LINCOLN, Neb. — Anthony Colandrea has quickly ingratiated himself with his Nebraska teammates, but whether he can translate his electrifying playmaking into wins against formidable Big Ten defenses remains the defining question of the Cornhuskers’ upcoming campaign.
Two years ago, Nebraska thought it had secured its franchise quarterback when it landed former five-star recruit Dylan Raiola. However, after a tumultuous tenure marked by offensive struggles, Raiola departed for Oregon to back up Dante Moore. Enter Colandrea: the 2025 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year at UNLV who generated nearly 300 yards per game and now brings a mobile, off-script dynamic to Lincoln.
A Freelancing Playmaker to Fix the Sack Problem
Standing at 6-foot and weighing 200 pounds, Colandrea offers the scrambling ability Nebraska desperately lacked under center last season. Raiola was sacked 27 times in nine games before a broken leg cut his year short, posting a 9.7% sack rate that ranked among the highest in college football. By contrast, Colandrea posted a modest 5.7% sack rate at UNLV while rushing for 46.3 yards per game and throwing 23 touchdowns against nine interceptions.
Colandrea openly models his style after improvisational Heisman Trophy winners like Johnny Manziel and Baker Mayfield.
«They can run around and make plays,» Colandrea said. «It’s just creating. You’ve got to run your offense, but when stuff breaks down, you still have to make a play.»
Leading receiver Nyziah Hunter noted that Colandrea’s mobility transforms broken plays into immediate scoring threats:
- Scrambling with a Purpose: «Every single time you’re going to see Anthony scramble, he’s looking to throw the ball,» Hunter said. «He’s not looking to go out of bounds or go down or take a sack.»
- Offense Unleashed: Head coach Matt Rhule noted that offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen can now «call the game without a conscience and just go attack» thanks to Colandrea’s dual-threat versatility.
Proving Ground: Ranked Opponents and Lincoln’s Spotlight
Despite starting 31 career games across his time at Virginia and UNLV, Colandrea has never faced a ranked opponent. That will change dramatically in Lincoln, where Nebraska faces a brutal midseason stretch featuring three top-five programs—Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State—over a six-game span.
Beyond the tough schedule, Colandrea must adapt to the relentless public spotlight of Husker Nation, where football is a year-round obsession.
«Honestly, it can break some guys,» Rhule acknowledged. His advice to Colandrea? «Put your phone down and just watch more tape.»
If Colandrea can handle the pressure off the field and evade it on the field, Nebraska’s revamped offense could cause serious headaches across the Big Ten this autumn.