Nebraska defeats Maryland 48-23 as it prepares for upcoming Indiana matchup
Nebraska rallied from a first-half deficit to beat Maryland 48-23, highlighted by a key pick-six, and now turns its focus to a high-profile game against top-ranked Indiana.
Nebraska overcame a 14-23 first-half hole to defeat Maryland 48-23 on Saturday, scoring 34 unanswered points in the second half. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea led the comeback, and safety Dwayne McDougle III returned an interception 81 yards for a touchdown with 2:41 left in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 21-23. The Huskers also blocked a punt, recorded another interception, and posted a sack while shutting out Maryland in the second half.
The win comes as Nebraska enters the core of its 2026 Big Ten schedule, with four ranked opponents slated over the next eight weeks. The team will host Indiana on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.; the Hoosiers are unbeaten, ranked No. 7 in the coaches poll, and on a 21-game winning streak. Nebraska last faced Indiana in 2024, losing 56-7.
Head coach Matt Rhule emphasized the need for disciplined play, noting that penalties and special-teams errors could be decisive against a strong Indiana squad.