5 things learned from Nebraska’s blowout win over Bowling Green

It wasn’t hard to predict that Nebraska football was going to destroy Bowling Green.

We predicted the Huskers would win the game 52-10. So it was a more impressive victory than even we expected. Nebraska covered the 30.5-point spread with ease, winning the game by 49 points, one week after a 28-point win over Ohio.

The running game was dominant, going off for 264 yards. Nebraska had 536 yards total. The Huskers scored seven offensive touchdowns for the second week in a row. Bowling Green was held to just 169 yards.

It wasn’t perfect. The third quarter was sloppy and left a lot to be desired. Still, it’s being pretty nitpicky to complain too much about a 49-point victory.

Looking back at the 56-7 win, here are five things we learned from Nebraska’s win over Bowling Green.

Anthony Colandrea has been a major upgrade at quarterback

Anthony Colandrea became the first Nebraska quarterback to throw four touchdown passes and have just four incompletions since 2006. The UNLV transfer completed 20-of-24 passes for 224 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. He also rushed for 34 yards.

The Huskers scored touchdowns on five consecutive drives in each of the first two games. Some fans were frustrated by the third quarter. Nebraska also missed a field goal, but man, after two weeks, Nebraska fans should be over-the-moon excited about the play of Colandrea.

He will be the difference-maker Dylan Raiola was supposed to be.

Jamal Rule isn’t a fluke; Neither is the run game

Rule only carried the ball eight times. He turned that into 88 yards and a touchdown, thanks to a 59-yard run. Isaiah Mozee also carried the ball eight times for 55 yards and a score with a long run of 19. Mekhi Nelson carried the ball eight times for 48 yards with a long of 20.

Nebraska football handed the ball to its top three running backs 24 times and got 191 yards (7.95 per carry). Through two games, Nebraska is rushing for 256 yards per game and averaging 6.7 yards per attempt.

As much as Colandrea has been the star of the show, the development of the run game is exciting. When you add in what Colandrea can do, it’s not hard to predict that Nebraska will actually be a better running team this season, even without Emmett Johnson.

That’s all thanks to a running back room that is a legit three deep.

Rob Aurich is the real deal

It has only been two games against MAC teams. I get it. But in two games, the Huskers have allowed 20 points. More impressively, that 68-yard pass to start the game against Ohio is still the only explosive play given up by the Blackshirts in two games.

Take out the Jeremiah Charles brain fart, and Nebraska football hasn’t allowed a single play over 20 yards in two games. I don’t care who the opponent is; that’s solid defense.

Nebraska’s defensive line has to play better. Aurich looks like he will have to manufacture some pass rush, which will be worrisome in Big Ten play.

So far, though, the Huskers are allowing just 236 yards per game. Teams are averaging 3.4 yards per rushing attempt and completing only 50 percent of their passes.

Nebraska can only play the teams on the schedule. The defense will have to prove itself against Big Ten competition, but after two weeks, count me among the highly encouraged.

Penalties need to be cleaned up

For the second week in a row, Jacory Barney was called for a penalty that brought back a touchdown, when his block wasn’t really needed.

It’s easy to say it’s not a big deal because it’s Bowling Green. But against Michigan State or Maryland or Iowa, that could cost the Huskers dearly. They were penalized seven times for 65 yards. There were too many penalties in Week 1, too.

That will be a focus moving forward, and it should be.  This Nebraska team is talented. The problem is that every team in the Big Ten is too. The Huskers aren’t talented enough that they can overcome beating themselves.

Special teams could be sharper, too.

Matt Rhule wasn’t blowing smoke

Nebraska football hasn’t achieved anything this season. Let’s be clear about that. But with an offense that’s scoring 52.5 points per game and a defense allowing just 14, it feels like Matt Rhule might have been right when he said this was his best team in Lincoln.

Rhule certainly has the best quarterback that he’s had. The offensive line feels like the best of the Rhule era, too. The Nebraska head coach found an up-and-comer at DC, and honestly, this team passes the eye test.

It’s capable of winning eight or nine games. The schedule already is looking easier than it did during the offseason. Nebraska has to prove it on the field. It has to beat a ranked team before people will believe it can happen again.

However, the vibes of this team are good. It does feel like Rhule’s best team, and it will be interesting to see what he can do with it.

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