Nebraska heads into Saturday’s matchup with North Dakota carrying the kind of early-season momentum that makes everything feel a little sharper in Lincoln. The Huskers are 2-0, North Dakota is undefeated, and the expectation here is straightforward: Nebraska leaves with its first loss.
A big part of that confidence starts with Anthony Colandrea. He was named this week’s Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, becoming the first Nebraska quarterback to earn the honor since Tommy Armstrong Jr. in 2016.
Through two games, Colandrea has backed it up with seven touchdown passes and just shy of 500 yards through the air. His rushing totals are modest, but he has shown enough with his legs to keep defenses honest when Nebraska needs a play outside the pocket.
That passing game has plenty of help, too. Jacory Barney Jr. and Kwazi Gilmer have become two of Colandrea’s favorite options, and both came through with two touchdown catches last week. Barney also topped 100 receiving yards in that game, giving Nebraska another layer in the air that North Dakota will have to account for.
The Huskers’ backfield has been just as dangerous. Jamal Rule is averaging 128 yards per game when you combine rushing and receiving, while Mekhi Nelson is right behind him at about 105. Both backs have shown the ability to make defenders miss and turn routine carries into explosive gains, and the expectation is that Nebraska will hit on some long runs on Saturday.
That production has helped Nebraska stay perfect in the red zone so far, converting 100% of its chances this season. That number may be early, but it matters. Nebraska has not always been that sharp in that part of the field, and finishing drives will be a key piece of the Huskers’ continued success.
North Dakota does bring some defensive strengths, especially against the run, where it is allowing about 78 yards per game. But the Fighting Hawks also have more turnovers lost than Nebraska, even though they have more takeaways. The Huskers have already gone from one turnover in the opener to two in the second game, and the sense here is that trend continues with three in game three.
Then there’s the defense, which has quietly looked the part through two weeks. Nebraska held Bowling Green to fewer than 50 yards of total offense last week and kept the Falcons out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. On the season, the Huskers are giving up only 236 total yards per game, good for 22nd in the FBS.
So yes, it’s that undefeated feeling again. And if the numbers hold up the way Nebraska expects, the Huskers will be 3-0 next week.
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Saturday night gives Nebraska a chance to settle into the kind of game it should be expected to handle, with North Dakota coming in after an offense that has shown some pop but still has not consistently produced against stronger competition. The matchup is the sort that lets the Cornhuskers focus on execution, clean up the edges, and build some momentum in front of a crowd that will be locked in from the opening kick. Fans will be able to follow it on TV as well, with the broadcast details already set.
The bigger emotional draw for Husker supporters may come after the final whistle, when Tom Osborne is set to be inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. A ceremony and on-field recognition will follow the game, adding a nostalgic, program-defining moment to a night that already carries plenty of interest. For a fan base that still measures so much of its identity against Osbornes era, it is the kind of tribute that can make an ordinary nonconference date feel a little more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Lost Another 2028 QB Target They Clearly Wanted
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Instead, Herrick is headed to Illinois, a choice that adds another early recruiting miss for Nebraska at a position it always has to treat as a priority. The commitment leaves the Huskers back at the drawing board for the 2028 class, with the need to reshape their quarterback plan before the cycle starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Real Test Fans Can't Ignore Against North Dakota
Nebraskas next test comes against a North Dakota team that has earned real attention, not just because it is a solid FCS program, but because it brings one of the countrys better offenses into Lincoln. The Cornhuskers have their own momentum on that side of the ball, with Anthony Colandrea fresh off Big Ten Player of the Week honors and a run game that has been doing plenty of the heavy lifting while the points keep piling up.
Even so, this matchup still asks a few questions of Nebraskas defense, especially against an opponent ranked sixth at its level and capable of making teams work for every stop. The feeling around this one is that the Huskers should handle it convincingly, but North Dakotas production makes it a game worth watching closely before the bigger conference tests arrive. [Read more 🡒]