Nebraska Football 2026: 2 Reasons for Hope, 2 for Concern
Nebraska football faces a pivotal 2026 season under head coach Matt Rhule, balancing optimism from a new quarterback and coaching staff against concerns over a depleted running back room and a historically bad run defense. The Huskers finished 7-6 last season, ending the year with blowout losses to Penn State, Iowa, and Utah.
Can Anthony Colandrea upgrade the Huskers' offense?
Nebraska fans have high hopes for new quarterback Anthony Colandrea. He arrives in Lincoln after earning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors at UNLV last season. Colandrea brings mobility and a strong arm, which could solve a major problem from 2025. Former quarterback Dylan Raiola was sacked 30 times last season. Colandrea's accuracy while throwing on the run should naturally reduce that sack pressure.
However, the Big Ten presents a much tougher challenge than the Mountain West. Colandrea will face elite defenses like Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon this fall. After Nebraska's opening three games, the rest of the schedule consists entirely of Big Ten matchups.
Will Matt Rhule's coaching changes pay off?
Head coach Matt Rhule enters his fourth season at Nebraska with a mediocre 19-19 record. Following a disastrous end to the 2025 season, which included a blowout loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Rhule made sweeping changes to his staff. The moves aim to address obvious shortcomings that collapsed a 5-1 start into a 7-6 finish.
Rob Aurich takes over as defensive coordinator, bringing strong credentials from San Diego State. Geep Wade arrives from Georgia Tech to coach the offensive line, and Roy Manning comes from San Diego State to coach the edge rushers. While drastic staff changes always carry risks regarding team chemistry, these hires directly address last year's failures.
How will Nebraska replace Emmett Johnson at running back?
Replacing the nation's fourth-leading rusher is a massive task. Emmett Johnson rushed for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, while also leading the team with 46 receptions. He consistently broke tackles and created yards out of nothing.
Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen expressed confidence in the current roster. Mekhi Nelson performed well in the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah, gaining 88 yards on 12 carries. Holgorsen also praised Isaiah Mozee, Kwinten Ives, and true freshman Jamal Rule. Still, replacing a star running back while breaking in a new offensive line coach creates legitimate concern.
Can the Huskers fix their red zone run defense?
Nebraska's run defense was historically bad when it mattered most. The Huskers ranked 133rd nationally in red zone defense last season. Opponents reached the red zone 38 times and scored on 37 of those trips. Even more alarming, opponents scored 30 touchdowns, with 24 of them coming on the ground.
Overall, Nebraska ranked 98th in the country against the run, allowing 175.4 yards per game. Hiring Aurich as defensive coordinator was widely considered their best offseason move, but until the defense proves it can stop the run, pessimism remains high.
What does Nebraska's 2026 schedule look like?
Nebraska faces a brutal Big Ten schedule this season. After three non-conference games, the Huskers play only Big Ten opponents for the remainder of the year, including matchups against Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon.
Who is Nebraska's new starting quarterback?
Anthony Colandrea is expected to be the new starting quarterback. He transferred to Nebraska after playing at Virginia and UNLV, where he won Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year in 2025.
Why did Matt Rhule change his coaching staff?
Matt Rhule changed his coaching staff because Nebraska lost three of its final games by blowout margins, including a bad loss to Iowa. The team collapsed from a 5-1 start to a 7-6 finish, prompting Rhule to bring in new coordinators and position coaches to fix clear errors.