Nebraska · Big TenColandrea’s return puts Nebraska, Taylor at quarterback crossroads
Nebraska’s current QB1 is expected back for 2027 after an agency announcement, leaving the five-star commit’s path and commitment unresolved.
NOV 8, 2026
Nebraska’s record through Nov. 8
Points in losses to Indiana, Oregon and Washington
Colandrea’s season as an FBS starter
01 · The NewsColandrea Return Reopens QB Plan
Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea is expected to return for 2027, Mitch Sherman reported in late October, giving the Huskers an answer at QB1 while leaving five-star commit Trae Taylor’s place in the plan unresolved.
Sherman cited an announcement from Colandrea’s agency Friday. “Quarterback Anthony Colandrea will return to Nebraska in 2027 for a final season of collegiate eligibility, his agency announced Friday on social media,” Sherman wrote.
Colandrea has steadied the position after the transfer of former five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, who started for Rhule in 2024 and 2025. Colandrea, who previously played at UNLV and Virginia, is in his fourth season as an FBS starter and brings more mobility to the offense than Raiola.
That gives Nebraska an established option for 2027. It also creates a direct recruiting problem: Taylor could compete with a returning starter, but Nebraska has not disclosed a depth-chart plan or said how the quarterback room would be structured. Through Nov. 8, Nebraska was 5-4 after a 7-6 season in 2025, and it scored 17 points or fewer in losses to Indiana, Oregon and Washington.
Nebraska has not formally confirmed Colandrea’s return, and it has not said whether Rhule will remain. Colandrea’s decision gives the Huskers early clarity at quarterback; Taylor’s decision now carries the larger recruiting consequence.
02 · The StakesThe Stakes
The decision preserves Nebraska’s current starter but puts pressure on the program to keep Taylor, a five-star high school senior committed to the Huskers. Nebraska also fired offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen after Friday’s loss to Illinois, while questions surround coach Matt Rhule.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
Nebraska’s problem is broader than choosing between a veteran and a recruit. The Huskers averaged 43.6 points during their 5-0 start, then totaled 41 across the consecutive losses to Indiana, Oregon and Washington from Oct. 10 through Oct. 31. Colandrea’s experience therefore arrives alongside an offensive reset, not proof that the existing setup can carry Nebraska through Big Ten play.
The next coordinator will inherit a returning fourth-year FBS starter and a five-star commitment, making the quarterback plan part of both the 2027 offense and the effort to retain Taylor.
“Quarterback Anthony Colandrea will return to Nebraska in 2027 for a final season of collegiate eligibility, his agency announced Friday on social media.”
Anthony Colandrea’s agency04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Will Taylor remain committed to Nebraska?
Taylor is the five-star piece Nebraska can still lose, and Colandrea’s return places an established starter in front of him while the offense changes coordinators. Nebraska has not disclosed how the quarterback room will be structured. Taylor’s commitment status and the first depth chart under the next coordinator will show whether Nebraska preserved both quarterbacks.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Does Taylor remain committed?
His place in Nebraska’s plan and his commitment remain unresolved.
Can Nebraska avoid another low-scoring stretch?
The Huskers scored 17 points or fewer in losses to Indiana, Oregon and Washington.