Nebraska took care of business on Saturday in a way good teams are supposed to.
The Huskers blitzed Bowling Green from the start, scoring touchdowns on five straight possessions and rolling into halftime with a 35-0 lead on the way to a 56-7 win. The second half got a little messy, and there are still details that need cleaning up before Big Ten play begins, but the bigger picture was hard to miss: Nebraska was in control from the jump and never let go.
That’s the part that stands out through two games. Nebraska has beaten Ohio 49-21 and Bowling Green 56-7, and while the competition hasn’t told the full story yet, the offense looks different.
Anthony Colandrea already appears to be the best quarterback of the Matt Rhule era. His mobility changes the whole shape of the attack, giving Nebraska a quarterback who can extend plays, threaten defenses as a runner, and still take shots downfield when things open up.
Even more importantly, the offense finally has a rhythm that has been missing in recent years.
He’s not doing it alone, either. Jamal Rule, Isaiah Mozee and Mekhi Nelson give Nebraska options at running back.
Out wide, Kwazi Gilmer, Jacory Barney and Nyziah Hunter give the Huskers multiple answers on the outside. At tight end, Luke Lindenmeyer keeps doing his part.
Yes, it’s only Ohio and Bowling Green. That matters.
But it also feels fair to say the offense looks different. Dare we say, it looks fun.
There’s still plenty to sharpen. Penalties continue to pop up, especially on special teams.
The receivers have had too many drops over the first two games. And perhaps the biggest concern is up front on defense, where Nebraska needs more consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The Blackshirts did plenty well against Bowling Green, holding the Falcons to 169 total yards and just 2-for-12 on third down. Still, once Nebraska gets into Big Ten play, pressure from the front four becomes a much bigger deal.
That’s the part nobody can answer yet. North Dakota is next, and even after that, the Huskers probably still won’t have a complete read on what they are.
What has changed is the look around the rest of the schedule. Rutgers is 0-2.
Washington struggled with Utah State. Illinois lost to Duke.
Iowa needed a classic Iowa kind of game to get past Iowa State.
None of that means Nebraska gets a free pass. It does, though, make the road look a little less imposing than it did a couple of weeks ago. And after so many seasons of watching the Huskers trip over the games they were supposed to win, there’s something refreshing about a team that just handles its business.
Nebraska is 2-0. The offense has playmakers.
Anthony Colandrea looks the part. And there are real reasons to think this group could be capable of more.
Now comes the part that will tell us whether that belief is real.
In Other News...
Nebraska Showed Class In A Rivalry Moment Fans Wont Forget
A rivalry game in Lincoln took on a much different tone after the death of Derek Phillips, a member of the Iowa Hawkeyes marching band who collapsed from the heat during the game. In a setting usually defined by noise and color, both marching bands found a way to honor him, and Nebraska added Gold and Black ribbons in solidarity, a gesture that fit the moment as much as the rivalry stage did.
The on-field result still mattered for the Cornhuskers, who backed up the emotional backdrop with a decisive win and a sharp defensive effort. Linebacker Owen Chambliss also returned from injury and got back into the mix with tackles, giving Nebraska something positive to build on as the attention around the game extended far beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Former Huskers Still Made Their Presence Felt On NFL Opening Weekend
Opening weekend in the NFL offered another reminder of how much Nebraskas former players continue to show up on Sundays. Several ex-Huskers were in the mix right away in Week 1, with WanDale Robinson hauling in five passes for the Tennessee Titans and Cam Jurgens lining up as a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles, giving the program a visible foothold across the league.
Elsewhere, the groups impact was more scattered, with some former Nebraska players seeing only limited snaps or spending the week on practice squads. Emmett Johnson is also expected to be in action Monday night for the Kansas City Chiefs, adding one more name to a long list of Huskers whose pro careers are still unfolding as the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Gave Top 2028 Recruits A Reason To Look Closer
Nebraskas 56-point outburst against Bowling Green was the kind of complete performance that tends to resonate beyond the home crowd. The offense rolled, the defense held the Falcons to fewer than 200 total yards, and the lopsided win gave more than 30 recruits a front-row look at what the Cornhuskers are building under the lights.
Among the visitors was 2028 quarterback prospect Owen Herrick, who came away with a positive impression of the program. Nebraska also got a glimpse of its own future on the field, with freshman cornerback Danny Odem handling meaningful snaps and turning in a strong defensive showing, while the schools volleyball program kept adding to the positive buzz by moving to 7-0 after wins over New Mexico, Baylor and Georgia Tech. [Read more 🡒]