Nebraska’s offense looks built to be more dangerous this season, and the reasons go well beyond the quarterback change.
The Huskers have spent the past four years searching for real traction on that side of the ball. They were 123rd in scoring offense in 2023, climbed to 97th in 2024, and finished 59th in 2025. Over that four-season stretch, Nebraska has ranked a combined 112th in the FBS in scoring, which goes a long way toward explaining the 22-28 record.
Dylan Raiola was supposed to be the answer when Nebraska brought in a five-star quarterback, but the results never matched the hype. The roster around him wasn’t strong enough, and he was too young to consistently lift everyone else with him.
Anthony Colandrea gives Nebraska a different kind of spark. He brings the kind of playmaking ability the Huskers have needed - someone who can create when the structure breaks down.
That alone should help on third downs and in the red zone, especially with a quarterback who can run the zone read and handle a true RPO offense. That kind of threat makes life easier for the backs, the offensive line and the play caller.
Still, Nebraska isn’t asking Colandrea to carry everything. The supporting cast is better, and more experienced, than what Rhule’s program has had in place before.
The Huskers addressed the offensive line by adding three portal players with nearly 60 combined starts. They also brought in a two-year starter from UCLA at wide receiver, kept their most talented pass catchers, and protected themselves from losing future NFL offensive linemen Justin Evans and Elijah Pritchett.
There’s also more to work with in the backfield. Nebraska has two running backs who combined for 216 yards in the Las Vegas Bowl last season, averaging eight yards per touch, plus a promising 215-pound freshman. And at receiver, Quinn Clark and Cortez Mills are positioned to do more after combining for four catches of more than 31 yards last season.
Colandrea might end up being Nebraska’s best quarterback since Adrian Martinez, but there’s a key difference: he doesn’t need to do it all. He’s learning the system, though he fits it better than Raiola did, and Dana Holgorsen even borrowed some of what UNLV used last season to smooth the transition.
That doesn’t mean Nebraska is suddenly headed for a huge jump in the win column. This will still be a tough season, and seven or eight wins would count as a real accomplishment.
But the offense should be more entertaining, and there’s a strong case that it can clear 30 points per game for the first time in the Matt Rhule era. With the schedule Nebraska faces, that would still qualify as a meaningful leap forward.
In Other News...
Nebraska Blackshirts Are Moving Fast Under Jeff Aurich For One Reason
Jeff Aurich got a useful early read on Nebraskas defense after the Huskers went through their fifth practice of fall camp, and the first-year coordinator liked what he saw. The Blackshirts have moved quickly through the install process, with the early spring work giving the unit a head start that has shown up in the way the linebackers and defensive line are settling in. Aurich pointed to that foundation as a big reason the group is ahead of where many teams usually are at this stage.
One of the clearest signs of progress has been the energy up front, where transfer Jahsear Whittington has stood out for the way he competes. Aurich praised the way Whittington approaches the position, and its the kind of profile Nebraska wants in the middle of its defense as camp rolls on. There is still more of the playbook to finish, but the pace of the buildup has given the Huskers a chance to keep layering on details without losing the edge theyve shown so far. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Fans Are Suddenly Buzzing About One Freshman In Fall Camp
Nebraska is only in its second week of fall camp, but the pads are already giving the staff a better feel for how quickly the newcomers are adjusting. With a scrimmage set to be broadcast on Nebraska Public Media, the early buzz has centered on the secondary, where freshman cornerback Danny Odem has been making a noticeable impression while working through his first camp in Lincoln.
What makes that noteworthy is how quickly Odem has settled in for a player just getting started, and the attention is not limited to this fall. Nebraska also has a visit lined up this season for top 2028 defensive lineman Tayaun Lawrence, along with quarterback Dominic Yancy, giving the staff another chance to keep building the next wave of talent while the current group keeps pushing through camp. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Raiola Faces A Different Test As His Oregon Chapter Begins
Dylan Raiola has spent most of his college career under a national microscope, and now the former Nebraska quarterback is trying to carve out a fresh start in a different setting at Oregon. Dan Lanning has already taken notice of how Raiola has handled the spotlight, along with the work he has put in as he settles into a quarterback room that is deeper and more competitive than the one he left behind.
Raiola also arrives with time on his side, carrying two years of eligibility as he begins this next chapter. For Oregon, the bigger question is less about the noise around him and more about how quickly he can turn that attention into traction in practice and, eventually, into a real role in a crowded competition. [Read more 🡒]