Just How Good Was Nebraska’s Offense Against Bowling Green? The PFF Grades Say Elite

Anthony Colandrea helped Nebraska operate at an elite level Saturday night, and the numbers back it up in a big way. In the Huskers’ (2-0) 56-7 blowout win over Bowling Green (0-2), Nebraska totaled 546 yards from scrimmage and went a perfect 4-for-4 on touchdown drives inside the red zone. The Big Red moved the ball seemingly at will against the Falcons, continuing the offensive momentum from a season-opening performance that also produced seven touchdowns.

In total, 33 different Nebraska players took offensive snaps against Bowling Green. Here’s a full breakdown of how each position group graded out, courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Is Anthony Colandrea Nebraska’s Best Quarterback in Years?

Colandrea continues to show he’s capable of making the kind of plays that get a stadium out of its seats. The fourth-year quarterback completed 20 of 24 passing attempts for 222 yards and four touchdowns, adding 33 rushing yards on four carries. He finished the night with a 92.0 overall PFF grade — an elite number by any measure.

Colandrea was technically charged with an interception on the official stat sheet, but PFF didn’t fault him for the turnover in its grading. He also didn’t have a single pass batted down at the line, while Nebraska’s receivers didn’t drop a single target all night. Colandrea was also responsible for three of Nebraska’s eight rushing plays of 10-plus yards in Week 2.

Behind him, sophomore TJ Lateef continued to get valuable reps, completing 6 of 8 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown while adding another explosive run of his own, finishing with a 59.8 overall grade across 12 snaps.

Does Nebraska Have the Deepest Running Back Room in the Big Ten?

Nebraska’s running back room put its depth on full display, with all six scholarship ball carriers seeing the field against Bowling Green. Jamal Rule led the team in rushing, carrying the ball eight times for 88 yards and the third rushing touchdown of his young collegiate career, capped by a 59-yard score in the second quarter before being pulled for the rest of the game. Through just six quarters of college football, Rule has already accumulated 257 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns — an eye-opening start for the true freshman.

Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee each carried the ball eight times as well. Nelson averaged 6 yards per carry, finishing with 48 rushing yards and adding 34 receiving yards on two catches, good for a 70.4 overall grade. Mozee turned in 55 rushing yards and a touchdown to go with a 14-yard reception, posting a 69.3 grade.

Kwinten Ives, Connor Booth, and Vincent Genatone all saw their first offensive snaps of the 2026 season in Week 2. Combined, the trio totaled just 14 offensive snaps but still produced five touches for 36 all-purpose yards and a touchdown — meaningful production for a group getting its first extended look of the year.

Are Kwazi Gilmer and Jacory Barney Jr. Nebraska’s Best Receiving Duo in Years?

UCLA transfer Kwazi Gilmer and returning starter Jacory Barney Jr. remain clearly ahead of the rest of Nebraska’s receiver room. Barney turned in the best performance of the group, catching 8 of 10 targets for 115 yards and two touchdowns, good for a 73.4 overall grade. Gilmer matched his touchdown total, hauling in six catches for 39 yards and posting a 70.1 grade of his own. Through two games, the duo has now combined for 24 receptions on 34 total targets — a clear sign of where Nebraska’s passing game is being funneled early this season.

The rest of Nebraska’s wide receiver room has combined for just 11 targets and seven catches through two games. Despite offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen publicly stating earlier in the week that he wanted to get Nyziah Hunter more involved, the senior was targeted just twice against Bowling Green, catching one pass for four yards and finishing with a 52.0 overall grade. It’s not a concerning trend yet, but Nebraska will likely need to find more consistent ways to get one of its more experienced skill players involved as the season progresses.

Elsewhere in the room, sophomore Cortez Mills saw his first action of the fall, and senior Demitrius Bell recorded the first reception of his entire collegiate career. Quinn Clark remains the clear first receiver off the bench, but has managed just two catches for 16 yards through two games.

Tight End/Fullback: Luke Lindenmeyer Remains Nebraska’s Most Trusted Option

Luke Lindenmeyer continues to be Nebraska’s clear top tight end, logging 45 snaps against Bowling Green. After opening the season with two catches for 22 yards, he added two more receptions on three targets for 16 additional yards in Week 2, finishing with a 57.4 overall grade.

In a mild surprise, junior Carter Nelson logged the second-most snaps at the position despite not being targeted in the passing game at all. Even without any receiving production yet, it’s clear the coaching staff is intentionally building up his workload ahead of Big Ten play.

While the tight end room hasn’t produced much through the air, the group has still played a major role in Nebraska’s ground success. The Huskers’ running backs have combined for 419 rushing yards through the first eight quarters of the 2026 season, with Marcus Satterfield’s tight ends and fullbacks doing plenty of the unheralded blocking work that’s opened up those running lanes.

Is Justin Evans the Best Center in College Football?

Nebraska’s offensive line has been the backbone of this early-season success, led by fifth-year center Justin Evans. After posting a 71.0 overall grade in Week 1 against Ohio, Evans jumped to a 78.4 grade against Bowling Green. Across 130 total offensive snaps this season, he has not allowed a single sack, quarterback hit, or hurry, while committing just one penalty. Evans didn’t allow a sack at all during the 2025 season either, and his continued dominance is helping validate his standing as the No. 4-ranked interior offensive lineman nationally heading into the 2027 NFL Draft.

For the second consecutive week, South Carolina transfer Tree Babalade was the first offensive lineman off the bench. He’s played just 25 total offensive snaps this season but, like Evans, hasn’t allowed a sack, hurry, or quarterback hit in that time — exactly the kind of steady depth performance Nebraska hoped for when it added him via the transfer portal.

As a group, Nebraska’s offensive line has been charged with just five hurries, one sack, and three quarterback hits through eight quarters of football in 2026. That level of consistency has helped the Huskers rack up 1,069 total yards of offense and 15 touchdowns through two games — an especially impressive number given that Nebraska is breaking in two new position coaches and two new starters up front this season.

Why Nebraska’s Offensive Depth Should Excite Husker Fans

Between an elite, mistake-free performance from Anthony Colandrea, a running back room deep enough to get all six scholarship backs meaningful touches, and an offensive line anchored by one of the best interior linemen in the country, Nebraska’s offense looks like it’s built for far more than just beating up on overmatched non-conference opponents. With Big Ten play approaching, the Huskers’ ability to spread the ball around and stay multiple on offense could make them a genuinely tough matchup for anyone left on the schedule.