Nebraska’s season opener had the kind of shape that can make a fanbase exhale in the second half. The Huskers walked away with a 49-21 win over Ohio, and while the first 30 minutes were messy enough to keep things interesting, the back half turned into a showcase.
Ohio struck first with a 68-yard pass, and the game was tied 14-13 at halftime. From there, Nebraska flipped the script hard. The Huskers finished with five straight touchdown drives and outscored the Bobcats 35-8 after the break.
Anthony Colandrea was at the center of it all. He piled up 298 total yards and four touchdowns, including one on the ground, and Pro Football Focus backed up the eye test with an 84.3 grade, the highest on Nebraska’s offense. Jamal Rule wasn’t far behind at 83.8, while Luke Lindenmeyer checked in at 80.
Colandrea also kept the ball clean. He didn’t put a single throw in the turnover-worthy category, and the offensive line didn’t allow a sack. Nebraska did give up two sacks overall, but neither came because the line lost its block.
Rule’s debut may have been the loudest statement of the day. The freshman running back turned 17 touches into 169 yards and three touchdowns, including 15 carries for 122 yards. Nebraska got production from all three backs, and the group consistently created after contact.
One of the big early takeaways from the game was that Rule’s performance belonged in rare company, with the debut described as one of the best by a freshman since T-Magic. Another was that the defense may have come out of the opener with more credit than it’s getting.
At one point, Nebraska stacked up six straight stops. After the opening play, the Huskers didn’t allow a single snap of more than 20 yards. And once you strip away some quarterback runs, Ohio was held to just over three yards per carry.
There were still some uneven moments, but Nebraska’s offense had no trouble finding explosives. Mekhi Nelson and Rule combined for 298 yards on 28 carries, and the unit repeatedly hit big plays in space.
Nebraska volleyball had its own frustrating night. The Huskers were set to play Missouri at Wrigley Field on Sunday, but the match was suspended because moisture on the court made conditions unworkable.
Troy Dannen addressed the decision in a statement: “It was very unfortunate we were not able to complete the match tonight vs Missouri. The temperatures cooled quickly after sunset and combined with high humidity, it was impossible to keep condensation from developing on the court.
We appreciated the effort from the Big 10 Conference to find a solution, and ultimately their discretion in ending the match. Wrigley Field was awash in red.
The team was most disappointed that the fans lost the chance to watch this match in this incredible venue.”
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 🡒]