Heading into Saturday's game against Indiana, much has been made about Nebraska's struggles on the ground and how rattled quarterback Anthony Colanadrea looked at times against the Maryland Terrapins. However, recent comments from Ohio State offensive lineman Luke Montgomery might cast the Huskers' offensive performance in a brand new light.
Montgomery met with the media on Monday to preview his own team's showdown with the Terps and didn't hesitate to pay their defensive front one heck of a compliment:
"Looks can be deceiving with their record. I think they're a really, really good team, especially just watching the film with their defensive line. Like, I do think they're the best D-line we've played this year, interiorly and D-end-wise overall, like, just as a unit. They got guys everywhere, and they're really good."
Keep in mind Ohio State's offensive line faced No. 1 Texas earlier this season. Sure, the Buckeyes lost that game, 24-23, but nearly everyone considers the Longhorns' defense one of the best in the country. OSU also faced Iowa last week and thumped them 31-14. The Hawkeyes seemingly always have a solid defensive front. Yet Montgomery thinks Maryland is the best he and his teammates have faced all season.
IOL Luke Montgomery on Maryland’s defensive front:
— Conner Smith (@CSmithMedia) October 6, 2026
“They’re the best D-line we’ve played this year.” pic.twitter.com/Q63r3ijvRN
Ohio State praise for Maryland defense changes perspective on Nebraska football offensive struggles
Some of those comments can be waved away as Montgomery avoiding any semblance of bulletin-board material for a team Ohio State is more than a four-touchdown favorite over, according to most oddsmakers. Still, he's also not wrong.
Nebraska struggled at times to keep Maryland defenders out of the backfield, more than it has struggled all season. It really didn't have that issue against Michigan State, which is also no slouch on defense.
By the end of the game, the Huskers' depth and, quite simply, being a better team wore the Terps down. But many onlookers were surprised to see NU struggle to find an offensive rhythm for most of the first half.
Some of those struggles might have been, as Dana Holgorsen said on Tuesday, about Colandrea needing to calm down and relax between snaps. However, this may have been less about Nebraska struggling and more about running into one of the nation's best defensive fronts.
As Indiana comes to town on Saturday, the idea that the Huskers ran into one of the best defensive lines they will face all year and still managed to score 48 points could be a very good sign of things to come.
As has been pointed out more than once this week, the focus on the Hoosiers, because of their national championship run last year, is on the offense. However, Curt Cignetti's crew has a very good defense. They are, in fact, first in the Big Ten in yards per game allowed (237.8), points per game allowed (10.8), and rushing yards allowed per game (64.4).
Some of those ranks are skewed by a non-conference schedule that was one of the weakest in the country. North Texas, Howard, and Western Kentucky aren't scaring anyone in the Big Ten. There's also the idea that the one team they played with a pulse, Northwestern, popped them in the mouth several times in a game the Hoosiers held on to win 29-23.
Indiana completely shut down the Wildcats' running game, allowing just 32 yards on 27 attempts. However, Aidan Chiles threw for nearly 300 yards and 2 touchdowns.
If Nebraska can keep the pressure off Colandrea and he does "just breathe" as his coach said he needed to do on Tuesday, there's an opportunity to pick the Hoosiers' secondary apart. To that end, the rehearsal against Maryland's defensive front might have been just what the Huskers needed.
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