The Huskers moved to 3-0 with a 34-7 win over the Fighting Hawks.
LINCOLN — A no-nonsense win to close out the non-conference slate for Nebraska.
The Huskers beat the Fighting Hawks of North Dakota on Saturday, 34-7. The win also keeps the Big Red undefeated all-time (17-0) against FCS opponents.
This is the third straight year that Nebraska has finished the non-conference schedule undefeated. The last time the Huskers had at least three such years in a row was 1997 to 2001.
Nebraska wasted no time getting on the board, winning the coin toss and taking the ball first. Each of the first two possessions for the Huskers went double-digit plays and lasted 4:29 and 5:54, respectively, capped off by touchdown runs from Anthony Colandrea and Jamal Rule.
Jamal Rule is averaging more than 100 yards a game through the first three contests. | Kenny Larabee, KLINBut the offense was tougher to get going in the second quarter. Nebraska's third and fourth possessions combined for just 33 yards on 13 plays. The two drives ended with a missed field goal and a punt. Kyle Cunanan's 32-yard field goal in the final minute of the half gave the Huskers a 17-0 lead at the break.
After a North Dakota three-and-out, Nebraska's offense flashed again. Rule took the handoff on the first offensive play of the half and found space, with a little help from Kwazi Gilmer, for the 55-yard touchdown.
North Dakota wasn't going out without scoring, though. Aided by penalties and with the guts to go for it on one of their five fourth-down attempts, Jerry Kaminski found Caleb Goodloe for the score. However, instead of turning the three-score game into a two-score one, the Fighting Hawks kicked the field goal to cut the deficit to 24-7.
Five minutes later, Quinn Clark caught a touchdown pass from Colandrea, and the game was effectively put away after a turnover on downs at the Nebraska 10-yard line.
Anthony Colandrea ends the non-conference slate with an 8-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio. | Kenny Larabee, KLINThe Huskers racked up 493 yards of total offense. The Blackshirts held North Dakota to just 205 yards, with 127 of those coming on two drives in the second half.
Colandrea completed 15-of-21 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, adding 19 yards and another score on the ground. TJ Lateef got time in the fourth quarter, completing 2-of-3 passes for 22 yards. Danny Kaelin went 1-for-2 for -1 yard.
On the ground, Rule shined again. The freshman tallied 119 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. He also had a pair of receptions for 35 yards.
Gilmer led the receivers with three catches for 42 yards. Four Huskers had at least 24 yards of receiving in the game.
Defensively, Dwayne McDougle led the way with seven tackles.
After the game and before the Cole Swindel concert, former Husker coach Tom Osborne was honored for his induction into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. Thanks to some legislation, he is the only living member ever inducted.
Tom Osborne's statue for his induction into the Nebraska Hall of Fame. | Dylan PardeNebraska goes on the road for the first time next week as Big Ten Conference play begins. The Huskers will take on the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, with kickoff on Saturday set for 4 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.
Nebraska Athletics Postgame Notes
- Nebraska improved to 3-0 all-time against North Dakota and 17-0 all-time against FCS opponents.
- Nebraska finished non-conference play with a perfect 3-0 record, marking the third straight season NU has gone undefeated in non-conference play. That marks Nebraska’s longest streak of going unbeaten in non-conference action since doing so for five straight years from 1997 to 2001.
- Nebraska has won 11 straight non-conference games dating back to 2023.
- Nebraska rushed for 277 yards and had 216 passing yards, marking the third straight game Nebraska has topped 200 yards in both categories. This is the first time Nebraska has had three straight 200-200 games since 2016.
- The Husker defense recorded five sacks for 48 yards, its most since having five sacks at Purdue in 2024.
- Freshman running back Jamal Rule had 15 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns, marking his second 100-yard rushing game of the season (122 yards vs. Ohio). Rule is the first freshman running back to have multiple 100-yard games in a season since David Horne had three in 2002.
- Rule also caught two passes for 35 yards, marking his second game this season with at least 150 yards from scrimmage (159 vs. Ohio).
- Quarterback Anthony Colandrea accounted for 214 yards of total offense, including 195 passing yards and 19 rushing yards. Colandrea rushed for a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter to open the scoring and threw for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
- Tight end Luke Lindenmeyer had a 33-yard reception in the second quarter to set up a Husker touchdown. The 33-yard catch was a career-long, bettering a 29-yard reception at Minnesota in 2025.
- Running back Mekhi Nelson rushed nine times for 54 yards, including 44 yards on the opening drive.
- Receiver Jacory Barney Jr. had two receptions for 35 yards. With his two receptions, he increased his career total to 115 catches, moving him into a tie for ninth place on the NU career receptions list (also Quincy Enunwa with 115). Barney has caught a pass in all 29 career games.
- Receiver Quinn Clark caught a 5-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, marking his second career touchdown. Clark’s two receptions were a career high.
- Kwazi Gilmer had three receptions for 42 yards, pushing his career receiving yardage total to 1,019 yards.
