Nebraska’s 49-21 win over Ohio gave the Huskers a comfortable final margin, but the performance itself came with plenty of rough edges.
The biggest issues showed up early. Nebraska was flagged nine times for 65 yards, the secondary gave up an immediate touchdown after a blown coverage, and special teams never really swung the game one way or the other.
Wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer also drew criticism for several dropped passes. Up front, the defensive line remains a concern because it still hasn’t shown consistent ability to create pressure or keep opposing offenses in check.
Still, the Huskers found enough answers to pull away. They didn’t turn the ball over, and they hit on a number of explosive plays that helped separate them from Ohio.
Freshman running back Jamal Rule was one of the clear standouts, and Mekhi Nelson gave Nebraska a useful second punch in the backfield. The new offensive line also took a step forward, especially when it came to pulling linemen and running physical short-yardage sets.
That contrast between the two sides of the ball is hard to miss. Nebraska’s offense looks much further along than its defense, which is still being built in a new system under a new coordinator.
The discussion also touched on Michigan’s controversial win over Western Michigan, where an extra second became the center of the debate after it helped set up a game-winning Hail Mary.
Looking ahead, the focus shifts to Bowling Green, which is coached by former NFL star Eddie George. The broader conversation also turned to how quickly college football is changing, with NIL money, player compensation, and the growing possibility that players will eventually have more control over their economic future.
In Other News...
Anthony Colandrea Just Sparked A New Nebraska Quarterback Debate
Anthony Colandreas showing in Nebraskas win over Ohio gave the quarterback conversation a little more texture, and it is not hard to see why. Former Husker quarterback and coach Joe Ganz came away impressed not just with the box score, but with the way Colandrea carried himself during the game, pointing to the kind of leadership and accountability teammates respond to in tight moments.
The performance itself backed up the praise. Colandrea finished 18 of 32 for 275 yards and 3 touchdowns, and the combination of production and poise has a way of nudging a debate forward in Lincoln. When a quarterback draws that kind of endorsement from a former Husker who knows the position as both a player and a coach, the conversation around Nebraskas future at the position tends to get louder, even if the full answer still has to wait. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Evans Just Gave Nebraska Fans Another Reason To Believe
Justin Evans keeps stacking up the kind of recognition that tends to matter in a program trying to build something sturdier than a single season. The Nebraska fifth-year offensive lineman was named to the 2026 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Watch List, a nod that centers on leadership, courage, integrity and sportsmanship as much as what happens between the lines. With 32 career starts already on his rsum, Evans has become one of the more dependable veterans on the roster, and the preseason praise has followed accordingly, from second-team All-American mention to a Rimington Trophy watch spot.
For Nebraska, the latest honor is another reminder that Evans is carrying real weight in the locker room as well as on the field. The Witten award will move through semifinalists and finalists later this season before a winner is announced in spring 2027, so the larger picture is still unfolding, but Evans has already put himself in a spot where his profile keeps rising for reasons beyond just offensive line play. In a season where the Cornhuskers are trying to keep momentum and credibility moving in the right direction, that kind of recognition is hard to overlook. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Defense Gets A Key Return At The Perfect Time
Owen Chambliss is back in the Nebraska defense for Week 2, and the timing could hardly be better for a unit looking to settle in after the opener. The First-Team All-Conference linebacker from the Mountain West brings a blend of pass rush, coverage and quarterback containment that should give the Cornhuskers more range at every level of the defense.
Just as important, Chambliss will wear the defensive headset, a role that should help clean up communication and cut down on assignment mistakes. For Nebraska, the return is about more than adding another experienced defender - it gives the Huskers a stabilizing voice in the middle of the field at a point in the season when those details can shape everything that follows. [Read more 🡒]