Nebraska will try to build on its opening-week win when it hosts Bowling Green in Bowling Green vs Nebraska on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The Cornhuskers are 1-0 after a 49-21 victory over Ohio, while Bowling Green enters at 0-1 after a 20-13 loss to Tarleton State.
That makes this a useful early test for Nebraska under new quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who opened his Cornhuskers career with 275 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Jamal Rule also gave Nebraska a lift in the opener, and the signs were encouraging enough that the home side comes in as a 29.5-point favorite with the total set at 51.5.
Why Nebraska will feel it has more to build on
The challenge for Nebraska is not simply to win again, but to show that the opener was a sign of something more stable. Colandrea looked in command, and that matters when a team is trying to settle quickly around a new quarterback. If Nebraska can keep that passing rhythm going, it should put plenty of pressure on a Bowling Green defense that is already facing a difficult road assignment.
There is also reason for the Cornhuskers to believe they can control the game in more than one way. A year ago, Nebraska's secondary ranked third nationally against the pass, and that kind of defensive standard gives a home team a solid base when the offense is still finding its shape early in the season.
Bowling Green need response from its key players
Bowling Green, meanwhile, arrives needing a much sharper all-round performance after the defeat to Tarleton State. The Falcons will lean on Jay Kastantin and Austyn Dendy to carry more of the load, especially after Dendy's strong previous campaign, when he posted 493 yards and five touchdowns despite starting only four games.
That history matters because it shows Bowling Green does have players capable of changing a game if they get the right touches. The problem on Saturday is the scale of the task. A trip to Memorial Stadium against a confident Nebraska side is a significant step up, and Bowling Green will need to play with greater control if it is to make this competitive deep into the second half.
Nebraska's job is straightforward enough: protect home field, keep Colandrea comfortable, and avoid giving Bowling Green any early hope. For the Falcons, the mission is more demanding. They need a cleaner performance, a stronger response from their key men, and enough discipline to stop the game from running away early.
