Nakai Amachree carried 13 times for 53 yards at Nebraska, while starting back Austyn Dendy managed 29 yards on 11 carries. Bowling Green lost 56-7, but the backfield split leaves a specific question for Saturday. Who can give the Falcons enough productive carries to keep handing the ball off?
Bowling Green visits Iowa State on Saturday, September 19, at noon ET on ESPNU, with an 8% chance to win. An upset would be a major surprise. There is no consequential outside result to chase this week; the interest is in whether the Falcons can stay involved long enough to threaten one. The interactive guide has the season projections, with the model explained in the methodology.
Nebraska outgained Bowling Green 369-46 in the first half. After his first full offseason following a March 2025 hiring, Eddie George needs the Falcons to stay competitive beyond halftime. With South Florida next and the MAC opener at Miami following that, George has two remaining nonconference games to find players who can sustain possessions together.
Dendy supplied reason to expect a larger contribution. He ran for 493 yards and five touchdowns over the final five games of 2025. Amachree's Nebraska production now gives him a case for continued work alongside Dendy. Watch which back turns an early-down carry into a manageable next snap, and whether the offense can keep returning to him. Iowa State held Iowa to 93 rushing yards, so neither Falcon should expect easy room.
Jay Kastantin completed 24 of 30 passes for 262 yards without an interception against Tarleton State. At Nebraska, he finished 10 of 16 for 84 yards, threw an interception and lost a fumble. Jeremiah Scoby's receiving production fell from 10 catches for 102 yards against Tarleton to two for 19 at Nebraska. Getting Scoby useful catches before third down would give Kastantin a way to extend drives without asking the backs to do everything. Ball security has to accompany those completions.
The defense must return the ball, too. Bowling Green entered the season without any of its seven 2025 postseason All-MAC honorees. Replacing that production requires more than an occasional individual highlight. Kal-El Pascal made 13 tackles at Nebraska and JoJo Johnson intercepted a pass, yet the Huskers rushed for 264 yards. Bowling Green allowed 7.8 yards per carry against both Tarleton and Nebraska. Root for tackles that leave Iowa State facing another difficult down, rather than another first down.
One of those departed Falcons will be across the field. Cameron Pettaway transferred to Iowa State after earning MAC Freshman of the Year and first-team All-MAC kick-return honors in 2025. His presence makes the missing production personal. Saturday's most encouraging possessions would put the attention back on the current Falcons, with Amachree or Dendy earning another handoff, Scoby helping move the chains, and Kastantin getting another series to finish.