Nebraska Is 5–0—Now Indiana Will Tell Us How Real the Huskers Are

Nebraska has earned the right to feel good about itself.

The Huskers are unbeaten, gaining confidence and coming off a victory that required more than simply overwhelming an opponent from the opening kickoff. Saturday’s 48–23 win over Maryland showed a team capable of absorbing trouble, changing the direction of a game and finishing with authority.

Nebraska scored the final 34 points to improve to 5–0 overall and 2–0 in Big Ten play. It is the program’s first 5–0 start since 2016.

Those accomplishments deserve recognition. Winning five straight games takes preparation and execution, regardless of what anyone thinks about the schedule.

But the conversation changes this week.

Indiana comes to Memorial Stadium on October 10, giving Nebraska a chance to turn an encouraging start into a statement about its place in the Big Ten championship race.

Nebraska Showed It Could Respond When a Game Went Wrong

The final score against Maryland makes the afternoon look considerably more comfortable than it was.

The Terrapins outgained Nebraska 207–38 in the first quarter and led 16–7. They were moving the football, creating explosive plays and putting the Huskers in difficult situations before the home crowd had much reason to relax.

That opening stretch matters when evaluating Nebraska. A championship contender cannot make a habit of surrendering control so early.

The response matters, too.

Nebraska did not allow its poor start to dictate the remainder of the afternoon. The Huskers found the plays needed to reverse the momentum, then followed them with sustained execution.

There is a meaningful difference between getting a break and taking advantage of one. Nebraska did both. Once the opportunity arrived, the Huskers turned it into a decisive victory.

That should build confidence within the locker room. Players now have evidence that a difficult opening does not have to become a difficult finish.

Dwayne McDougle III Changed the Afternoon

With Nebraska trailing 23–14 and Maryland threatening to extend its advantage, Dwayne McDougle III delivered the game’s turning point.

His 81-yard interception return for a touchdown cut the deficit to two points. Nebraska then forced a quick three-and-out and drove 80 yards, taking a 28–23 lead on Anthony Colandrea’s touchdown pass to Luke Lindenmeyer shortly before halftime.

The interception was enormous. What followed made it decisive.

Nebraska’s defense immediately backed up the touchdown with a stop. Its offense then converted the next possession into another score. Three complementary sequences transformed the game.

That is the part of the comeback Nebraska should carry into the Indiana matchup. The Huskers cannot count on another defensive touchdown, but they can aim to reproduce the discipline and urgency that followed it.

Against a stronger opponent, those connected possessions may determine the outcome.

Anthony Colandrea Gives Nebraska Options

Colandrea finished with 238 passing yards, three touchdown passes and a career-high 108 rushing yards. Kwazi Gilmer provided a dependable receiving target, catching 11 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

A quarterback who can produce through the air and escape for substantial gains makes a defense account for more possibilities. When coverage holds up, the play can still become productive. When defenders overreact to the quarterback’s mobility, receiving opportunities can develop.

Nebraska will need that flexibility against Indiana.

The important question is whether Colandrea can make sound decisions when the easy options disappear. His mobility should help the offense stay on schedule, but the Huskers cannot rely on him to rescue every difficult possession.

Against Indiana, first-down efficiency and protection will be essential. Nebraska needs to give its quarterback manageable situations rather than repeatedly asking him to manufacture something extraordinary.

The Second-Half Defense Offers Real Encouragement

Nebraska allowed Maryland 300 yards before halftime, then limited the Terrapins to 95 after the break. Maryland did not score in the second half.

That improvement is a legitimate reason for optimism.

The Huskers demonstrated that they could correct problems during a game. They took an offense that had been moving comfortably and made the remainder of its afternoon considerably more difficult.

The challenge now is starting closer to that level.

Indiana will test whether Nebraska’s defensive recovery represents a repeatable standard. The Hoosiers have enough balance to punish a defense that commits too heavily to stopping one part of the offense.

Nebraska needs to tackle cleanly, limit explosive gains and force Indiana to earn its points over longer possessions. Giving away easy yardage would put unnecessary pressure on Colandrea and the offense.

Indiana Will Demand a More Complete Performance

Indiana arrives after beating Rutgers 47–15. The Hoosiers produced 593 total yards, including 329 rushing yards, while holding Rutgers to just 59 yards on the ground.

That combination presents a serious challenge.

Nebraska cannot prepare solely to disrupt the passing game and assume the rest will take care of itself. Indiana has shown it can control a game on the ground while also creating scoring opportunities through the air.

The Huskers must avoid the defensive breakdowns that made their opening quarter against Maryland so uncomfortable. They also need an offense capable of sustaining possessions and keeping Indiana from repeatedly getting the ball in favorable circumstances.

This is where a promising team begins to establish whether it belongs among the conference’s best. Nebraska has played well enough to earn the opportunity. Now it has to execute against an opponent capable of making mistakes expensive.

The Penalties Have to Come Down

Nebraska committed 16 penalties for 132 yards against Maryland. Winning comfortably despite that total shows how much the Huskers accomplished elsewhere, but it also identifies a problem that needs immediate attention.

Against Indiana, those lost yards could change the game.

A penalty can erase a productive first-down play, extend an opposing drive or turn a manageable third down into a difficult one. When two good teams meet, repeatedly creating those disadvantages is a dangerous way to play.

Nebraska needs to preserve its aggression while improving its discipline. The Huskers should not have to overcome both Indiana and avoidable mistakes.

The Maryland victory gave them room to learn that lesson without suffering a loss. They need to use it.

Nebraska Has Earned Optimism—Now It Can Earn Bigger Expectations

There is no reason for Nebraska fans to apologize for enjoying a 5–0 start. The Huskers have handled their first five opponents, and Saturday showed they can recover when a game begins badly.

Still, the strongest evidence of championship potential comes against opponents capable of challenging every part of a team.

Indiana provides that opportunity.

A victory would give Nebraska a major conference result and strengthen the argument that the Huskers belong in the title discussion. A loss would leave plenty of season remaining, but the performance would still reveal where Nebraska needs to improve.

The opening five games have built confidence. The next one will test how well that confidence holds up under greater pressure.

Nebraska has made this matchup matter. Now the Huskers have a chance to make it the defining result of their season so far.