Nebraska’s 48-23 win over Maryland looked comfortable by the end, but it took a while for the Huskers to get there.
Maryland showed up ready to push Nebraska early, and the first quarter was rough for the home side. After that, though, the game flipped hard. Nebraska outscored Maryland 41-7 the rest of the way and finished with a strong fourth quarter to put the result away.
That turnaround wasn’t just about execution. It was also about adjustments.
Dana Holgorsen and Rob Aurich made in-game changes that helped Nebraska settle in on both sides of the ball, and the Blackshirts answered once the game started to shift. The key takeaway is that Nebraska didn’t keep banging its head against the same wall; it changed course and started making plays.
There were also several individual performances worth noting, including Anthony Colandrea, Kwazi Gilmer, and Mekhi Nelson, along with other Huskers who helped swing the momentum. Colandrea brought plenty of emotion and toughness, but Nebraska can’t lean on its quarterback to lead the team in rushing every week. That’s not a long-term formula.
The passing game still has some questions, too. Nebraska needs more receivers involved, because the offense can’t get too predictable. Finding another dependable target could matter a lot once the schedule gets tougher.
The penalty count was another issue. Nebraska finished with 16 penalties, and that kind of sloppiness is the sort of thing that can be hidden against one opponent and exposed against a better one. Discipline and simply doing your job are still areas that need cleaning up.
Even with the rough edges, Nebraska showed something valuable again: when the game starts going sideways, it can respond. The Huskers didn’t let the slow start bury them. They adjusted, took control, and pulled away.
Now the focus shifts to Curt Cignetti and Indiana in another big Big Ten matchup. Nebraska has a win to build on, but it also has a list of things that need to be sharper before the Hoosiers arrive.
In Other News...
Nebraska Stayed Unbeaten But This Win Raised A Bigger Concern
Nebraska moved to 5-0 for the first time since 2016 with a 48-23 win over Maryland, and the record still looks as good as it has in years. The Huskers shook off an uneven first half and then rolled with 34 unanswered points after the break, getting notable contributions from Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee as the offense found its rhythm and the game got away from Maryland.
Even with the unbeaten start intact, the bigger question is what Nebraska will need to clean up before the schedule tightens again. The next test comes Oct. 10 against Indiana in a ranked game at Memorial Stadium, and the Huskers will have to show they can bring the same second-half punch from the opening whistle if they want this start to mean more than just a fast beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Faces A Defining Reality Check With National Respect At Stake
Week 6 brings a familiar kind of pressure to the college football calendar, with heavyweight matchups like Alabama against Georgia and Texas against Oklahoma drawing the biggest spotlight. Around those games, the broader board is full of tests that will help sort out where teams truly stand, from the Big Ten to other major conferences, and the betting lines reflect how tight the margins are getting as the season settles in.
For Nebraska, the wider picture matters because the Cornhuskers are still trying to turn respect into something more durable than early-season optimism. This is the point in October when a good start can start to mean something, or when a stumble can quickly reset the conversation, and the games around the country are only sharpening that reality for a program still looking to prove it belongs in the national discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Finally Looks Built To Handle The Moment
Nebraskas unbeaten start took another step forward with a comeback that looked a lot like the sort of game this program has too often let slip away in recent years. After falling behind 23-14, the Cornhuskers seized control and rolled past Maryland 48-23, a result that pushed them to 5-0 for the first time since 2016 and added another layer of credibility to a season that is beginning to feel different.
Anthony Colandrea was at the center of it, throwing for 238 yards and three touchdowns while also piling up 108 rushing yards, highlighted by a 51-yard run that helped flip the games energy. Maryland never recovered after the midpoint of the second quarter, as Nebraska ripped off 34 unanswered points and turned a tense road test into a statement win, leaving the bigger question now not about whether the Cornhuskers can survive the moment, but how far this start can carry them. [Read more 🡒]