HUSKERS FOOTBALL Recap – Over & Done By Halftime: NEBRASKA 56 Bowling Green 7

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LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - SEPTEMBER 12: Jamal Rule #25 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers breaks free and scores against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first half at Memorial Stadium on September 12, 2026 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) | Getty Images

They did play the entire game, and, if we’re honest, it appeared as if someone may have forgotten to alert the team the 3rd quarter had started.

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But that’s a quibble. I thought about the the last time I’d seen someone treated as badly as Bowling Green was in the first half, and the only thing coming to mind was Ned Beatty during the love scene from “Deliverance”. Unfortunately, the Falcons didn’t have Burt Reynolds and his trusty rifle to rescue them from abuse in this go ‘round.

In that first half, the Huskers rolled up 369 yards while finding the end zone on five straight drives for the second week in a row. QB1 Anthony Colandrea, who was picked off on the opening drive recovered to toss a pair of touchdowns each to Jacory Barney Jr and Kwazi Gilmer. And Jamal Rule piled all of his stats up in that half averaging 11.0 YPC on 8 totes for 88 yards. The highlight was a burst through a hole in the middle which he blew through before cutting it right and going 59 yards untouched on the game’s longest play.

Colandrea played a little in the second half and finished 20-24 for 222 yards completing 83% of his passes, only running 3 times for 34 yards (sack adjusted). Barney’s 2 TD’s were part of an 8 reception 115 yard performance.

If there was a gripe, it was that 3rd quarter, in which the Huskers appeared to be sleepwalking after the dominant first half performance, especially the defense. The Falcons controlled the ball for 12 of the 15 minutes and scored their only touchdown. It wasn’t disastrous or anything as they gained 90 yards total in all that time (allowing the Huskers only 28 yards in their 3+ minutes with the rock), but the Blackshirts were simply frustrated in not being able to get them off the field after getting five 3 & outs in the 1st half.

After the Falcons punched the touchdown in to start the 4th quarter, Nebraska came back to life. They responded by driving 60 yards finished off by an Isaiah Mozee 7-yard TD run thus soothing the Husker gambling contingent by retaking the cover with a 42-7 lead.

Then, with subs getting their shots, Malcom Simpson forced a fumble which Derek Wacker snagged and ran back 25 yards for 49-7 advantage. After a another 3 & out, T.J. Lateef got the keys to the car and, with some big completions, took the Huskers 79 yards hitting Kwinten Ives swinging to the right and Ives turned on some surprising wheels blazing in from 6 yards out to conclude the scoring in the 56-7 victory.

Okay, Kyle Cunanan did that with his 8th extra point; let’s respect out kickers.

It may appear I was disrespecting the defense earlier, and nothing could be farther from the truth. In 11 drives the Falcons did indeed score one touchdown. In the other 10, they forced 7 punts with 7 three & outs, an interception by Donovan Jones, and Wacker’s fumble-six. The only other drive ended the game.

Andrew Marshall and Dwayne McDougle led with 7 tackles each and the group had 2 Sacks, 6 Tackles for Loss and 5 QB Hits (2 by Jahsir Whittington). On the day, the defense only allowed 169 yards to go with the 546 amassed by the offense.

Bowling Green was not a strong opponent, but the Huskers cleaned up a good deal from Week 1. The penalties were a little higher than desired with 7 for 65 yards, but a strong case could be made all night by both teams that some of the calls were extremely soft, especially where holding was concerned.

But visible strides were made and the Nebraska Cornhuskers will have one more lower pressure week to do so again before they travel to East Lansing and begin the Big 10 slate to see if this is the squad who finally allows the Husker Faithful to believe this is the road which truly leads back.



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