When Dylan Raiola departed for the transfer portal, Nebraska had to pivot and go look for a new quarterback to start in 2026. When Kenny Minchey committed and then decommitted in just over 24 hours, the Huskers had to pivot again. They appear to be pivoting to Aidan Chiles, DJ Lagway, or Anthony Colandrea.
The trio of quarterbacks has emerged as the top candidates for "Plan B" for Matt Rhule and company after Minchey departed for Kentucky. According to Steve Sipple and On3, the Huskers are working to set up visits with all three this week.
Despite the transfer portal being open for just five days now and remaining open until January 16, things are moving very, very fast. Nebraska can't be left without a chair (read QB1) when the music stops. Casting a wide net now is the best approach to make sure it doesn't happen.
Nebraska is pivoting to three quarterback options after Kenny Minchey decommits
One need only look as far as Chiles' visit to Northwestern on Tuesday to see just how fast things could move. The Michigan State quarterback has been a candidate for NU quarterback since Raiola departed. However, NU chose Minchey, and Chiles might not want to be anyone's second choice. If he commits to the Wildcats on his visit, that's another target off the board.
Lagway is a high-ceiling, basement-level floor quarterback who was seen as a heavy Florida State lean until the Seminoles signed former Auburn QB Ashton Daniels. That could mean Lagway's asking price is far too high for what his production has been so far. But if he's the last one standing, will Nebraska overpay?
Colandrea is the wild card in all of this. He put up huge numbers with UNLV (though he did throw too many interceptions), but he was middling at best at Virginia the two years prior. He was seen as an Auburn lean, but the Tigers went with former South Florida QB Byrum Brown.
At the moment, it stands to reason that Nebraska will make one of these three their next quarterback. If that doesn't happen, it's hard to see where the Huskers go next.