Nebraska is 2-0, and the box scores look as clean as any Husker fan could want. The catch is that both wins have come against MAC opponents, which makes this start feel more like a snapshot than a full read on what Nebraska actually is.
That’s the tension Travis Justice and former Husker offensive lineman Dr. Rob Zatechka dig into on this edition of the Husker Doc Talk Podcast. The discussion, presented by Strategic Solutions Sanitation, looks back at the Bowling Green game and turns toward Saturday’s matchup with North Dakota.
Through two games, the numbers are loud. Nebraska is averaging 535 yards per game, rushing for 256 yards a night, and putting up 53 points per game. Anthony Colandrea has given the offense a quarterback who can hurt defenses with both his legs and his arm, while Jamal Rule has the kind of profile that could put him on an All-Conference track, maybe even All-American.
The defense has been just as eye-catching. Nebraska has allowed only 28 points across its first two games, and Bowling Green managed just one touchdown. That’s enough to raise the question of whether the Blackshirts label is starting to fit again.
Still, the bigger answer remains out there. Is this real, or is it early-season smoke and mirrors? At this point, the only honest answer is that it’s too early to tell.
North Dakota should help sharpen the picture. The Fighting Hawks are one of the top teams in FCS, and they may end up being the best opponent Nebraska has faced so far this season.
Their offense comes in hot, led by quarterback Jerry Kaminski, who has 11 touchdown passes in three games and is completing 77% of his throws. North Dakota is averaging 540 yards and 50 points per game.
The 2022 meeting between these teams also gets a mention. Nebraska won that one 38-17, but the final score made it look more comfortable than it really was. The Huskers didn’t pull away until two fourth-quarter touchdowns stretched the game beyond reach.
Justice and Zatechka, as usual, bring a conversation that’s lively and worth your time.
In Other News...
Colandrea Gave Nebraska Hope But One Sloppy Issue Still Lingers
Anthony Colandrea gave Nebraska plenty to feel good about early, looking poised in the pocket and sharp with the ball as the offense rolled through the first half. He finished 17 of 20 for 184 yards and four touchdowns, and the Cornhuskers also found balance on the ground by leaning on the three-back Husker Hydra rotation to help cover for Emmett Johnson, with the group piling up 191 rushing yards and two scores.
Still, there was one messy sequence that fit a broader concern Nebraska cant quite shake. Colandreas first interception of the season was logged as a pick, but it came after Jacory Barney lost the ball when JoJo Johnson stripped it away, and special teams added its own frustration with penalties on punt returns. For a team trying to keep cleaner edges around an offense that looked in control for long stretches, those little lapses remain the nagging part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rhule Has Another Coach Wanting Nebraskas Program Blueprint
After Nebraskas decisive win over Bowling Green, the conversation around Matt Rhule extended well beyond the scoreboard. Bowling Green coach Eddie George came away impressed with the way Nebraska is being built, praising Rhules coaching style and the broader approach he has used to shape the program. It was the kind of postgame respect that tends to follow a team that looks organized, physical and clearly headed in a direction.
George said he wants to learn from Rhule and seek advice on how to improve his own program, a notable compliment from a coach still working through his own build at Bowling Green. He also spoke about his coaching journey and the progress his team has made, which only added to the sense that Nebraskas model is starting to draw attention from across the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Made An Early Impression On A Defensive Line Target
RJ Cruz IIIs first trip to the University of Nebraska gave the Huskers a chance to make a fresh impression on one of the better early defensive line targets in the 2028 class. The three-star lineman from McDonogh School in Maryland has already built a relationship with Nebraska assistant Corey Brown, and that connection has helped put the Huskers in the mix as he starts sorting through his college options.
For Nebraska, the appeal goes beyond just getting Cruz on campus once. He is still working through where he fits best on the defensive line, and the Huskers will have to keep that momentum going as he continues to compare them with other programs. For now, Nebraska has at least given him something to think about, and the next step will be whether that early interest turns into something more durable. [Read more 🡒]