The Nebraska football season is just mere days away and all spring and summer I've touted this year as one where 6-6 — a win total the Huskers haven't matched or exceeded since 2016 — wouldn't be good enough given the opportunity in front of the team.
So exactly how do I see things playing out? Let's take a look game-by-game:
UTEP at home — Nebraska win
Like most people I like the Huskers to take advantage of their first non-conference game as an opener since 2019 and start 1-0 for the first time since that year.
The first game will provide plenty of spicy Dylan Raiola takes regardless how he looks. There's almost no world where Raiola plays a game and the cumulative thought after will be "Solid start. Let's see how he progresses."
Colorado at home — Nebraska win (2-0)
Speaking of lack of rational takes — this game against Colorado has been growing and growing and growing. There's no lack of narratives here and regardless how the season starts for the Buffaloes, who play North Dakota State on a Thursday, a lot of eyes will be on what happens in Lincoln.
Nebraska was ready for Colorado last year. Then the offense couldn't stay out of its own way and the defense ultimately succumbed while trying to hang in during a high-wire act.
This year Nebraska should be more effective offensively and more dangerous, but can the Huskers slow down Sheduer Sanders? I believe the defensive line takes control of this contest and Nebraska ultimately wins.
Northern Iowa at home — Nebraska win (3-0)
No need to spend a lot of time on this one. Nebraska wins going away to end the non-conference season undefeated for the first time since 2016.
Illinois at home (Friday) — Nebraska win (4-0)
This Friday night contest will probably be ugly because every Nebraska-Illinois game is largely ugly. Especially when it's played on a Friday night.
It'll be the first time a team can match Nebraska physically so it'll be a good night to watch the offensive line and defensive line and see how the Huskers do in the trenches. Don't really buy the Illini as a concerning team skill wise, so I think Nebraska can hang on for a defensive win against Illinois.
At Purdue — Nebraska loss (4-1)
First road game. Defensive oriented coach. Sleepy West Lafayette Saturday morning with grey skies. Seems like a recipe for an off day.
Ryan Walters and Purdue take advantage of some uncharacteristic throws and mistakes from Raiola and the Huskers give one away. The Bone Yard Crew is mad and blames Marcus Satterfield's game plan.
Rutgers at home — Nebraska win (5-1)
One of the most telling moments of the season last year was Nebraska's rebound effort against Illinois on a short week after Michigan throttled the Huskers at home.
Nebraska picked itself up out of the dirt and got back in the fight, winning a hard-hitting affair. I expect the same with Rutgers. And for a bonus prediction Nebraska walks this one off as Tristan Alvano nails a 41-yard game winner.
Bye Week
The Schaefers are going to Vegas for a quick trip. Lets hope the life savings stays back in Lincoln.
At Indiana — Nebraska win (6-1)
The Huskers resume play after the bye week with a workmanlike effort in Bloomington to get the first round win of the year.
Rahmir Johnson has become Nebraska's starting running back by this point and he scores two touchdowns in the win with one through the air and the other on the ground.
At Ohio State — Nebraska loss (6-2)
There's no reason to think Nebraska can't hang as worse versions of the Huskers have scared the Buckeyes before, but the stakes will be high and NU blinks first.
The national conversation about Nebraska reaches its fever pitch here as the national media fawns over Rhule and Raiola during multiple pregame show segments across the different channels.
UCLA at home — Nebraska win (7-2)
This will be Nebraska's finest offensive effort of the season in a conference game. The Bruins make the trek to Lincoln where they're greeted by November cold and a Polar Bear on the Husker defense.
Nebraska's running game has a a field day, but Raiola shows off his arm talents while shredding UCLA while defensive coordinator Tony White looks on and is thankful he passed on the job.
Bye Week No. 2
Nothing fun planned. Too late for pumpkin patches. Probably one of the last mows of the year.
At USC — Nebraska loss (7-3)
As nice as things went against UCLA the Huskers can't follow it up in the Coliseum, losing a heart breaker to the Trojans in overtime.
True to form the Huskers fail to score in the overtime period, causing a lot of soul searching, as people wonder if that loss will be what prevents the Huskers from a shot at the college football playoff.
Wisconsin at home — Nebraska win (8-3)
Nebraska responds with a strong home win against the Wisconsin Badgers, a team that has been closer to the Huskers' equal than the series winning streak would illustrated.
This year the Huskers put a nail in the Wisconsin coffin and finally knock off the Badgers for the first time since 2012.
At Iowa (Friday) — Nebraska win (9-3)
Similar to the Huskers win in November 2022, the Huskers use their speed at wide receiver to create issues for the Hawkeyes, who struggle to slow down the likes of Jaylen Lloyd and Isaiah Neyor.
The win puts the Huskers on the college football playoff fringe, but Nebraska isn't selected and is instead headed to Orlando where it will face Ole Miss in a game that will be played in honor of the late, great Monte Kiffin.
Bowl game vs. Ole Miss — Nebraska win (10-3)
No one from Nebraska opts out as the Huskers play in and win a bowl game for the first time since the 2015 Foster Farms bowl.
Raiola lights up the Ole Miss defense as people rush to tweet that the Huskers are a team to watch in 2025 and the team's quarterback will be a Heisman candidate as a sophom*ore.
