Nebraska will open its 2026 football season on September 12 when it travels to face Bowling Green, a game that could set the tone for the Cornhuskers’ campaign.
Guided by head coach Eddie George, the Falcons are looking to improve on a 4‑8 record from 2025. George, a 1995 Heisman Trophy winner, brings a championship pedigree to a program that ranked 124th in offense but 42nd in defense last year.
Key Players to Watch
The Falcons’ offense will revolve around running back Austyn Dendy, who transferred from Missouri and logged 493 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. Adding transfer quarterback Austin Novosad, who has only 15 career collegiate passes, the team hopes to find a spark at the helm of the attack.
On the other side of the ball, defensive end Eriq George, Eddie George’s son, will anchor a unit that finished 42nd nationally in yards allowed, having posted 26 tackles and four sacks in the previous season.
Nebraska enters the matchup as the clear favorite, but the Cornhuskers will need to tighten pass protection and improve run blocking to avoid early‑season pitfalls. A decisive win would push Nebraska to 2‑0 and could shape expectations for the remainder of the schedule.