Nebraska’s opener against Ohio wasn’t clean from the jump, but the second half told a very different story. After taking only a 14-13 lead into halftime, the Huskers turned it loose, outscoring the Bobcats 35-8 after the break and finding the end zone on all but one drive.
The offense was led by senior UNLV transfer quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who finished with 275 passing yards, three touchdowns and a rushing score while completing 56% of his throws. PFF gave him an 84.3 overall grade. That number looks even stronger once you dig into the details: his adjusted completion rate, which factors in completions and drops over aimed throws, climbed to 76.9%.
Freshman running back Jamal Rule made the kind of first start that grabs attention right away. He piled up 169 all-purpose yards and scored three total touchdowns, earning an 83.8 grade. That was the second-best offensive mark on the team, trailing only Colandrea.
Nebraska’s revamped offensive line also came out of the game with plenty to like, and new line coach Geep Wade had to be encouraged by what he saw in the debut. Senior Iowa State transfer guard Brendan Black posted the top pass-blocking grade among the starters at 86.0. Fifth-year tackle Elijah Pritchett had the lowest pass-blocking mark of the starting group at 72.7, but he still helped open room in the run game, where he led the starters with a 66.8 grade.
Luke Lindenmeyer turned in the most complete outing among the skill players. The fifth-year tight end ranked third on offense behind Rule and Colandrea, but his best work came as a blocker, where he posted the team’s top run-blocking grade at 81.7.
Colandrea also distributed the ball to seven different pass catchers, giving Nebraska a balanced look through the air. Junior UCLA transfer wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer was charged with two drops and finished with a 64.6 receiving grade.
On defense, Nebraska used 34 different players, and junior linebacker Vincent Shavers Jr. came away with the highest overall grade on that side at 76.7. Senior defensive back Jamir Conn led the Huskers with four tackles and also posted the team’s best tackling grade at 85.6.
Ohio wideout Riley Neer did most of his damage against Nebraska’s secondary, catching six passes for 104 yards, with much of that production coming against senior defensive back Jeremiah Charles. Charles graded at 48.2, though he was not the lowest-graded defensive back. That distinction went to junior Rex Guthrie, who still managed to come away with the game’s lone interception.
One familiar issue from last season showed up again: senior defensive end Cameron Lenhardt finished as the lowest-graded defender, with a 44.9 overall mark and a 24.9 tackling grade.
There was at least one encouraging note in the front seven with senior Mac Markway, who moved from tight end at LSU to defensive end this year. He ranked 13th on defense with a 64.7 grade, a respectable showing for a player learning a new spot.
As a team, Nebraska finished week one with a 79.3 grade. The offense led the way at 80.4, powered especially by a rushing attack that checked in at 87.3. The weakest area was the pass rush, which earned a 62.6 after producing nine pressures and three sacks.
It was a first week that showed real progress on both sides of the ball, while also making clear there’s still work to do if Nebraska wants to make noise in the Big Ten this season.
In Other News...
Nebraska Suddenly Has A Linebacker Concern It Can't Ignore
Owen Chambliss was already trying to work his way back into Nebraskas defensive picture after missing much of fall camp and the opener with a hamstring issue, and now the Cornhuskers may have to keep waiting a little longer. Matt Rhule said the linebacker might not be available for the upcoming game against Bowling Green, a reminder that the Huskers are still sorting out a position group they expected to lean on this early in the season.
Rhule called Chambliss a valuable player, but he did not offer much clarity on when the injury might finally let up. For a Nebraska defense trying to settle in, the uncertainty matters, especially with a player whose role was supposed to grow once he got back on the field. The next update on Chambliss could tell the Huskers a lot about how soon they can count on being whole at linebacker. [Read more 🡒]
Former Nebraska Receiver Is Raising An Uncomfortable Question For Huskers Fans
Malachi Colemans latest performance came in a spot Nebraska fans know well, even if theyd probably rather not revisit it. The former Huskers receiver, now at Wisconsin, put together a strong showing against Notre Dame with 4 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while playing 40 snaps and drawing top offensive grades from Pro Football Focus for the Badgers.
For Nebraska, the uncomfortable part is not just that Coleman is making plays elsewhere, but that he has now moved multiple times within the Big Ten and is still flashing the kind of upside the Huskers once hoped to harness. Coleman also spoke after the game about areas he still wants to clean up, which only adds to the sense that his story is still unfolding - and that Nebraska supporters may be left wondering what might have been. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Depth Chart Hints At A Feel Good Breakthrough On Defense
Nebraskas depth chart stayed mostly steady from the previous week, but one addition stood out for what it says about the programs persistence: defensive end Mac Markway is back in the mix after working his way through three torn ACLs. For a defense that has spent the offseason trying to build more dependable depth, simply getting a player like Markway onto the chart is a meaningful step, and it fits with the broader theme around Matt Rhules roster-building approach.
Rhule said Markways role is expected to grow week by week, along with the roles of wide receiver Demitrius Bell and true freshman cornerback Danny Odem, all of whom saw the field in the opener. For Nebraska, the next few games will be about whether those early snaps turn into something more durable, especially on a defense where every useful piece matters and every bit of progress feels worth tracking. [Read more 🡒]