Nebraska opened the Matt Rhule era’s fourth season with a 49-21 victory over Ohio on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, but anyone who watched the first 30 minutes knows the final score does not tell the full story.
On a brutally hot afternoon that sent fans crawling for the exits at halftime with the Huskers clinging to a 14-13 lead, Nebraska looked nothing like a $30 million roster. Ohio marched down the field on the opening drive, the secondary appeared soft, penalties piled up, and the whole operation felt disjointed. Then the Huskers flipped a switch after intermission, outscoring the Bobcats 35-8 and rolling up 300 yards of offense in the second half.
The 49-21 final will look tidy in the record books. If it had been 49-0 early and then 49-21, few would blink. The path matters, though. This was a game Nebraska does not win in the Scott Frost era, they would have laid down and died. It is also fair to wonder whether last year’s quarterback situation gets them out of Lincoln with the same result. The second-half surge saved the day, but the first-half tape will give the coaching staff plenty to chew on before Bowling Green arrives next Saturday.
Offense
Jamal Rule announced himself as RB1 in his first college game. The true freshman from North Carolina finished with 122 rushing yards and two scores on 15 carries, plus a 24-yard touchdown reception, totaling 169 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. He looked decisive, powerful, and comfortable in traffic. When Nebraska needed a spark, Rule provided it. Mekhi Nelson added two scores of his own, including a 51-yard catch-and-run, while Isaiah Mozee chipped in. The backfield rotation worked.
Anthony Colandrea’s debut was encouraging. The UNLV transfer completed 18 of 32 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, added a 13-yard rushing score, and showed the mobility and pre-snap motion that Dana Holgorsen’s offense wants. Nebraska used far more motion than in recent seasons. Colandrea, so far, looks to be a solid pickup for Nebraska.
The offensive line was better. After the money poured into that group, it needed to be. The run game generated 248 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Still, the unit was not mistake-free. Tight ends showed almost no improvement as pass-catchers or blockers in space. No clear WR1 emerged. The ball will likely stay spread until someone stops dropping catchable throws. Nebraska converted enough third downs and finished drives once it settled down, but the first-half execution did not match the investment.
Defense
The Blackshirts started slow. Ohio’s Nick Poulos carved up a soft secondary early, and the Bobcats scored on their first three possessions to lead 13-7. Mobile quarterbacks remain a problem. Poulos ran for 70 yards and a late touchdown; Nebraska still has not shown it can consistently contain that style of player.
The defensive line was more disciplined than in past years and generated some interior pressure. That is progress, even if the bar was low. Whittington flashed again and looks to be another solid pickup for Nebraska. The unit tightened up after halftime and limited Ohio to 115 yards in the second half. One interception from Rex Guthrie set up a late score. Yet the first-half softness and the inability to finish drives without help from Ohio mistakes are concerning.
Special Teams
Special teams graded out average-to-good, an improvement over some recent openers, but the unit still left points and field position on the table. Offsides on kickoffs is an extremely rare penalty, four times across all of FBS last season, and Nebraska was flagged for it twice. That is sloppy.
Archie Wilson did not look like the difference-making weapon some expected in the kicking game. His punts were serviceable but not consistently pinning Ohio deep, and one came uncomfortably close to being blocked. Coverage and return decisions also produced a few head-scratching moments. The unit did not lose the game, but it did not seize it either. Nebraska also needs to clean up its field-goal defense. The Huskers sent the house on multiple occasions. That aggressiveness can work until an opponent fakes it and walks into the end zone. Against better teams, that look will get exploited.
Conclusion
Nebraska is 1-0. The second-half dominance, Rule’s emergence, Colandrea’s poise, and the ability to wear down a MAC opponent in the heat are real positives. So is the fact that this group found a way when the first half suggested another familiar Lincoln letdown. The list of things that must improve is just as real: dumb penalties (nine for 65 yards), first-half execution that did not look like a high-end roster, secondary coverage, mobile-quarterback defense, special-teams discipline, and consistency from the skill positions beyond the running backs. Rhule’s teams have shown they can clean some of this up. They will need to. Bowling Green is next, then the schedule gets real. A win is a win. On Saturday, Nebraska earned one the hard way. The Huskers should be glad they did. They should also be honest about how close it felt for far too long. Nebraska should also be happy they didn’t need to cheat and add a mysterious second back on the clock to beat a MAC team.
