Nebraska didn’t exactly put on a flawless show at Michigan State, but it did enough to walk out with an 18-point road win, and that matters. The first conference game of the year came away from home against the toughest opponent the Huskers had faced so far, and even with some uneven stretches on both sides of the ball, the result never felt wildly stressful.
There were still plenty of annoying moments. Nebraska opened both halves with three-and-outs, and the defense spent the third quarter in that familiar “bend but don’t break” mode. Still, if you offered Husker fans an 18-point win on the road, they’d take it immediately.
Now comes Maryland, and the setup looks a lot cleaner on paper. The Terrapins were blown out in their own stadium last week, a 51-point beatdown that included five turnovers and almost nothing working on either side of the ball.
That’s the kind of performance that makes a team look broken. But conference play has a way of turning things sideways fast.
That’s really been the story of Nebraska through four games: steady. The numbers have stayed fairly even from week to week in total yards, points per game, and overall control.
The Huskers have cleaned up the penalties, including the kind of mistakes that show up on punt returns. On defense, they’ve won the turnover battle every game.
Those are the habits of a solid team.
Maryland’s biggest weapon is obvious. The Terrapins have a quarterback who gave Nebraska plenty of trouble last year, and they lean on him heavily.
They throw the ball around 40 times per game because he’s their best player. Chris Durr Jr. is the receiver who stands out most, but the Husker secondary should be able to keep him from taking over.
Defensively, Maryland is allowing about 26 points a game, and that number looks even uglier after the 89 points it has surrendered over the last two games.
Nebraska, meanwhile, has looked competent even if the pace can be slow at times. The offense has done a better job turning possessions into scores, and the defense held up well against Michigan State. There’s still room for some noise over the next few weeks, but this matchup doesn’t look like one of the big stress points.
That matters because the Huskers might still have another gear to find. Last season, after the Akron and Houston Christian games, it felt like Nebraska had already peaked.
That hasn’t been the vibe with this group. Indiana and Oregon are coming in the next couple of weeks, and that will be the real test.
For now, though, Nebraska looks fine exactly where it is.
There’s also a broader trend worth watching. Big Ten play tends to reward teams that improve little by little, and Nebraska has done that.
The rushing attack wasn’t special, but it was enough to keep Michigan State honest. Colandrea’s deep ball threat should help open up the run game as well.
The Blackshirts are doing their part, too. Six turnovers through four games is a strong start, and if Nebraska keeps finishing the turnover battle at even or better, it gives itself a real shot in just about every game.
Outside of Ohio State, nobody in the league has exactly blown the doors off. Oregon looked sharp against USC, but that same Trojan defense gave up 35 to Rutgers.
So for this week, the message is simple: steady as she goes. Nebraska still needs to find that next level, but first it has to avoid getting careless against Maryland.
A bad team can look better one week and awful the next, and while that doesn’t seem likely here, the Huskers can’t afford to gamble on it. Put the Terps away early, stay healthy, and get ready for the next one.
Go Big Red.
In Other News...
Jamal Rules Nebraska Breakout Comes With One Huge Worry
Jamal Rule has gone from under-the-radar recruit to one of Nebraskas early season revelations, and the freshman running back is already drawing national attention for the kind of start that can tilt a depth chart fast. Through the first month of the 2026 season, Rule has piled up 333 rushing yards in four appearances and two starts, while scoring six touchdowns in three games, production that has him sitting No. 4 on The Athletics list of the most impactful freshmen.
For Nebraska, the excitement comes with a catch, because Rules recent injury against Michigan State has left his availability uncertain at the exact moment his role was starting to expand. Coaches and analysts have been impressed by how quickly he adapted after arriving as a lower-ranked recruit, but the bigger question now is whether the Cornhuskers can keep building around a back who has already changed the look of their offense, if only they can get him back on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Former Huskers Are Giving Nebraska Fans Something To Track On Sundays
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Ty Robinson showed up in Philadelphia with tackles for the Eagles, while Emmett Johnson was part of Kansas Citys win, giving Nebraska supporters a couple of names to follow beyond just box-score watching. The broader list of former Huskers on practice squads also keeps the pipeline visible, even if the biggest questions now are which of them can keep turning those Sunday opportunities into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Tree Babalade Is Forcing A Nebraska Lineup Decision Up Front
Tree Babalades steady rise has become one of the more interesting developments along Nebraskas offensive front. After a strong showing against Michigan State, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said the lineman is improving and earning more playing time, which is the kind of progress that can start to change how the Huskers think about their protection up front.
Holgorsen also pointed to Elijah Pritchett turning in his best game, and the next step may be figuring out how to fit Babalade, Pritchett and Gunnar into the rotation together. There is still some sorting to do, and the same goes for quarterback Anthony Colandrea, whose quick decision-making and mobility could give Nebraska another layer if the staff finds the right way to use him. [Read more 🡒]