If you’re from Nebraska and you hear the word ‘sloppy’ your first thought usually isn’t Husker football, its rain, slush, and muddy roads. And those conditions typically don’t happen when the temperature is 100° with the sun beating down. But evidently conditions were perfect Saturday for sloppy football because that’s what Matt Rhule’s team gave fans for the first three quarters.
Call it opening day, first game jitters or whatever you want, but it wasn’t what Husker fans had been waiting to see for the last eight months. Most of us started imagining the 2026 season, during the second half of the game against Penn State in Happy Valley. And we continued to imagine what could lie ahead as we tried to block out the Iowa and Utah games.
So, when Ohio came out and punched the Blackshirts in the mouth with an opening pass play that went for 68 yards, like the players on the field, some fans felt sick to their stomachs. The remainder of the first half didn’t get any better and when Nebraska took possession to start the second half, promptly lost 21 yards in three plays and punted, well, there was more than one fan who felt the bottom of the season had fallen out.
And the uneasiness went on until there were only 12:00 minutes left in the game with Nebraska leading 28-21. The fact it was that close that late is a little hard to believe when you look at the statistics. Nebraska won this game 49-21, they scored touchdowns on their last five possessions while racking up 528 total yards.
Offense
Grade B-
If you are a Husker fan you can take solace in your new quarterback. Anthony Colandrea is everything that was advertised. He completed 18 of 32 passes for 275 yards, 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He also made what some call the play of the game when he ran for 13 yards and a touchdown in the third quarter. What made the play was his cut move up the sideline that looked as if it should’ve broken both his ankles. He is the juice that makes this team go on offense, and he reminded Husker fans of what they want to see from their quarterback.
Everyone from Matt Rhule to EJ Barthel and Dana Holgorsen has been telling us they liked the running back room. As fans, we heard them but had no proof that what they were saying had any substance. That changed on Saturday with Jamal Rule, Mekhi Nelson, and Isiah Mozee rushing for 217 yards and 3 TDs on the ground while having 4 receptions for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air.
Mozee got the first carry of the game, ripping off a 24-yard run. He finished with 6 carries for 31 yards. Mekhi Nelson had 10 carries for 69 yards and 1 TD. His longest was 29 yards. He also had 2 receptions for 65 yards. One of those went for 51 yards and a touchdown. But it was the true freshman, Jamal Rule, who thrilled the crowd with his 122 yards, 2 TDs rushing and 47 yards and 1 TD receiving. He had a long run of 39 yards. The Husker’s final 21 carries netted 204 yards of their 523 total yards.
It was thought all through the offseason that the top three wide receivers would be Kwazi Gilmer, Jacory Barney Jr. and Nyziah Hunter. And other than the running backs joining the party that seemed to be the case. Barney was targeted 8 times and had 5 receptions for 60 yards. Gilmer was targeted 10 times and had 5 receptions for 58 yards and 1 TD. Hunter was targeted a single time and had a 17-yard reception.
I was glad to see Colandrea find tight tend Luke Lindenmeyer in the second half. Lindenmeyer was targeted twice and had 2 receptions for 44 yards. The tight end will need to be a threat for Nebraska’s offense to be effective.
And why were skill personnel so effective in this game? Because of good offensive line play. Other than penalties, Nebraska’s offensive line had a good game and their ability to move made them more effective than we’ve seen in the past. Runners found room on the outside, but between the tackles didn’t go as well. Improved inside blocking will be needed to be truly effective. As for the outside, runners won’t find it as easy against teams like Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State. They are better coached and have better talent.
Defense
Grade C- -
While the Blackshirts weren’t the simple, fast, and violent team we expected to see, they did hold Ohio to 303 total yards, 164 passing, and 139 rushing. And we all made a mental note of what a mobile quarterback might do to us down the road as the 6’5”, 245-pound Nick Poulus rushed for 70 yards on 10 carries. It wasn’t a horrible outing for the Blackshirts, but the busted coverage on the first play of the game was concerning and Ohio’s quarterback had too much time to operate. What pressure he did get was from the interior line, which is a good thing, but there will need to be pressure from the edge in the future.
I had said before the game that I expected defensive tackle Riley Van Poppel to see as many if not more snaps than Owen Stoudmire. Stoudmire ended up playing 32 snaps, Van Poppel 30, and Jahsear Whittington 26. Edge Anthony Jones was the top dog, playing 52 snaps, giving him the opportunity to be credited with 3 quarterback pressures (two hurries, 1 hit) md was credited with 3 STOP tackles.
With Chambliss out, Dexter Foster and Vincent Shavers played the majority of the snaps. Foster with 52, Shavers with 50, and Dawson Merritt with 23. Shavers had a good game with 3 pressures and 3 STOP tackles. Foster struggled with tackling, recording 2 of the Blackshirts 8 missed tackles. He’ll need to continue to improve at reading running backs so that he can be in better position to make tackles.
Nebraska went deep into their roster with 11 different defensive backs seeing playing time. Andrew Marshall stood out, as he didn’t give up a reception even though he was targeted 6 times and had 1 pass break up. Nickel Donavan Jones had a good game, allowing just 2 receptions for -3 yards after being targeted 7 times. He recorded 2 pass break ups and 2 STOP tackles. Jeremiah Charles continues to struggle at corner, giving up the 68 yard pass to start the game and was responsible for 74 of the Bobcat’s 164 yards passing.
Special Teams
Grade C-
There isn’t much to talk about on special teams. They managed but weren’t as sharp as they needed to be with two offsides penalties on kickoffs and return play that wasn’t the smartest. Punter Archie Wilson looked good with a kick that pinned the opponent inside the 20 and Cunanan was perfect on extra points. But it’s the first game and there’s room for improvement overall.
It’s easy to say the Huskers weren’t as sharp as we wanted to see. But give Ohio credit, they arrived in Lincoln with thoughts of winning and they put the Big Red to the test. An ugly win is still a win.
GO BIG RED!! SIMPLE, FAST, VIOLENT!!
Photos courtesy of the Falls City Journal Home - Falls City Journal - Falls City, NE
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