Nebraska’s 49-21 win over Ohio on Saturday at Memorial Stadium had the kind of uneven shape that keeps a coaching staff busy on Sunday.
The Huskers never fully put the game away early, carrying only a one-point lead into halftime and then seeing Ohio creep back within seven in the fourth quarter. From there, Nebraska finished with authority, ripping off 21 unanswered points to turn a tight opener into a comfortable finish.
That final margin left plenty for Matt Rhule and his staff to like, but it also left a stack of cleanup items before Week 2.
One of the biggest bright spots was Rule, who arrived as one of the more uncertain pieces in Nebraska’s running back room and left looking like a player who could matter quickly in Dana Holgorsen’s offense. Rule ran 15 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns, added two catches for 47 yards and another score, and finished with 169 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in his first college game.
His second-half burst stood out even more. Rule piled up 106 rushing yards on just eight carries after halftime as Nebraska gradually took control.
Replacing Emmett Johnson was never going to be simple, but Rule made the job look a little less daunting.
Anthony Colandrea also gave Nebraska a debut worth circling. He went 18-of-32 for 275 yards, three passing touchdowns and no interceptions, and he added another score on the ground.
The play that best captured what he brings came in the third quarter, when Colandrea escaped pressure and turned a 13-yard run into a touchdown. That ability to extend plays with his legs looked like a real difference-maker for Nebraska at quarterback.
It wasn’t flawless, but four total touchdowns and no turnovers is a strong opening statement.
The offense, as a whole, also showed the kind of physical edge Nebraska has been trying to build. The Huskers ran for 248 yards on 42 carries, with Rule, Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee all finding room. After halftime, Nebraska leaned on Ohio even harder, putting up 183 rushing yards in the second half alone.
There’s a long way to go, and tougher defensive fronts are coming, but for a unit Nebraska invested heavily in during the offseason, this was a solid first step.
The penalties, though, are going to stick out in the film room. Nebraska was flagged nine times for 65 yards, and several of those calls arrived at bad moments. The most damaging came when a penalty erased what would have been a 57-yard touchdown catch by Nyziah Hunter late in the first half.
Against Ohio, Nebraska had enough talent to shrug off those mistakes. Against Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten slate, nine penalties could swing games.
There was also room for more from the defense. Nebraska’s new-look unit eventually settled in, but the pressure on Ohio quarterback Nick Poulos wasn’t consistent enough. Early on, Poulos had too much time, and he also hurt the Huskers with his legs, finishing as Ohio’s leading rusher with 70 yards.
Some growing pains come with a defense learning Rob Aurich’s system, but Nebraska will need a steadier pass rush as the schedule gets tougher.
Colandrea’s numbers could have been even bigger, too. Kwazi Gilmer was clearly his favorite target, but he also dropped three passes. Nebraska still threw for 275 yards and scored 49 points, so the misses didn’t change the outcome, but they’re the kind of mistakes that become more costly when the margin shrinks.
In the end, Nebraska won by 28 despite an uneven first half, nine penalties and a handful of missed chances. The positives were obvious: Rule may have found his place, Colandrea looked comfortable in his first start, and the offensive line helped pave the way for nearly 250 rushing yards.
Rhule has plenty to fix, but Husker fans have reasons to be encouraged.
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 🡒]