Colandrea has completed 38-of-56 passes (67.9 percent) for 497 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He also has gained 56 yards on 14 attempts with one touchdown.<\/p>\n
But more than numbers on a ledger sheet, Colandrea has infused the Huskers with confidence<\/a> and swagger. They believe<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nebraska\u2019s defense<\/p>\n North Dakota moves the ball and puts points on the scoreboard. Stopping the Fighting Hawks \u2014 or at least slowing them down \u2014 must be a top priority for the Huskers\u2019 defense. Don’t blink because North Dakota’s offense will be on the move. <\/p>\n North Dakota will be the biggest challenge the Huskers\u2019 defense has seen in 2026<\/a>. They know it, too, and if their focus and fundamentals are sharp, they should get the job done.<\/p>\n Nebraska running back Isaiah Mozee breaks off a gain against Bowling Green. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n Confidence, momentum<\/p>\n Nebraska, not unexpectedly, has gotten off to an impressive 2-0 start and has taken over first place in the MAC. <\/p>\n The Huskers like what they have seen. The energetic Colandrea is clicking, the running attack looks varied and effective. The defense has been stout.<\/p>\n Expect Nebraska to carry that shot of adrenaline and confidence and momentum right into the Big Ten opener next week against Michigan State. The Huskers are on a roll, and North Dakota doesn\u2019t have enough to stop them.<\/p>\n Why North Dakota will winQuarterback Jerry Kaminski<\/p>\n He\u2019s good. Kaminski has completed 77.2 percent of his passes (61-of-79), presenting a challenge for the Nebraska defense. He has 11 touchdown passes and two interceptions. <\/p>\n Kaminski won this summer\u2019s Manning Passing Academy skills competition that featured 40 top FBS quarterbacks.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I mean, they\u2019re a really, really, really good team,\u201d Nebraska middle linebacker Owen Chambliss said in a news conference this<\/a> week.<\/p>\n North Dakota quarterback Jerry Kaminski is pressured by Kansas State defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi last season. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n \u201cQuarterback does a lot of really good things in terms of leading their team and extending plays out of the pocket.\u201d <\/p>\n Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said about Kaminski: \u201cWhen you watch Kaminski, he\u2019s got great weapons, they can get spread, then can drop back, they can throw the football.\u201d<\/p>\n Running attack<\/p>\n Kaminski is complemented by a strong running game. Four North Dakota runners have at least 100 yards this season, led by Charles Langama, who has gained 254 yards on only 29 carries (8.8 average per attempt). North Dakota averages 251.3 yards per game on the ground. <\/p>\n North Dakota averages 540 yards and 50.3 points per game. The Fighting Hawks have allowed some points, too, an average of 23.3 per game. With Nebraska averaging 534.5 yards and 52.5 points per game, this could be a shootout. Nebraska has allowed 14 points per game.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are an elite running team \u2014 12 personnel, 11 personnel, they can play-action off of it and play-action is a tremendous equalizer, they can throw the RPOs [run-pass options],\u201d Rhule said.<\/p>\n Charles Langama is averaging more than eight yards per carry for North Dakota. | North Dakota Athletics<\/p>\n North Dakota magic<\/p>\n North Dakota football teams are successful. Both the Fighting Hawks and the ND State Bison. They are excellent teams, well coached, with a heritage of winning. <\/p>\n That legacy means something. It might not indicate winning a night game in Lincoln. But it might mean playing a closer game than oddsmakers expect, and maybe taking the game into the anything-can-happen fourth quarter.<\/p>\n \u201cWent to Kansas State, who I view as a pretty good program, and almost won there [North Dakota lost last year, 38-35],\u201d Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said at a news conference this week.<\/p>\n Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen knows FCS schools can present a challenge. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s examples every year of FCS teams playing their tail off against [Power 4 teams] and I think it\u2019s more motivated for those kids with transfer portal stuff, too. You know, they have an opportunity to play at this level and they want to show that they can play at this level. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd that each and every one of those kids are going to come in with that mindset and that mentality. And then when you pair that with a winning program who\u2019s used to winning, then it’s a dangerous situation \u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you got to fight your tail off because the longer that game goes on, the more hope those guys get. It\u2019s just reality of what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.<\/p>\n Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI<\/a>, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube<\/a> and visiting HuskerMax.com<\/a> daily.<\/p>\n![\"Nebraska](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m2r793hqzzas287cg1.jpg\" "\\"Nebraska")
<\/p>\n![\"North](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m2r6dvk2wmb0g8qk95.jpg\" "\\"North")
<\/p>\n![\"Charles](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m2tet4xdq0mp9nc8xy.jpg\" "\\"Charles")
<\/p>\n![\"Nebraska](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01m2r6mp1yenvaawfp05.jpg\" "\\"Nebraska")
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