Story by: NU Athletic Communications
Today’s game marked the first ever meeting between Nebraska and Ohio. Hall of Fame Coach Frank Solich handled the coin flip. Solich was the head coach from Nebraska for six seasons and served as Ohio’s head man for 16 seasons.
Nebraska’s victory marked the third straight year it has won its season opener and was the 100th victory in a season opener in 137 years of football. Nebraska now owns a 100-32-5 all-time record in season openers.
Freshman running back Jamal Rule scored Nebraska’s first touchdown on a 1-yard TD run in the first quarter. It marked Rule’s third career carry. He finished the game with 15 carries for 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His 100-yard rushing game was the first by a freshman in a season opener since quarterback Adrian Martinez had 117 rushing yards against Colorado in the 2018 opener. Rule was the first Husker running back to have 100 rushing yards in a season opener since Tierre Green, who ran for 112 yards against Western Illinois in 2004.
Rule also caught two passes for 47 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. In his collegiate debut, Rule finished with 169 scrimmage yards and three total touchdowns on only 17 touches.
Nebraska had a 7-play, 92-yard scoring drive in the second quarter, marking Nebraska’s longest scoring drive since a 93-yard drive vs. Illinois in 2022.
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea completed 18-of-32 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns in his Nebraska debut. With his 298 yards of total offense, Colandrea increased his career total offense total to 8,991.
Colandrea’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Rule in the second quarter marked his 50th career touchdown pass.
Junior receiver Jacory Barney had 60 receiving yards and nine punt return yards for a total of 69 all-purpose yards in the game. Barney increased his career all-purpose yards to 1,993 with today’s effort.
Barney’s 60 receiving yards pushed his career yardage total to 991.
Running back Mekhi Nelson accounted for 129 all-purpose yards, including 10 carries for 64 yards, and a 29-yard rushing touchdown. He caught two passes for 65 yards, including a 51-yard fourth-quarter touchdown.
Nelson’s 51-yard touchdown catch was a career best and the longest by a Nebraska running back since Emmett Johnson had a 56-yard reception at UCLA last season.
Dexter Foster had five tackles in the game, increasing his career total to 100 tackles.
Nebraska had eight pass breakups in the game, its most since the Huskers had nine breakups against Rutgers on Oct. 5, 2024.