Nebraska doesn’t have to do much guessing in Week 2. The oddsmakers have already made the call, installing the Huskers as 28.5-point favorites over Bowling Green for Saturday night in Lincoln, with the over/under sitting at 51.5 points.
That kind of number tells you plenty about how this matchup is viewed. Nebraska is coming off a 49-21 win over Ohio and has the look of a team expected to keep stacking positives before the schedule gets a lot harder. Bowling Green, meanwhile, arrives at 0-1 after a 20-13 loss to Tarleton State.
The biggest reason for the optimism in Lincoln is the offense, which started to show a shape and rhythm in Week 1. The opening half against Ohio had some uneasy moments, but Nebraska eventually settled in and leaned on the ground game to pull away. Freshman Jamal Rule was one of the most encouraging pieces of that performance, showing mature touches and looking like he could become a major part of the attack quickly.
That matters even more with former Husker running back Emmett Johnson now with the Kansas City Chiefs. But Nebraska may not be hurting for options. Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee also gave Dana Holgorsen useful pieces to work with, and if that group keeps producing behind a veteran offensive line, the Huskers could have one of their deepest backfields in years.
That kind of balance is exactly what Nebraska wants before Big Ten play begins. The Huskers don’t need Anthony Colandrea throwing it 40 times a week if the run game keeps creating explosive plays and putting the offense in good spots.
Colandrea, for his part, looked like the steady hand Nebraska wanted. The former UNLV quarterback appeared comfortable in Holgorsen’s system and, just as important, stayed away from the dangerous throws that had worried some fans during the offseason. There had been plenty of chatter about his gunslinger style, but against Ohio he showed he can keep the offense moving without forcing the issue.
That said, the sample size is still small. Ohio is not the kind of defense that will answer every question, and Colandrea will have to prove he can make the right reads against better Big Ten units.
Even so, Nebraska does not need him to be the entire operation. If the Huskers keep the run game rolling and stay in manageable down-and-distance situations, he should have plenty of chances to choose his moments.
There could also be more in Holgorsen’s playbook than Nebraska has already shown.
On the other side of the ball, the defense is harder to pin down. The concerns start inside on the defensive line and extend to the pass rush, where Nebraska did not show a consistent ability to get home without extra help. That could become a problem once Big Ten quarterbacks start settling in.
Defensive coordinator Rob Aurich still seems to be sorting through the right combinations up front. There’s rotation, and there are different skill sets in the mix, but Nebraska does not yet appear to have a clear, one-man disruptor who can win his matchup over and over. For now, the pass rush looks like it will have to come from the group as a whole.
Against Bowling Green, Nebraska should have enough talent to handle those issues. Still, these early games matter because they give the staff a chance to sort out which line combinations work best when the pressure is real. By the time Big Ten play arrives, the margin for trial and error will be much smaller.
That is why Saturday night is about more than just the final score. Nebraska should win, and win comfortably, but the real value is in the details: building chemistry, getting younger players reps and learning which pieces can be trusted when the games matter more.
Matt Rhule’s team wants to be an eight-win squad this season, and if that is the target, Week 2 has to look cleaner than Week 1. The spread is large, but Nebraska has enough offense to cover it. The running game looks deep, the offensive line is experienced and Colandrea seems settled in.
In Other News...
Tony Whites Rough Start Is Changing How Nebraska Fans See His Exit
Tony Whites first season away from Nebraska has not unfolded the way Florida State hoped. The Seminoles defense has drawn criticism for poor performances in 2026, and one sequence against SMU, where a defenders unusual pre-snap behavior spread quickly on social media, only amplified the scrutiny. For Nebraska fans watching from a distance, it has become a fresh lens on a coordinator who left Lincoln with plenty of attention attached to his name.
The early returns in Tallahassee have also given Nebraska plenty to compare against as it moves forward with Rob Aurich now in charge of the defense. Whites units had earned respect during his time with the Cornhuskers, but Florida States struggles have made his departure look different in hindsight, even if Nebraskas own hopes now rest on whether Aurich can build on that foundation. The way Whites exit is being discussed says as much about the pressure of the job as it does about the memories he left behind. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Suddenly Loses A Bigger Role Player At A Thin Position
Nebraskas tight end room took another hit when Mac Markway announced he is stepping away from football after a run of season-ending injuries, including repeated ACL tears. The former LSU transfer had been in line for a bigger role for the Huskers, and coach Matt Rhule had recently praised the way Markway was earning more playing time, making the news a tough one for a position group that has not exactly had much margin for error.
Markway said his knees would not let him perform at the level he wanted, and he chose to retire rather than keep pushing through the pain and uncertainty. Even with his playing days over, he made clear he still wants to stay around Nebraska football off the field, thanking his coaches and teammates as he closed the door on a career that never really got the chance to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Is Testing How Safe Nebraskas 2026 Class Really Is
Florida States push into Nebraskas 2026 class has added a little late-summer intrigue to a group the Cornhuskers would prefer to keep intact. The Seminoles are reportedly after three Nebraska commits in offensive lineman Timi Aliu, defensive lineman Errol Demontagnac and defensive back Jailen Hill, a reminder that even a class that looks solid on paper can attract heavy outside attention when other programs like the fit and start circling.
Recruiting analyst Tim Verghese has said Florida State is making real efforts, but so far there has not been much traction behind the scenes. Demontagnac did not make the visit he had been expected to take, while Aliu has already been to Tallahassee and still remains committed to Nebraska, which is the kind of development the Huskers can live with for now. Florida States staff connection to former Nebraska coaches only adds another layer here, but the bigger question is whether the Seminoles can turn interest into something more serious before this recruiting fight settles down. [Read more 🡒]