Nebraska’s 49-21 win over Ohio didn’t look clean for long stretches, but ESPN’s FPI came away impressed anyway. The Huskers climbed seven spots in the latest ratings, jumping from No. 30 to No. 23 after opening the season 1-0.
That’s a hefty rise for a team that entered halftime with only a 14-13 lead and had plenty of fans wondering if the opener might slip away. Bill Connelly’s metric clearly liked what Nebraska did after the break, when the Huskers turned an uneasy afternoon into one of Week 1’s biggest moves.
Nebraska now sits at an 11.3 FPI, with the system projecting about 7.5 wins and 4.5 losses. Nobody in Lincoln is going to celebrate another 7-6 type season, but a 7-5 regular season followed by a bowl win would still count as a meaningful step forward, especially with a tough Big Ten slate ahead.
The seven-spot leap tied Utah and Virginia, who also landed in the No. 24 and No. 25 spots after starting the week outside the Top 25. Only Pittsburgh moved more, climbing to No. 22 from No. 36.
Within the Big Ten, Nebraska is now rated seventh by ESPN’s system. That’s a better placement than the program received in our own conference Power Rankings, which had the Huskers 10th in the league.
A repeat jump next week seems unlikely, even with a strong showing. Nebraska plays Bowling Green on Saturday evening, and the Falcons are ranked No. 123 among 138 FBS teams.
In Other News...
Tony Whites Rough Start Is Changing How Nebraska Fans See His Exit
Tony Whites first season away from Nebraska has not gone the way he or Florida State hoped, and the early returns have only made his old stop in Lincoln look better in hindsight. The Seminoles have struggled defensively in 2026, giving up plenty of yardage and points in recent games, and the criticism has followed White as the unit has failed to settle in.
A rough sequence of performances, including one particularly odd moment against SMU that spread quickly on social media, has only sharpened the contrast for Nebraska fans. With Rob Aurich now in place as the Cornhuskers new defensive coordinator, the bar is clear - Nebraska is trying to build on what White left behind, even as his exit is looking a little different now than it did when he first walked out the door. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Is Testing How Safe Nebraskas 2026 Class Really Is
Florida State is taking a real run at three Nebraska commits in the 2026 class, with the Seminoles reportedly chasing offensive lineman Timi Aliu, defensive lineman Errol Demontagnac and defensive back Jailen Hill. Recruiting analyst Tim Verghese said Florida State has made the effort to stay involved, and the connection is not hard to trace given that the Seminoles staff includes former Nebraska coaches.
For Nebraska, the encouraging part is that Florida State has not made much headway so far. Demontagnac did not make the visit he was expected to take, while Aliu has been to Tallahassee but is still pledged to the Huskers. Hill remains in the picture too, which means this is less a finished battle than an early test of how sturdy Nebraskas class really is. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Brings A Quarterback Edge Bowling Green's Numbers Can't Explain
Anthony Colandrea gave Nebraska a clean, efficient afternoon in its 49-21 win over Ohio, finishing 18 of 32 for 275 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He added 23 rushing yards and another score, and the overall performance drew an 84.3 Pro Football Focus grade, the kind of outing that helps steady an offense and keep the Cornhuskers on schedule.
Bowling Greens Jay Kastantin posted a very different line in the Falcons 20-13 loss to Tarleton State, completing 24 of 30 passes for 262 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. The raw numbers were solid enough, but his 61.8 PFF grade points to a gap Nebraska will be watching closely as it looks to press any advantage at quarterback. [Read more 🡒]