Nebraska offense stalls again in 17-10 loss to Washington

Nebraska’s offense failed to produce points again on Halloween, losing 17-10 to Washington and dropping its record to 5-3. The Huskers have now lost three straight games, a streak that has put their season on the line as the regular season winds down.

The team managed only 102 rushing yards on 21 carries. This output is far too low for a team that wants to compete in the Big Ten. The lack of production from the ground game forced the passing attack to work in difficult situations. The unit could not sustain drives long enough to score consistently.

Quarterback Anthony Colandrea played all 77 offensive snaps in his first game since announcing he would return for the 2027 season. He completed 24 of 44 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown while throwing three interceptions. Two of his first five pass attempts were intercepted. He completed only one of nine passes that traveled at least 20 yards downfield.

The running back group struggled to find rhythm. Jamal Rule carried the ball 13 times for 72 yards. Mekhi Nelson saw the fewest snaps despite being the healthiest option. Isaiah Mozee played on nearly half of the offensive snaps, but 25 of those came on passing downs. The team lacked a player who could consistently break tackles and gain extra yards.

Wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer dropped a pass on the opening drive that would have been a touchdown. The next play resulted in a turnover. This sequence of events defined the night for the receiving corps. The group earned respectable run-blocking grades, but the offensive line failed in that area, which affected the overall flow of the offense.

Tight end Luke Lindenmeyer was responsible for the final interception, a pick-six that sealed the loss. He admitted he stopped running his route on that play. On a positive note, Carter Nelson caught the team’s only touchdown pass. It was his first receiving score since a game against Northern Iowa in 2024.

The offensive line started the game with five players who played all 77 snaps. They allowed four pressures on the quarterback but no sacks. Justin Evans has not allowed a single pressure in eight contests this year. The unit’s run-blocking grades have trended downward all season, leaving the team with little leverage against physical defenses like Washington.