The Nebraska football team took care of North Dakota 34-7 in a workmanlike performance to finish nonconference play undefeated. And that's really the main story of the first three weeks. The Huskers beat the teams they were supposed to beat, mostly in the fashion they were supposed to beat them, and avoided the kind of early-season disaster Husker fans have a little too much experience with.

Now the real fun begins.

Another Big Day for Jamal Rule

Jamal Rule finished with 119 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, highlighted by a 55-yard touchdown run. The standout freshman running back continues to look like one of Nebraska's most exciting players, period.

Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee also continued to produce, with Nelson appearing to take the co-lead along with Rule, but Mozee showing plenty on his own. Nebraska finished with 277 rushing yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry. It’s hard to argue with those numbers.

And Tony C continues to bring something different at quarterback. Anthony Colandrea didn't need to put up huge numbers Saturday, but his mobility, leadership and fire were on display again as Nebraska methodically took care of business.

The Blackshirts Keep Getting Better

One of the biggest questions coming out of the first two games was whether Nebraska could generate enough pressure with its defensive front. Against North Dakota, we finally saw it.

The Huskers finished with five sacks, with contributions coming from all over the defense. More importantly, the Blackshirts appear to be improving each week. After some shaky moments early against Ohio, Nebraska has allowed just one touchdown in each of the last two games.

We still need to see what this defense looks like against Big Ten competition, but there are legitimate reasons to be encouraged.

What Still Needs to be Cleaned Up?

If we're going looking for concerns after a 27-point win, special teams is definitely where we start, and we’re keeping half an eye on the offensive line as well.

Nebraska has run the ball effectively through three games, but there have still been too many individual plays where offensive linemen appear to get beaten. That's survivable against the kind of nonconference slate the Huskers have seen. It could become a bigger problem as we transition to Big Ten play.

Special teams also haven't inspired quite the same confidence they did a year ago. Nebraska continues to commit penalties in the return game, and the kicking and punting games remain works in progress.

Nothing qualifies as an emergency. But there are things that need to be tightened up.

Time to Find Out

All offseason, any path toward a successful Nebraska season started with the same assumption: beat Ohio, Bowling Green and North Dakota. Check.

Nebraska is 3-0. The offense has weapons. The running game is producing. Colandrea looks like exactly what the Huskers needed at quarterback. And the defense appears to be getting better.

But there's also only so much we can learn from three nonconference games. That’s about to change in a hurry. Nebraska heads to Michigan State before hosting Maryland. After that come Indiana and Oregon. The next month is huge for this program. Gigantic.

Let's get on with it.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

The Nebraska football team jumped all over Bowling Green on Saturday, scoring touchdowns on five straight possessions, taking a 35-0 lead into halftime, and cruising to a 56-7 win. Yes, things got a little sloppy in the second half, and there are still a few things we'd like to see cleaned up before Big Ten play. But Nebraska did exactly what good teams are supposed to do against an overmatched opponent: dominate.

The Common Fans break down the win, hand out our Dogs of the Game, and discuss what we're starting to believe about this team after two weeks, along with what we still don’t know.

The Husker Offense is Fun Again

Anthony Colandrea already looks like the best quarterback of the Matt Rhule era. Colandrea’s mobility changes everything. He can extend plays when things break down, take shots downfield, and make defenses account for him as a runner. Just as importantly, the offense looks like it has a rhythm that has been missing in recent years.

And Colandrea has plenty of help. Jamal Rule, Isaiah Mozee and Mekhi Nelson give Nebraska multiple options at running back. Kwazi Gilmer, Jacory Barney, Nyziah Hunter provide weapons on the outside. Luke Lindenmeyer continues to do the job at tight end.

We know, it’s only Ohio and Bowling Green. But this offense looks different. Dare we say, it looks fun.

What Still Needs to Get Better?

It's hard to complain about a 56-7 win, but the Common Fans manage to find a few areas needing improvement.

Penalties remain an issue, particularly on special teams. The receivers have to eliminate the drops we've seen through two games. And perhaps most importantly, Nebraska's defensive front needs to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Blackshirts held Bowling Green to just 169 total yards and 2-for-12 on third down, so there was plenty to like. But getting consistent pressure from the front four becomes much more important once Nebraska starts facing Big Ten offensive lines.

So...How Good Is Nebraska?

That's the question we still can't answer. Nebraska has beaten Ohio 49-21 and Bowling Green 56-7. After North Dakota next week, we probably still won't know much more.

But around the Big Ten, some of the teams on Nebraska's schedule suddenly look a little less intimidating. Rutgers is 0-2. Washington struggled with Utah State. Illinois lost to Duke. Iowa needed another quintessential Iowa performance to escape Iowa State.

None of that guarantees anything for Nebraska. But after years of watching the Huskers struggle with teams they were supposed to beat, there's something refreshing about simply taking care of business.

Nebraska is 2-0. The offense has weapons. Anthony Colandrea looks like the real deal. And there are legitimate reasons to wonder whether this team might be capable of something more. Now bring on the games that will actually tell us.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!

Nebraska football is back, and the Huskers are 1-0.

It was far from perfect, and much of Husker Nation was sweating a 14-13 halftime lead. But by the time the dust settled, the Big Red had pulled away for a 49-21 win, the offense had shown some firepower, and Nebraska had given fans at least a few reasons to be excited about what this team could become.

The Common Fans break down the win, the good and the bad, and what we actually learned from the first game of the season.

Anthony Colandrea Makes His Husker Debut

Welcome to Nebraska, Tony C.

Anthony Colandrea brought exactly the kind of mobility, energy and swagger Husker fans hoped to see from their new quarterback. He finished with 275 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while also repeatedly using his legs to escape pressure and keep plays alive.

The completion percentage wasn't spectacular, but several drops didn't help. More importantly, Colandrea looked comfortable running the offense and distributing the ball to a Nebraska offense that suddenly appears to have a lot of weapons.

And speaking of weapons...

Jamal Rule Announces His Arrival

True freshman Jamal Rule might have been the biggest story of the day.

Rule ran 15 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns, added a receiving touchdown, and showed an impressive combination of size, speed and explosiveness. He wasn't the only Nebraska running back who looked good, either, as Mekhi Nelson and Isaiah Mozee helped the Huskers pile up more than 200 yards on the ground.

The Common Fans try not to get too carried away after one game (emphasis on try), but it's hard not to be excited about what Nebraska may have found in Rule.

A Second-Half Offense Husker Fans Can Get Behind

The Huskers eventually did what good teams are supposed to do against an overmatched opponent: they took control.

One drive in particular stood out. Nebraska marched 73 yards on 11 plays, running the ball 10 times, including a fourth-and-one conversion that featured defensive players lining up as fullbacks and Rule bulldozing his way for 13 yards. It was exactly the kind of physical, downhill football Nebraska fans love to see.

And once the Huskers finally got rolling, they didn't stop. Nebraska scored 35 second-half points and turned a one-point halftime lead into a comfortable four-touchdown win.

Still Plenty of Questions

The final score looks great. The first half raised some legitimate concerns. Nebraska committed nine penalties for 65 yards, had some shaky moments on special teams, and didn't consistently generate the kind of pressure from the defensive front that the Common Fans hoped to see. The offensive line also wasn't quite as dominant early as expected. Those things need to be cleaned up before Big Ten play.

The encouraging part was that Nebraska got better as the game went along. The defense settled in, the offense took over, the Huskers didn't turn the ball over, and they ultimately handled their business. That's enough to keep the optimism alive.

Nebraska didn't show enough Saturday to prove this season will finally be different. But the Huskers showed enough to make us believe there’s still a chance it could be. And for Week 1, we'll take it.

Check out the episode on YouTube, listen on the Common Fan website, or find it on any audio platform where you get your podcasts.

As always, GBR for LIFE!