Anthony Colandrea threw four first-half touchdown passes in Nebraska’s 56-7 win over Bowling Green, with Jacory Barney Jr. and Kwazi Gilmer catching two apiece. Nebraska outgained the Falcons 369-46 before halftime. A week earlier, Ohio had stayed within one point at the break. This time, the Huskers made their passing game count early.
North Dakota visits Saturday, September 19, at 6:15 p.m. Central on BTN, before Nebraska opens Big Ten play at Michigan State on September 26. Fan Watch gives Nebraska a 99.6% chance to win Saturday. No outside result warrants a rooting recommendation this week; the interactive guide and methodology have the forecast details.
Expect another Nebraska win, with particular attention to how often Colandrea has to absorb contact. After Bowling Green, Matt Rhule praised his accuracy but singled out defender Dom Woods for disrupting the protection too often. On Monday, Rhule again identified too many quarterback hits and punt-return mistakes as unfinished work. Watch whether Nebraska’s blockers let Colandrea finish throws without paying for them afterward.
North Dakota brings enough production to make the defensive possessions interesting. It has a 3-0 record, No. 6 rankings in both FCS polls and 50.3 points per game. The Fighting Hawks have scored an opening-drive touchdown in all three games. At Portland State, Jerry Kaminski threw for 336 yards while the offense rushed for 291. Nebraska can give fans something concrete to cheer early by making that offense punt on its first possession.
Under first-year defensive coordinator Rob Aurich, Nebraska held Bowling Green to 169 yards and just two third-down conversions in 12 attempts. After the Ohio opener, Rhule had identified quarterback-containment problems, missed assignments and tackling that needed improvement. Against North Dakota, watch defenders hold their responsibilities and finish tackles when the offense threatens them through both the run and pass. That would carry the improvement beyond one favorable matchup.
The backfield deserves attention between the throws, too. Emmett Johnson left for the NFL Draft after supplying 1,821 scrimmage yards and 46 catches in 2025, so replacing him requires receiving work as well as rushing yards. Against Bowling Green, Jamal Rule started and gained 88 rushing yards; he, Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee each received eight carries, and Nelson and Mozee also caught passes. Keep rooting for all three to contribute without Nebraska having to force the entire workload onto one runner.
Rhule has publicly rejected 7-6 as the program’s ambition, and Nebraska went 2-10 in November during his first three seasons. September cannot settle either concern. Nebraska has one more game to cut down on quarterback hits and wasted possessions before visiting Michigan State.
That includes possessions starting after punts. Nebraska drew three punt-return holding penalties against Bowling Green, and Rhule accepted responsibility for adjusting the unit’s aggressive coaching to the officiating. Saturday offers the next look at that adjustment. A return that keeps its yards would be a small, satisfying improvement. Let the offense begin where the returner earned it.