Anthony Colandrea, the UNLV transfer quarterback, has absolutely revitalized Nebraska’s offense, blowing past initial expectations that replacing former five-star prospect Dylan Raiola would be a downgrade for coach Matt Rhule’s critical fourth year. Five games into the 2026 season, the Cornhuskers are sitting pretty at 5-0, and Colandrea is a huge part of why they’re rolling into a massive home tilt with No. 7 Indiana this Saturday.
Colandrea’s Mobility Is Unleashing The Huskers
Talk about a turnaround! When Raiola hit the transfer portal after two seasons and Colandrea stepped in, people probably rolled their eyes. But guess what? This guy’s mobility is unlocking a whole new level for Nebraska’s attack. We’re talking 174 rushing yards just in the last two weeks alone during their Big Ten wins over Michigan State and Maryland. Colandrea’s play has vaulted him to 14th in the CBS Sports quarterback power rankings. And get this: after dealing with turnover problems at Virginia and UNLV, he’s only been picked off twice so far this season, all while rocking a career-best quarterback rating of 160. That’s efficiency, baby! He’s proving everyone wrong, showing that sometimes the unexpected pick is the right one.
Big Ten Showdown Looms, With Top QBs All Over The Map
Now, the competition is about to crank up a few notches. Facing No. 7 Indiana, the reigning national champions, is a serious test. But Colandrea’s dual-threat capability could absolutely give the Hoosiers fits. Indiana’s got a transfer QB of their own in Josh Hoover, the ex-TCU gunslinger who’s still hanging tough in the top 10 of the power rankings. He might not be mobile, but his passing numbers through five games are stacked up nicely against what Heisman Trophy-winning predecessor Fernando Mendoza put up.
Around the league, some other QBs are absolutely tearing it up:
* **1. Darian Mensah, Miami:** This dude is just built different. He finally threw more incompletions (21) than touchdowns (15) after an 18-of-27 performance in Miami’s 41-13 win at Clemson. For anyone else, that’s a great day, but for Mensah, it was “pedestrian.” He still tops the nation in EPA per dropback and passer efficiency for the No. 4 Hurricanes and even added rushing touchdowns in Miami’s past two games. Seriously, how good is this guy?
* **2. Keelon Russell, Alabama:** Russell jumped from fifth to second, and if you saw Alabama’s 56-23 demolition of Mississippi State, you know why. His improvisational flair and downfield awareness on those ridiculous third-down conversions were unreal. He straight-up outplayed Mississippi State’s star Kamario Taylor, confounding the Bulldogs with both his arm and his legs. Alabama is starting to look like *the* offensive juggernaut in college football, and Russell’s QBR of 88.9 (top 10 nationally) backs that up.
* **3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss:** The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for Chambliss. He’s been taking a beating, shouldering an even bigger load than anyone expected during Ole Miss’s 3-1 start.
So, for Colandrea and Nebraska, this Saturday against Indiana isn’t just another game. It’s a chance to cement their status and show the entire Big Ten that their 5-0 start is no fluke. You gotta tune in, it’s gonna be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply