Anthony Colandrea is staying in Lincoln.
Nebraska’s senior quarterback has re-signed with the Huskers for the 2027 season, his agent confirmed to ESPN on Friday. Colandrea, who arrived from UNLV last offseason, has an extra year of eligibility thanks to the NCAA’s “5-for-5” ruling, and he has become the steady presence Nebraska needed under center.
Through his time with the Huskers, Colandrea has thrown for 1,570 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 339 rushing yards and four more scores on the ground. For Nebraska, that production has come with the kind of calm, consistent command that has made him a central piece of what the offense wants to be.
The extension also marks a first for the program: it is the first known player contract extension in Nebraska history, a sign of how college football’s NIL and revenue-share era is reshaping roster building and retention.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule had already acknowledged earlier this month that Colandrea was drawing attention from elsewhere, saying some SEC programs were trying to get involved before this fall’s transfer portal window, which opens Jan. 4 and closes nine days later.
"I don't think that's a good narrative for us to have out there that he doesn't have enough support," Rhule said. "I don't think that's good for our players.
And not good because he's already got SEC schools calling him. I don't want Nebraska people to start saying that, because that's happened before here.
We don't need that now here."
Rhule’s comments came during a stretch when Nebraska looked like it could be on the rise in the Big Ten. The Huskers opened 5-0 under Rhule before back-to-back three-point losses to Indiana and Oregon this month knocked them off track in the conference race.
Even then, Rhule believed the margin was razor-thin.
"Like I said, I think we're two plays away from being in the big, big conversation," Rhule said entering last week's open date ahead of Saturday's return to the field vs. Washington. But we're not out yet, so we're going to just try to get better this week."
Colandrea’s return gives Nebraska an important starting point for 2027. He is the second notable player this season to re-sign with his current school, joining Oregon State receiver Jesse Legree.
His presence has brought stability after Nebraska watched former five-star Dylan Raiola leave following the 2026 campaign for Oregon. This season, the Huskers have leaned on Colandrea’s dual-threat game, and the results show it. Entering Week 9, Nebraska ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring offense at 35.5 points per game, fifth in total offense and third in explosive plays.
The fit has been especially strong in Dana Holgorsen’s scheme, where Colandrea’s mobility adds another layer to a run game that has been the most productive of Rhule’s tenure at 194.3 yards per game.
Before the season, Colandrea said he believed Nebraska’s offensive line was the best he had ever played behind, and the Huskers backed that belief by devoting a significant portion of this season’s football share to the front, including the addition of former South Carolina tackle "Big" Tree Babalade through the portal.
With Colandrea back in 2027, Nebraska has the first major piece in place for a roster built around College Football Playoff expectations, especially with the expanded 24-team postseason potentially working in the Big Ten’s favor.
In Other News...
Ryan Walters Just Handed Nebraska Fans More Fuel For Memorial Stadium
Ryan Walters may have done Nebraska a favor without meaning to. The Washington defensive coordinator and former Purdue coach revisited Memorial Stadium in comments that acknowledged the places passionate fan base and the way it can go quiet when the Huskers make plays, a reminder of just how much the environment matters when Nebraska is at home.
Given Walters history with the program and his previous critical remarks, it is no surprise his latest take has landed in Lincoln. Nebraskas athletic department now has fresh material to work with, and fans can probably expect those comments to be hanging around the stadium atmosphere when the next game kicks off. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Gets A Timely Boost As Washington Injury Questions Grow
Matt Rhule said Riley Van Poppel will be back for Nebraskas game against Washington after missing the last two contests with an injury, a welcome development for a defense that can use all the help it can get heading into a tricky matchup. The latest injury report still leaves some moving parts, though, with Gunnar Gottula ruled out and Vincent Shavers listed as questionable.
The timing matters for more than just Saturdays lineup. Nebraska is also set to host more than 50 recruits this weekend, including five-star offensive tackle Antijuan Wilkes Jr., giving the program a big-stage chance to sell its momentum in person while the Huskers try to keep stacking positive news on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Colandrea Just Changed Nebraskas Entire Offseason Plan
A quick round of retention talks ended with Nebraska locking down a major piece of its future, as quarterback Anthony Colandrea agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Lincoln through the 2027 season. The move comes after speculation around the transfer market, but Colandrea made it clear he wanted to stay with the Huskers, giving the program an important bit of certainty at a position that can shape everything else in an offseason.
For Nebraska, the timing matters just as much as the agreement itself. With Colandrea settled in, the coaching staff can turn its full attention to other roster needs instead of wondering whether it would have to replace its quarterback plan, and that kind of stability changes how the rest of the winter can unfold. It also gives the Huskers a clearer foundation heading into the next stretch, even if the bigger roster questions still have to be answered. [Read more 🡒]