Nebraska’s 34-7 win over North Dakota on Saturday night in Lincoln came with a little more resistance than plenty of fans expected - and with a reminder that Matt Rhule knew what he was talking about all week.
Rhule had pointed to the Fighting Hawks as the Huskers’ toughest non-conference test, a claim that drew plenty of skepticism. After all, North Dakota came in as an FCS team, and Nebraska had already handled two MAC opponents this month. A lot of people figured this one had blowout written all over it.
Instead, the Hawks showed enough fight to make Nebraska work. But the game never really slipped away from the Huskers, who got control early and never had to sweat the finish.
Jamal Rule helped set the tone on the ground, Anthony Colandrea did damage throwing the ball and also using his legs, and the offensive line gave Nebraska the kind of protection and push that made the whole operation look smoother. The receivers held up their end, and the defense added five sacks to keep North Dakota from ever building real momentum.
The bigger picture is what stands out. Nebraska looks better every week.
That’s especially notable considering how much changed around the program in the offseason. Rhule brought in a wave of new coaches, including O-line coach Geep Wade, running game coordinator Lonnie Teasley, D-line assistant Corey Brown, edge rusher coach Roy Manning, defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, safeties coach Tyler Yelk and special teams coordinator Brett Maher, who is in his third year with Nebraska but his first as special teams coordinator.
Those pieces had to come together quickly. Aurich also installed a 4-3-5 defensive scheme that he brought with him from San Diego State, and the defense had to learn it well enough to execute right away. On top of that, Nebraska entered the season with a new quarterback and a new starting running back, both trying to settle in at the same time the rest of the roster was adjusting.
Given all that turnover, the softer non-conference slate mattered. A game with Tennessee was replaced by a home date with Bowling Green University, and Nebraska got a runway to work through the early season changes.
Now the Huskers are 3-0 through the first quarter of the 2026 season.
The real test starts now. Nebraska’s next three games - Michigan State, Maryland and defending national champion Indiana - should say a lot more about where this team stands. Each one figures to be a fight, and plenty of them could come down to the wire.
For now, though, Nebraska has reasons to feel good. This looks like Rhule’s deepest and most talented team in his four years in Lincoln. The Huskers are more dangerous on both sides of the ball, and if the special teams can clean up the self-inflicted mistakes, there’s another level to reach.
So yes, go ahead and sip the Kool Aid. It tastes great in September.
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 🡒]
Nebraska Heads Into Big Ten Play With A Tight End Concern
Nebraskas first Big Ten test of the season arrives with at least one notable absence, as tight end Carter Nelson has been ruled out for the matchup with Michigan State, head coach Matt Rhule confirmed. For a team trying to settle into conference play, losing a tight end can affect more than just the passing game, since that spot often matters in the run game and in protection as well.
Even with that concern, the Cornhuskers continue to carry some national respect into Week 4, staying in the AP Top 25 even as other rankings pushed them down. And while the immediate focus is on Michigan State, Nebraska also has a long-range wrinkle on its schedule, with the 2027 opener set against Miami of Ohio at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. [Read more 🡒]