowl.
In Other News...
Colandrea Gave Nebraska Hope But One Sloppy Issue Still Lingers
Anthony Colandrea gave Nebraska plenty to feel good about early, looking poised in the pocket and sharp with the ball as the offense rolled through the first half. He finished 17 of 20 for 184 yards and four touchdowns, and the Cornhuskers also found balance on the ground by leaning on the three-back Husker Hydra rotation to help cover for Emmett Johnson, with the group piling up 191 rushing yards and two scores.
Still, there was one messy sequence that fit a broader concern Nebraska cant quite shake. Colandreas first interception of the season was logged as a pick, but it came after Jacory Barney lost the ball when JoJo Johnson stripped it away, and special teams added its own frustration with penalties on punt returns. For a team trying to keep cleaner edges around an offense that looked in control for long stretches, those little lapses remain the nagging part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhule Has Another Coach Wanting Nebraskas Program Blueprint
After Nebraskas decisive win over Bowling Green, the conversation around Matt Rhule extended well beyond the scoreboard. Bowling Green coach Eddie George came away impressed with the way Nebraska is being built, praising Rhules coaching style and the broader approach he has used to shape the program. It was the kind of postgame respect that tends to follow a team that looks organized, physical and clearly headed in a direction.
George said he wants to learn from Rhule and seek advice on how to improve his own program, a notable compliment from a coach still working through his own build at Bowling Green. He also spoke about his coaching journey and the progress his team has made, which only added to the sense that Nebraskas model is starting to draw attention from across the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Made An Early Impression On A Defensive Line Target
RJ Cruz IIIs first trip to the University of Nebraska gave the Huskers a chance to make a fresh impression on one of the better early defensive line targets in the 2028 class. The three-star lineman from McDonogh School in Maryland has already built a relationship with Nebraska assistant Corey Brown, and that connection has helped put the Huskers in the mix as he starts sorting through his college options.
For Nebraska, the appeal goes beyond just getting Cruz on campus once. He is still working through where he fits best on the defensive line, and the Huskers will have to keep that momentum going as he continues to compare them with other programs. For now, Nebraska has at least given him something to think about, and the next step will be whether that early interest turns into something more durable. [Read more 🡒]