Nebraska originally wasn’t supposed to be playing Bowling Green in the second week of the 2026 football season. In fact, Nebraska SHOULDN’T be playing Bowling Green this season.
Bowling Green replaced Tennessee on the 2026 schedule because Nebraska wanted another home game in 2027 and doesn’t really care about strength of schedule anymore. Just listen to what Matt Rhule told Urban Meyer during a podcast last year:
“Why would you ever play one of those games?” Rhule said. “And we’re being completely
honest, Coach Meyer, I’m at a lucky point in life where in my fourth job and after getting fired in the NFL, I kind of say what I feel nowadays, I could care less. Why in the world would a Big Ten team who’s already playing nine conference games, why would you ever play one of those games?
(Quick edit: Rhule meant that he “could NOT care less.” Enough with the grammar police; back to the football.)
So… instead of a measuring stick game against an SEC school that could be playoff eligible come December, Husker fans get some MACtion against a team from the lower half of the conference. Bowling Green only has six returning starters, so this is a game that shouldn’t be all that competitive, to be honest.
At quarterback, the Falcons likely will be turning to one of two junior transfers. Jay Kastantin (6’4” 215 lbs.) started nine games for D-II Assumption last season, completing 62% of his passes for 1,974 yards and 19 touchdowns with five interceptions; he also rushed for 530 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Austin Novosad (6’3” 205 lbs.) only attempted four passes in his career at Oregon. Sophomore Hunter Najim (6’1” 190 lbs.) completed 50% of his passes last season in three starts for Bowling Green with five touchdowns and four interceptions after being pressed into service after the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart suffered season-ending injuries. With just a little more luck, the Falcons SHOULD be better at quarterback.
Sophomore running back Austyn Dendy (6’1” 225 lbs.) didn’t even play the first seven games of last season, but injuries pressed him into service. Despite only starting in four games, Dendy led Bowling Green in rushing with 493 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Junior Ke’Marion Baldwin (5’9” 200 lbs.) transferred from FCS Charleston Southern where he rushed for 778 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
It’s a complete rebuild in the receiving room, as the only returning receiver is junior Brennan Ridley (5’11” 175 lbs.) who caught four passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. Lots of inexperience here.
Repeat that verse on the offensive line as the returning linemen have combined for just three career starts. Junior right tackle James Thomas (6’5” 295 lbs.) started two games last year while junior center Brody Bolyn (6’3” 310 lbs.) has one career start. That’s it. Probably NOT what you want facing a Big Ten defense.
The inexperience continues on defense with only one full-time returning starter. Up front, senior rush end Myles Bradley (6’0” 225 lbs.) led Bowling Green last season with five sacks and seven quarterback hurries as a pass-rushing specialist. Senior nose tackle Eriq George (6’2 285 lbs.) was a second team All-Big South honoree at Tennessee State in 2024 while senior defensive end Kade Kostus (6’2” 260 lbs.) started 14 games for Central Michigan. This will be an undersized and inexperienced defensive line.
Sophomore middle linebacker Dorian Pringle (6’2” 220 lbs.) was off to an impressive start last season with 27 tackles in three games before suffering a torn ACL. Pringle still finished second on the team with 5.5 tackles for loss despite only playing three games! Junior weakside linebacker Sanders Ellis (6’2” 240 lbs.) was the Big South’s defensive freshman of the year at Tennessee State in 2024 before transferring to Purdue last season, playing mostly special teams.
Junior free safety Kal-El Pascal (6’0” 195 lbs.) is Bowling Green’s leading returning tackler from last season with 80 tackles last season. Senior cornerback JoJo Johnson (6’0” 180 lbs.) led the Falcons with 13 pass breakups last season as a reserve. Sophomore safety Preston Estoesta (6’1” 190 lbs.) had 29 tackles as a reserve last season. Sophomore cornerback Drey Braxton (5’10” 170 lbs.) was a first-team All-MEAC honoree at North Carolina Central last season. The secondary probably will be the strength of this defense.
Bowling Green might be better in 2026 than they were last season, but this game shouldn’t be much in doubt. Really, the biggest question for September 12 is going to be whether Bowling Green head coach Eddie George is going to deliver Tommie Frazier’s rightfully-earned Heisman Trophy to him after the game.
