Follow along as The Daily Nebraskan’s sports senior staff makes their predictions for every Nebraska football game this fall.
A rolling tally will be kept throughout 2026, with the best record crowned at the end of the season.
Alex Berry, senior sports editor: Nebraska 42, Maryland 20
The Huskers are 4-0 for the first time since 2016 and have a strong chance to start the season 5-0 against a banged-up roster and a coach on the hot seat.
The Maryland Terrapins gave up 52 points to UCLA last week, and the offense only mustered three points. The team’s morale is down and Nebraska will take advantage of that. With most of Maryland’s running backs out or questionable, its backfield is thin, which will force sophomore quarterback Malik Washington to test the Blackshirt secondary.
I can see the Terrapins putting up a fight if the Huskers shoot themselves in the foot as they have in the past weeks with penalties and mental errors. However, a clean football game in front of Memorial Stadium should result in a convincing win.
My takes: The Blackshirts contain Maryland’s running backs to <100 yards rushing and <275 yards of total offense. I said it last week, but I think this is the week that Luke Lindenmeyer finally finds the end zone after a higher volume of receptions last week in East Lansing.
Eli Rodriguez, assistant sports editor: Nebraska 38, Maryland 10
The Huskers ended a 14-year drought against Michigan State on the road this past Saturday, setting the vibes high in Lincoln. Nebraska is fired up to face the Terrapins, especially with the opportunity to take on the reigning champions, Indiana, who are undefeated at home.
Maryland isn’t a team to overlook. Despite its 54-3 loss to UCLA, the Terrapins offense is led by shifty sophomore quarterback Malik Washington. The field general showed he can get out of the pocket and fire on the run, but he is also known to throw into heavy traffic.
That simply won’t work against the Nebraska defense. The Blackshirts’ defense has been dominant through the first four weeks of the season and won’t stop anytime soon.
Head coach Matt Rhule called cornerback Andrew Marshall one of the best at his position in the Big Ten on Monday during his media availability. That isn’t an opinion; it’s a statement. Along with Marshall, linebacker Owen Chambliss, defensive back Dwayne McDougle III and defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri have played incredibly.
My takes: Washington throws two interceptions (one to Marshall), Mekhi Nelson goes for over 80 yards rushing, Anthony Colandrea opens up scoring with a rushing touchdown.
Matthew Malloy, assistant sports editor: Nebraska 42, Maryland 9
Maryland football has nowhere to go but up this week. Its dreadful 54-3 home loss to UCLA sent head coach Mike Locksley off the field at SECU Stadium to boos and “fire Locksley” chants.
I think the Terrapins will rebound somewhat against Nebraska, but not enough to hand the Huskers their first loss of the season.
Quarterback Malik Washington looked incredible last year, nearly beating Nebraska before falling 34-31 at home. This time he’ll face the Huskers at Memorial Stadium with little help in the backfield due to injuries and a confidence hit from last week.
I doubt Maryland will find the end zone.
Still, a few Terrapin defenders will make an impact. Zion Elee, a freshman defensive end and five-star recruit from Baltimore, has two sacks this season. As a unit, Maryland’s 12 sacks rank second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally.
In the secondary, sophomore defensive back Messiah Delhomme has two interceptions, the second most in the conference. However, I expect Colandrea to have a big day downfield, avoiding Delhomme when possible while aggressively looking for other targets.
My takes: Colandrea throws for 170+ yards and two touchdowns, Riley Van Poppel records a sack for the third straight game and Sean O’Haire, Maryland’s best underclassman placekicker in program history, accounts for all of the Terrapins’ points.
Kyler Cox, senior sports reporter: Nebraska 35, Maryland 14
After Maryland’s abysmal performance against UCLA last weekend, expectations for Nebraska to dominate the Terrapins have jumped another level.
I don’t know if the Huskers will bury them the way the Bruins did, who embarrassed Maryland en route to a 54-3 road win. But I do think that Nebraska will run away with this one in the second half, and it will be because of the passing attack.
Against Michigan State, Anthony Colandrea certainly didn’t have his best game, and the wide receiving corps didn’t either. When Colandrea struggled to open the season against Ohio, he rebounded with an elite performance. I expect that to happen again this weekend, with the key piece being Kwazi Gilmer.
Defensively, Nebraska is set up for another elite opportunity. Injuries have plagued the Terrapins’ offense this season, which was something NU took full advantage of against the Spartans in East Lansing.
Still, Washington will give the Huskers fits. The sophomore quarterback is elite at avoiding pressure, and despite a slow start in 2026, he still sits as one of the most talented arms in the Big Ten. I think Maryland earns a couple of scores on a big pass play or two.
My takes: Williams Nwaneri continues to terrorize opposing offensive lines and will earn his first sack in Memorial Stadium this season. Colandrea and Gilmer will continue to be the focal point of the offense with the potential absence of Jamal Rule, and the two connect for over 100 yards and two scores.
Standings
1. Matthew Malloy 4-0 (+/- 59)
2. Alex Berry 4-0 (+/- 62)
3. Kyler Cox 4-0 (+/- 63)
4. Eli Rodriguez 4-0 (+/- 67)