QB Anthony Colandrea reportedly signs deal to return to Nebraska in 2027, stay put for final year of eligibility
In the latest chapter of the NIL and transfer portal era, college football players are now re-upping with their current teams midseason for the following year. Notably, Oregon State freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree — a Heisman Trophy candidate — announced last week that he'll be sticking with the Pac-12's Beavers for next season.
On Friday, according tomultiple reports, quarterback Anthony Colandrea signed a deal to return to Nebraska in 2027. Rather than spending the final year of his college eligibility elsewhere, he'll reportedly stay in Lincoln.
Colandrea, who previously started at Virginia and UNLV, came to the Big Ten for the 2026 campaign, becoming the next Cornhuskers QB after Dylan Raiola transferred to Oregon.
The crafty Colandrea has guided the Huskers to a 5-2 record this season. That said, head coach Matt Rhule's squad is coming off back-to-back defeats.
After winning its first five games — its best start since 2016 — Nebraska has suffered one-score losses to then-No. 7 Indiana and Oregon. The Huskers did nearly beat the reigning national champion Hoosiers, who were still undefeated at the time and riding a 20-plus-game win streak that dated back to last season.
A 39-yard touchdown run from Colandrea staked Nebraska to a 17-6 fourth-quarter lead, but a pair of backbreaking catch-and-run touchdowns from Indiana wide receiver Nick Marsh doomed the Huskers.
Nebraska fans want more than moral victories in games against AP Top 25 opponents. Rhule, in his fourth year at the helm, is fully aware. The Huskers have dropped 31 straight games versus Top 25 opponents.
Colandrea will be tasked with helping end that skid — not only this season but potentially during the 2027 campaign as well, if Nebraska still hasn’t broken through with a ranked win.
Colandrea, 22, stands only 6-feet tall, but he has a knack for making big plays. The dual-threat QB is a gamer. In two seasons at Virginia, he combined for 26 touchdown passes. At UNLV last season, he ranked inside the top 20 nationally with 3,459 passing yards. Additionally, he tossed 23 TDs against only nine picks. Plus, he rushed for 649 yards and 10 scores.
At Nebraska, he's posted a 14:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and piled up 334 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Because of the NCAA's new five-for-five eligibility model, Colandrea will be eligible for a fifth season.
He's expected to be one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in college football next season, according to On3's Pete Nakos, who also reported Friday that SEC schools had been showing interest in Colandrea.
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported on Friday that Colandrea was bothered by the speculation he'd leave Nebraska after the season and instead wanted the focus to be on the field.
Source: Sports
