Nebraska is 3-0, and the way the Huskers got there says plenty.
Saturday’s 34-7 win over North Dakota wrapped up nonconference play without a blemish, and that has been the story of the first three weeks: Nebraska handled the teams it was supposed to handle, mostly in the manner it was supposed to handle them, and sidestepped the kind of early-season mess Husker fans know too well.
The offense leaned on the ground game again, and Jamal Rule was the headliner. He ran 15 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns, including a 55-yard score that jumped off the page. The freshman keeps looking like one of the most dangerous players on the roster, period.
Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee stayed involved too. Nelson looked like he might be sharing the lead with Rule, while Mozee continued to flash his own ability. As a team, Nebraska piled up 277 rushing yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry.
At quarterback, Tony C kept giving Nebraska something different. Anthony Colandrea didn’t need a huge statistical day against North Dakota, but his mobility, leadership and fire showed up again while the Huskers controlled the game.
There was also a meaningful step forward on defense. One of the biggest early questions was whether Nebraska could get enough pressure from its front, and against North Dakota, the answer was yes. The Huskers finished with five sacks, with production coming from across the defense.
That side of the ball also seems to be trending up. After some shaky moments early against Ohio, Nebraska has now allowed just one touchdown in each of its last two games. The Blackshirts still haven’t been tested against Big Ten competition, but the early signs are encouraging.
That said, not everything is clean.
If you’re looking for concerns after a 27-point win, special teams is the obvious place to start, with the offensive line close behind. Nebraska has run the ball well through three games, but there are still too many individual snaps where linemen get beaten. That hasn’t been fatal against this nonconference schedule, but it could turn into a real issue once Big Ten play arrives.
Special teams haven’t looked as sharp either. Nebraska is still taking penalties in the return game, and both the kicking and punting units remain works in progress.
None of that rises to the level of panic. But there are things that need to be cleaned up.
The preseason formula for a successful Nebraska season was simple: beat Ohio, Bowling Green and North Dakota. The Huskers did that. The offense has weapons, the running game is rolling, Colandrea looks like the quarterback Nebraska needed, and the defense appears to be improving.
Now comes the part that tells us more. Nebraska goes to Michigan State next before returning home to face Maryland.
Indiana and Oregon follow after that. The next month is a big one for this program.
Gigantic.
In Other News...
Nebraska Is Getting A Very Different Michigan State Test Saturday
Michigan State is heading into Big Ten play with a very different feel under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, and that makes Saturdays matchup a little harder to frame than the usual conference opener. According to Stephen Brooks of 247Sports, Fitzgerald has already changed the energy around the program, leaning into a grinder mentality and a work-first approach that has given the Spartans a clearer identity early on.
For Nebraska, that means preparing for a team that may look less like a rebuild and more like a group buying into a specific style of play. Fitzgeralds familiarity with the Big Ten and his reputation as a charismatic leader have helped him win over fans and players quickly, and that early buy-in is part of what makes this a tricky test for the Cornhuskers as they begin to sort out where they stand in conference play. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Face A Memorial Stadium Shakeup Beyond The Renovations
Memorial Stadium is entering a stretch of change that goes beyond cranes and construction crews. Nebraskas Big Red Rebuild is already underway, and with capacity temporarily reduced during renovations, the athletic department is preparing a reseating process ahead of the 2027 season while also rolling out changes to ticket pricing, seating contributions and stadium amenities.
For fans, the next two seasons figure to bring a different game-day experience before the building settles into its final form. Some renovated areas are expected to be ready for 2027, but the full project remains aimed at completion by the 2028 season, when Memorial Stadium is expected to have its full capacity back in place. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas 3-0 Start Is Setting Up A Bigger Debate Than Expected
Nebraskas 34-7 win over North Dakota added another layer to a 3-0 start that has brought a real sense of progress under Matt Rhule. The Cornhuskers have looked more organized in the early going, and the changes around the program have been part of the story too, with several new coaches joining the staff and a new defensive coordinator installing a 4-3-5 scheme.
Now the conversation is shifting from simple improvement to what comes next, because the schedule is about to demand a sharper answer. Michigan State, Maryland and Indiana are waiting, and the early optimism in Lincoln is set to meet a stretch that should say plenty about how real this start actually is. [Read more 🡒]