After one game, Nebraska still looks like a team in search of its true shape - but there were enough clues in the opener against Ohio to start sketching the outline.
In the latest episode of the Carriker Chronicles, Adam Carriker took a straight-up look at what the Huskers showed in the 2026 season opener, from the early hole they dug to the way they finished with a burst in the fourth quarter. Ohio got rolling quickly, marching down the field and scoring in just three plays to put Nebraska on its back foot.
But Matt Rhule’s team didn’t fold. It settled in, adjusted and answered with 21 points in the fourth quarter.
That kind of response matters. Still, Carriker made it clear that Nebraska can’t keep living with slow starts, especially once the schedule tightens and Big Ten play arrives.
On offense, Dana Holgorsen seems to be leaning into what this roster does best. Nebraska ran the ball about 60 percent of the time and threw it around 40 percent, a split that offers an early hint at the identity Holgorsen wants to build.
Anthony Colandrea looked comfortable running the show, taking care of the football and using both his mobility and experience to make plays. Carriker also pointed to the leadership and emotion Colandrea showed on the sideline.
The backfield looks loaded too. Jamal Rule and Mekhi Nelson both give Nebraska options in what appears to be a deep running back room.
Up front, the offensive line flashed enough to suggest it could become one of the team’s biggest strengths. The talent is there, and so are the playmakers.
The next step is turning that into consistent production and bringing more physicality every week.
There are still clear areas that need cleaning up. Nebraska has to cut down on penalties and dropped passes, and it has to be sharper and more disciplined from the opening snap. The red zone work was better, which was a good sign, but the real test will come against defenses that are stronger and more physical.
Defensively, Carriker asked the bigger question: have Rob Aurich and the Blackshirts found their identity yet? There were some encouraging signs.
The coverage unit could turn into a strength, and Nebraska’s linebackers played fast. But the pass rush and quarterback containment need work, and the defense has to show more toughness, discipline and physicality - especially against mobile quarterbacks.
Owen Chambliss returning could make a real difference in how that group looks going forward.
Carriker closed with his honest Game 1 grades, and Nebraska came away with positives for third-down play, the run game and red-zone offense. Discipline and overall execution pulled those grades down, though.
The Huskers have talent, depth and upside. Now they need to put it all together for four quarters and build an identity that can survive the season and the grind of Big Ten competition.
In Other News...
Nebraska Suddenly Has A Linebacker Concern It Can't Ignore
Owen Chambliss was already trying to work his way back into Nebraskas defensive picture after missing much of fall camp and the opener with a hamstring issue, and now the Cornhuskers may have to keep waiting a little longer. Matt Rhule said the linebacker might not be available for the upcoming game against Bowling Green, a reminder that the Huskers are still sorting out a position group they expected to lean on this early in the season.
Rhule called Chambliss a valuable player, but he did not offer much clarity on when the injury might finally let up. For a Nebraska defense trying to settle in, the uncertainty matters, especially with a player whose role was supposed to grow once he got back on the field. The next update on Chambliss could tell the Huskers a lot about how soon they can count on being whole at linebacker. [Read more 🡒]
Former Nebraska Receiver Is Raising An Uncomfortable Question For Huskers Fans
Malachi Colemans latest performance came in a spot Nebraska fans know well, even if theyd probably rather not revisit it. The former Huskers receiver, now at Wisconsin, put together a strong showing against Notre Dame with 4 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while playing 40 snaps and drawing top offensive grades from Pro Football Focus for the Badgers.
For Nebraska, the uncomfortable part is not just that Coleman is making plays elsewhere, but that he has now moved multiple times within the Big Ten and is still flashing the kind of upside the Huskers once hoped to harness. Coleman also spoke after the game about areas he still wants to clean up, which only adds to the sense that his story is still unfolding - and that Nebraska supporters may be left wondering what might have been. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Depth Chart Hints At A Feel Good Breakthrough On Defense
Nebraskas depth chart stayed mostly steady from the previous week, but one addition stood out for what it says about the programs persistence: defensive end Mac Markway is back in the mix after working his way through three torn ACLs. For a defense that has spent the offseason trying to build more dependable depth, simply getting a player like Markway onto the chart is a meaningful step, and it fits with the broader theme around Matt Rhules roster-building approach.
Rhule said Markways role is expected to grow week by week, along with the roles of wide receiver Demitrius Bell and true freshman cornerback Danny Odem, all of whom saw the field in the opener. For Nebraska, the next few games will be about whether those early snaps turn into something more durable, especially on a defense where every useful piece matters and every bit of progress feels worth tracking. [Read more 🡒]