For nearly the entire night, Nebraska and Washington looked like they were trying to win a game by accident.
The offenses dragged through 55 minutes and 31 seconds of dry, mild weather as if the field were covered in snow, rain and ice anyway. Washington couldn’t get much going against Nebraska’s defense, and Nebraska kept finding new ways to sabotage itself. Then, just when it looked like the Huskers might finally escape with something, the same old fourth-quarter collapse showed up again.
The score sat at 7-3 after 55:31, and Nebraska had already wasted too many chances. Anthony Colandrea, fresh off the announcement that his deal to return for 2027 was done, threw three interceptions.
One more would have been on the board too, except Washington was flagged for offsides. On the other side of the ball, Kyle Cunanan continued a rough stretch that had already worn thin with fans.
He missed a 40-yarder against Indiana in a 20-17 loss and missed another against Oregon in a 17-14 loss.
This time, the miss came from 36 yards after Nebraska put together a 14-play, 68-yard drive that should have given the Huskers a 10-3 lead. Instead, Washington answered with an 81-yard touchdown drive. If Cunanan had made the kick, the game still would have been tied at 10.
That was the opening Washington needed. Nebraska had held the Huskies to just 186 yards before that drive, but Jedd Fisch made a change and went to Demond Williams after Elijah Brown had been the starter.
Williams threw, scrambled and pushed Washington on a winning march against a Nebraska defense that suddenly looked vulnerable. The Huskies went ahead 10-7, and then Colandrea’s final interception turned into a pick-6.
That made it 17-7.
The final was 17-10 after Matt Rhule brought in John Hohl to kick a 42-yarder, and Hohl drilled it for the game’s last points. It may also have marked the end of the Cunanan Era.
In Other News...
Nebraska Still Has One Late-Game Problem A Former Champion Didn't Ignore
Clester Johnson has seen enough Nebraska football to know when a team is leaving something on the table, and in a recent podcast interview the former wingback and national champion returned to a familiar theme: finishing. Johnson talked about the importance of closing out games and the accountability that comes with it, while also looking back on how Tom Osbornes staffs handled those moments when the pressure tightened and the details mattered most.
Johnson also framed the challenge in a more modern light, noting that todays Nebraska has to navigate a different college football reality with retention and recruiting adding another layer of difficulty. He pointed to quarterback Anthony Colandreas ability, but said the offense still needs more balance around him, a reminder that the late-game issues are rarely about one player alone and usually come back to whether the whole operation can hold up when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Could Get A Huge Boost Before Its Blackout Showdown
Nebraska is getting healthier at just the right time, with defensive lineman Riley Van Poppel expected back for the Washington game after missing recent action because of injury. Running back Isaiah Mozee is also likely to be available, giving the Cornhuskers a little more depth as they prepare for a marquee blackout matchup that should draw plenty of attention.
The injury report still leaves some holes, though, with offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula and safety Jamir Conn ruled out. Washington is dealing with its own uncertainty as quarterback Demond Williams has gone from doubtful to probable, even if the Huskies have not yet announced a starter, so Nebraska may still have to wait until kickoff to see exactly what kind of challenge it is facing. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Has A New Ohio State Scouting Problem To Watch
Ohio States quarterback picture has changed in a hurry, and Nebraska now has another layer to sort through before the teams meet. Julian Sayin is expected to miss a significant stretch with an injury, which has opened the door for Luke Fahey, a true freshman who is set to make his first career start against USC after appearing in four games this season.
Fahey earned the job by outworking Tavien St. Clair in practice, and Ryan Day has already pointed to his work ethic and competitiveness as reasons the staff trusts him. For Nebraska, the bigger issue is not just who starts, but how much the Buckeyes can lean into their offense while the quarterback situation remains in flux heading into that matchup. [Read more 🡒]