Nebraska football’s long offseason is finally almost over.

In just two days, the fourth year of the Matt Rhule era kicks off against the Ohio Bobcats at Memorial Stadium. To get you ready, here are four storylines to watch.

Anthony Colandrea’s Debut

UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea takes over as the starting quarterback for Nebraska, and he comes with big-play expectations.

He was the 2025 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2025, starting all 14 games with nearly 3,500 yards and 23 passing touchdowns. On the ground, he ran for 649 yards and 10 scores.

On paper, Colandrea looks like one of the most dynamic quarterbacks the Huskers have had in a while, but the question is whether he can match or improve upon his performance of last season.

It will be something to watch beyond week one, but this debut against the Bobcats can provide a hint of what’s to come. Colandrea will even get a chance for revenge: In his final game at UNLV, the Rebels lost to Ohio 17-10 in the Frisco Bowl.

Multiple Position Battles Continue

A few position battles are moving into week one. This game will give the coaching staff a chance to see how players perform against live competition. This is true up and down the depth chart, but a few top-line battles stand out.

At running back, it’s been a three-man race so far involving Mekhi Nelson, Isaiah Mozee and Jamal Rule. All three have elevated each other throughout fall camp and now will get a chance to push for that starting spot. Regardless of who it is, they will have to replace the production of All-America running back Emmett Johnson, who was drafted in April by the Kansas City Chiefs.

On the offensive line, right tackle is one to watch. Throughout most of the offseason, it was expected that South Carolina transfer Tree Babalade would be the starter, but fourth-year offensive lineman Gunnar Gottula has taken that spot. The offensive line is expected to make a jump this season, and it will be interesting to see how the new position coach, Geep Wade, handles rotations against the Bobcats.

On defense, a key battle is at the second cornerback position. According to the official week one depth chart, Florida International transfer Victor Evans III and fourth-year Husker Jeremiah Charles are locked in a battle for the starting spot. How much each of them plays and how they perform will be something to keep an eye on throughout Saturday’s game.

Rob Aurich’s 4-2-5 Overhaul: Can They Shore Up the Run?

One of the biggest offseason questions has been what the defense will look like under a new coordinator, Rob Aurich, and his 4-2-5 scheme. The Huskers used the portal to fill some holes, especially on the line of scrimmage.

Nebraska finished 100th nationally against the run in 2025, and that was one of the biggest weaknesses addressed during the offseason. Can the Huskers shore things up against the run? Aurich believes they can, and they have a early test against Ohio.

The Bobcats were in the top 10 nationally a year ago in rushing yards per game, and they bring back a near-600-yard rusher in Duncan Brune.

The defensive line will have a spotlight on it Saturday against the run-heavy Bobcats.

The Frank Solich Connection

Off the field, a key storyline is the two schools’ connection with Frank Solich. Now a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Solich was the Huskers’ head coach from 1998 to 2003 and Ohio’s from 2025 to 2020.

Four years after succeeding coach Tom Osborne at Nebraska, Solich led the Huskers to the national championship game in 2001. Just two years later, however, he became the first Nebraska head football coach to be fired in more than four decades.

His next stop was Ohio. During Solich’s 16 seasons in Athens, the once-lowly Bobcats made 11 bowl games. He retired for health reasons a month and a half before the 2021 season with a final career record of 173-101 between the two schools.

Both programs have honored Solich recently. The Huskers’ new locker room bears his name, as does the playing field at Ohio.

Solich will be in Memorial Stadium on Saturday to receive the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame’s Legend Award and to take part in the pre-game coin toss.

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