LINCOLN, Neb. — Dwayne McDougle III’s 81-yard interception return for a touchdown sparked Nebraska in the first half, and the Cornhuskers all but shut down Maryland after that in a penalty-filled 48-23 victory Saturday.
The Cornhuskers (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are out to their best start since 2016, with defending national champion and sixth-ranked Indiana coming to Memorial Stadium next week.
The Terrapins (2-3, 0-2), a week removed from a 54-3 home loss to UCLA, led most of the first half before seeing the game turn on the third pick 6 thrown by Malik Washington over four quarters. Their 18th loss in 20 Big Ten games only increased the pressure on eighth-year coach Mike Locksley.
Without injured running back Jamal Rule, Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career, going for 108 on 10 carries. He was 26-of-39 passing for 238 yards and three touchdowns.
Kwazi Gilmer had career highs of 11 catches for 147 yards and two TDs.
“The way we play, it’s maybe not all the time the coolest thing, the visual, but we’re going to try to be physical,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said. “Sometimes we might go three-and-out, but if we continue to be physical, we give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter.”
Washington was 23-for-44 for 254 yards and a touchdown, and his two interceptions increased his season total to six, all in the last two games. Chris Durr Jr. caught seven passes for 149 yards and a TD.
The Huskers were down 23-14 midway through the second quarter when McDougle stepped in front of Washington’s pass intended for Kaleb Webb and ran it back for Nebraska’s longest pick 6 since 2007.
“I was playing off the quarterback, and as soon as he pulled the trigger, I knew I was taking it the other way,” McDougle said.
Washington’s three pick-6s over four quarters are the most in such a short span since Kyle McCord of Syracuse threw three in the first two quarters against Pittsburgh on Oct. 24, 2024, according to Sportradar.
Colandrea passed 1 yard to Luke Lindenmeyer to finish an eight-play, 80-yard drive that put the Huskers in front 28-23 at half, and Gilmer’s TD catches of 5 and 30 yards pushed the lead to 25 points.
Maryland piled up 300 yards of offense in the first half and just 62 the rest of the way.
“I can’t complain about the effort and the energy we started the game with,” Locksley said. “Make no mistake about that. I thought they came and approached this team with the right mentality but had way too many self-inflicted wounds. And, when you play good teams like Nebraska, they don’t need help.”
The Takeaway
Maryland: The Terps are doing nothing to help themselves. They were called for two personal fouls, a silly unsportsmanlike conduct when kick coverage player Zion Elee was caught shoving after the whistle on a touchback and roughing the passer. They were 1-for-14 on third downs and are 2-for-30 over the last two games.
Nebraska: The Huskers have scored at least 30 points in each of their first five games for the first time since 2014 in spite of being penalized 16 times for 132 yards, the most since they were flagged 16 times for 145 yards against Texas A&M in 2010.
“I thought it was ridiculous,” Rhule said. “I thought it was poorly handled by the officials and poorly done by us. You’ve never heard me say that before, but I was frustrated today. There were things I’ve never had called before.”
Asked to elaborate on his comments, Rhule said, “I’m just waiting for the fine. I’m going to stop, respectfully. l’ve probably said too much.”
Penalty fest
The combined 28 penalties were the most in a Bowl Subdivision game since Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky totaled that many in 2021. The 247 penalty yards were the most of any game this season.
The teams combined for 18 penalties in a first half that lasted 2 hours, 4 minutes. It was the most penalties in a first half since San Diego State and California combined for 19 on Sept. 14, 2024, according to Sportradar.
Up, up and away
Colandrea wowed the crowd early in the third quarter when he jumped high over Lavain Scruggs along the right sideline halfway through a 15-yard run. Colandrea converted the third down and got up with a bounce.
Up next
Maryland visits No. 5 Ohio State next Saturday.
Nebraska hosts No. 6 Indiana next Saturday.
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