Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Anthony Colandrea has signed a deal to return for the 2027 season, his final year of college eligibility, his agent confirmed Friday. Agent Noah Reisenfeld of 21 Sports & Entertainment told ESPN that Colandrea has agreed to stay in Lincoln. The news, first widely reported by Pete Thamel and others including On3’s Pete Nakos, provides major continuity at the most important position for coach Matt Rhule’s program heading into the offseason.
Colandrea, arrived at Nebraska this season after starting at UNLV in 2025, where he was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and spent two seasons at Virginia (2023-24). Through seven games in 2026, he has led the Huskers to a 5-2 record. He has completed about 62.6% of his passes for 1,570 yards, 14 touchdowns, and four interceptions while adding 334 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. He ranks among the conference leaders in total offense with around 271.9 yards per game.
The timing is notable. Earlier this month, Rhule publicly stated that multiple SEC programs had already contacted Colandrea amid the approaching transfer portal window. “He’s already got SEC schools calling him,” Rhule said. Colandrea’s agent indicated the quarterback was frustrated by transfer speculation and preferred to keep the focus on the field.
On3 reported that Colandrea is expected to be one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in college football next season. The agreement is described as the first known player contract extension in Nebraska program history in the current NIL and revenue-sharing era. It gives Rhule and general manager Pat Stewart a clear starter and a recruiting centerpiece, which could help retain or attract other offensive talent. The deal is rumored to be between $4-$6 million per sources close to the situation.
Nebraska’s 2027 class already includes five-star quarterback Trae Taylor III of Omaha, widely ranked as one of the country's top prospects. Taylor has stated that Colandrea’s return “changes absolutely nothing” for his commitment and that he looks forward to competing and learning in the quarterback room.
For his career, Colandrea has completed 63.6% of his passes for more than 9,100 yards with 63 touchdowns and 33 interceptions across stops at Virginia, UNLV and Nebraska, while adding significant production as a runner. He has another year of eligibility under the NCAA’s recent “5-for-5” rules.
For Nebraska, it is a significant step toward continuity as the program aims to build on its 2026 progress under Rhule. The Huskers and Colandrea will now focus on beating Washinton on Halloween night, and for a chance to lock in a bowl game appearance for a third straight year.
