Three Takeaways from Matt Rhule Announcing Anthony Colandrea as Nebraska's Starting Quarterback

The Huskers are officially heading into 2026 with the reigning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year under center.

Quarterback Anthony Colandrea runs the ball during Saturday's scrimmage. | Nebraska Athletics via X

The Anthony Colandrea era of Nebraska football has officially begun.

Husker head football coach Matt Rhule announced Saturday that Colandrea, who has started 31 games across three seasons at Virginia and UNLV, will open the season as NU's starting signal-caller against Ohio on Sept. 5.

The gunslinger combined for 61 touchdowns and 45 turnovers at his previous stops. Now, three things stand out about Rhule's decision to hand the senior quarterback the keys to the offense in 2026.

Quarterback Anthony Colandrea during Nebraska's 2026 spring game. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

The Silver Lining Nebraska Needed

Colandrea is a quarterback, and a very good one at that. Nebraska may not have initially pursued the former Mountain West Conference star in January, instead choosing Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey, but it appears the Huskers landed a player who has exceeded expectations during his time with the team.

Throughout fall camp, coaches and teammates alike have noted that the St. Petersburg, Florida, native has “it,” pointing to his swagger, mobility, and ability to command the offense. In 2026, Colandrea will likely need all three.

The Huskers face what ESPN's FPI metrics rank as the 21st-most difficult schedule in the country. If Nebraska is going to improve in the win-loss column, Colandrea will likely be at the center of it all.

That's why his experience matters. In his three seasons elsewhere, Colandrea accounted for 8,693 all-purpose yards.

In his remarks Saturday, Rhule hinted at Colandrea's reputation as a risk-taker, describing him as a "very competitive, very fiery" quarterback who "expects to win every play."

"But he's done a nice job of disciplining himself to also take what's there," Rhule added. "He makes nice checks in the run/pass game, can throw the ball deep, and I think the biggest thing is he extends a ton of plays with his legs."

Anthony Colandrea might not have been NU's first choice over the winter, yet he will be this fall.

Nebraska quarterback TJ Lateef scrambles for a seven-yard gain during against Houston Christian last season | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Competition for QB2 Role

The pecking order behind Colandrea is still unknown. Asked about the battle for the backup job, Rhule said after Saturday's scrimmage that former starter TJ Lateef and Virginia transfer Daniel Kaelin are both in the hunt.

“Danny and TJ would both be in the mix for No. 2,” he said. “So, we’ll watch this tape and kind of see where they’re at.”

Colandrea's mobility is something NU's coaching staff has praised since the spring, and Lateef appears to have the edge over Kaelin in that department. While the battle is still ongoing, the sophomore signal-caller who led NU to a 1-3 record as a starter at the end of 2025 appears to be the most natural fit behind Colandrea.

Anthony Colandrea awaits a snap during a Nebraska spring practice. | @a_colandrea10/ Instagra

Improvements in the Red Zone

A quarterback with legs could help Nebraska take the next step offensively in 2026. NU scored on 85.5% of its red zone trips last fall, which ranked 45th nationally. Colandrea's UNLV offense, meanwhile, scored on 87.9% of its own, good for 22nd in the FBS.

The issue wasn't the lack of scoring percentage, though. It had more to do with coming away with touchdowns. The Big Red averaged 28.7 points per game a season ago, while the Rebels averaged 34.1. For context, had NU scored the difference, 5.4 more points per game, the Huskers theoretically would have finished 9-4 instead of 7-6.

An RPO-heavy scheme that fully unlocks the quarterback run game could be a significant difference in 2026. Dylan Raiola finished his final season in Lincoln with negative 87 rushing yards, while Colandrea ran for 649 yards.

It's the type of threat that can win the Huskers several games. However, keeping him healthy also becomes a concern.

Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen and head coach Matt Rhule. | Kenny Larabee, KLIN

Ultimately, this announcement didn't catch anyone off guard. Colandrea's experience, production, and playmaking ability made him the obvious choice to take over the starting role.

Now, he'll have to prove it on the field. The Mountain West and ACC don't offer the same level of competition Colandrea will face this fall, and the fourth-year signal-caller will need to show his teammates, coaches, and Husker Nation that he's worthy of the job.

The offense is sure to look significantly different from a season ago. For many, that's reason for optimism. NU is willing to live with the good and bad that Colandrea brings. Still, they're banking on his ability to continue doing what he does best: make plays.

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