Lincoln – Nebraska’s offense amassed more than 500 yards of total offense for the second straight game, including 369 on its way to a 35-0 halftime lead, as the Huskers bowled over visiting Bowling Green 56-7 on Saturday night.
Playing in front of the NCAA-record 412th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium, Nebraska rolled up 546 total yards, including 282 passing and 264 on the ground, to improve to 2-0 on the young season. The Husker defense held the Falcons to just 169 yards, including 84 passing and 85 rushing, as Bowling Green slipped to 0-2.
Anthony Colandrea quarterbacked an efficient Husker offense by completing 20-of-24 passes for 222 yards and four touchdowns through the air, while adding four carries for 33 yards on the ground. He completed 17-of-20 passes for 184 yards and all four scores in the half.
Husker receivers Jacory Barney Jr. and Kwazi Gilmer each had a pair of first-half touchdown catches to spark the Big Red outburst.
Colandrea opened the scoring with his 35-yard strike to Barney to complete a nine-play, 59-yard drive with 7:34 left in the first quarter.
On Bowling Green’s next drive, Husker defensive end Williams Nwaneri batted a Jay Kastantin pass, and Donovan Jones swooped in from the secondary for an interception to set Nebraska up at the Falcon 38. Seven plays later, Colandrea found Gilmer with a 12-yard strike in the end zone to put NU up 14-0 heading to the second quarter.
Colandrea and Gilmer connected again midway through the second quarter, this time with a brilliant pass from Colandrea to his right that Gilmer made a spectacular diving catch on while dragging his feet in the end zone to put NU up 21-0 with 8:36 left in the half. Gilmer finished the half with six catches on six targets for 39 yards.
Freshman running back Jamal Rule got into the act on Nebraska’s next drive, carrying three times for all 73 yards on the possession, capped by a 59-yard touchdown burst to put the Big Red in front 28-0 with 5:16 remaining in the half. Rule ended the half with eight carries for 88 yards.
The Huskers capped the big first half with Colandrea’s perfect 32-yard scoring strike to Barney, who finished the night with eight catches for 115 yards. The junior from Florida made a highlight-reel, fingertip catch to cap the five-play, 79-yard drive and give Nebraska a 35-0 halftime lead. He had seven receptions for 104 yards in the first half alone.
While Nebraska’s offense was firing on all cylinders with 185 yards rushing and 184 yards passing in the half, the Husker defense was dominant. The Blackshirts held the Falcons to just 46 total yards on 21 plays.
After a scoreless third quarter in which Nebraska only had one possession that resulted in a missed 55-yard field goal attempt, the Blackshirts lost the shutout with Bowling Green’s 19-yard touchdown pass from Kastantin to tight end Leo Kemp on the opening play of the fourth quarter.
Nebraska answered with a strong nine-play, 60-yard march capped by Isaiah Mozee‘s seven-yard touchdown run. Mozee finished his night with eight carries for 55 yards, while adding one reception for 14 yards.
The defense then notched its first score of the season, forcing a fumble by Kastantin that was scooped up by linebacker Derek Wacker, who rumbled 25 yards for a touchdown to give Nebraska a 49-7 lead with 9:29 left.
Quarterback TJ Lateef entered for Nebraska’s final drive of the night and marched the Huskers right down the field for the game’s final score capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to Kwinten Ives. Lateef finished 6-of-8 for 60 yards, while adding two carries for 22 yards on the 79-yard march.
Nebraska completes its three-game season-opening home stand by playing host to North Dakota on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:15 p.m. (CT) with live television coverage by the Big Ten Network.
Game Summary
Nebraska 49
Bowling Green 7
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026
Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Neb.)
Attendance: 86,193
First Quarter (NEB, 14-0)
7:34 – NEB – Jacory Barney Jr. 35 pass from Anthony Colandrea (Kyle Cunanan kick), 9 plays, 59 yards, 4:19, NEB 7-0
0:32 – NEB – Kwazi Gilmer 12 pass from Colandrea (Cunanan kick), 7 plays, 38 yards, 4:04, NEB 14-0
Second Quarter (NEB, 35-0)
8:36 – NEB – Gilmer 4 pass from Colandrea (Cunanan kick), 9, plays, 77 yards, 4:45, NEB 21-0
5:16 – NEB – Jamal Rule 59 run (Cunanan kick), 3 plays, 73 yards, 1:12, NEB 28-0
1:54 – NEB – Barney 32 pass from Colandrea (Cunanan kick), 5 plays, 79 yards, 2:20, NEB 35-0
Third Quarter (NEB 35-0)
No Scoring
Fourth Quarter (NEB 56-7)
14:53 – BG – Leo Kemp 19 pass from Jay Kastantin (Travis Kenner kick), 6 plays, 63 yards, 3:34, NEB 35-7
10:30 – NEB – Isaiah Mozee 7 run (Cunanan kick), 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:15, NEB 42-7
9:29 – NEB – Derek Wacker 25 fumble return (Cunanan kick), NEB 49-7
1:18 – NEB – Kwinten Ives 6 pass from TJ Lateef (Cunanan kick), 12 plays, 79 yards, 5:39, NEB 56-7
Length of Game: 3:15
