Husker Big Red Daily: Nebraska bowl projections, North Dakota ‘coming to win’, and more

Welcome to Husker Big Red Daily, your daily stop for the latest Nebraska football news, recruiting buzz, transfer portal updates, and Huskers headlines. Here’s a quick look at the latest storylines surrounding Nebraska athletics.

Nebraska football will host a sixth-ranked team on Saturday; only North Dakota is the No. 6 team in the latest FCS Rankings.

North Dakota is the final non-conference game of the regular season for the Huskers, who open Big Ten play against Michigan State.

The Huskers have started 2-0 for the third straight season. Nebraska football is scoring 52.5 points per game and averaging 534 yards of total offense, while allowing just 236 yards and 14 points per game.

Nebraska isn’t close to being ranked. It shouldn’t be unless it does pull off a 5-0 start. The bowl projections are starting to get more favorable for the Huskers, though. Brett McMurphy of On3 had Nebraska projected to the Cactus Bowl last week. This week, he’s got the Big Red headed to the Music City Bowl.

ESPN (2 predictors) has Nebraska projected to play in the Pinstripe Bowl and the Music City Bowl. Athlon also has the Huskers playing in the Music City Bowl, with South Carolina being the opponent.

Matt Rhule looks ahead to North Dakota

The Huskers are a 24.5-point favorite against North Dakota. Yet, the last time the Fighting Hawks were in Lincoln, Nebraska didn’t pull away till the second half.

Nebraska’s defense has played well. The pass rush could be better; although it did generate 14 pressures against Bowling Green, there were just two sacks. Against North Dakota, a team that runs and throws it well, the D-line will be tested.

“They have probably one of the most well-coached offensive lines I’ve ever seen,” Rhule said. “They’re not coming down here to keep it close. They’re coming to win.”

North Dakota is a team with national championship aspirations in the FCS. Jerry Kaminski, a 6-foot-2 quarterback, leads the way for a team that has scored at least 42 points in all three games so far in 2026. 

Kaminski is completing 66 percent of his passes and has thrown for 801 yards and 11 touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 25 yards per game on the ground.

Anthony Colandrea is Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week

Speaking of standout quarterbacks, Anthony Colandrea was recognized as the Big Ten Player of the Week after completing 20-of-24 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns. He was the first Nebraska QB to have four touchdowns and just four incompletions since 2006.

For More Nebraska content, follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook Page, and subscribe to the Husker Big Red YouTube Channel.