Am I predicting Nebraska’s win total for the 2025 season? Not really, what I’m going to cover is what expectations are for this team. Would you as a Husker fan be happy with a 7-5 record this season? I won’t be. In fact, I’ll be disappointed. I’ll take it, but I’m not going to be happy about it. And I don’t think this team or Matt Ruhle would be either. Expectations are higher than that. So, with that said, seven wins is the absolute floor for this team. And if seven wins is the floor, then there are seven must-win games on this schedule.
What seven games are must-wins? They are Cincinnati, Akron, Houston Christian, Michigan State, Mayland, Minnesota and Northwestern. You may have noticed I skipped Michigan. (More on that later.) There are those that might question my saying Nebraska must win against the four B1G teams I listed. But Nebraska must start winning the games they are expected to win. Fans like me don’t expect the Huskers to beat Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Oregon and USC on a regular basis. They are blueblood programs who are too talented and too well coached. We do, however, expect them to beat everyone else in the conference, and why not.
I’m one of those long-time fans that remembers the Huskers going to Minnesota and hanging 84 points on the Golden Gophers. Do I expect them to do that every time they play them? No – but I’m sure not going to accept five straight losses to the Gophers either. That can’t happen and needs to stop this season.
So, let’s say theoretically Nebraska wins those seven games. If you add Michigan to that list, they would be 8-0 with four games remaining on the schedule, USC, UCLA, Penn State, and Iowa. If they drop the Michigan game, they’d be 7-1. I do however think that they can beat Michigan at home this season. Michigan will have a freshman QB, head coach Sherrone Moore won’t be on the sideline, and while Michigan will always be Michigan, they are down. Plus, there is still turmoil with the sign stealing scandal. And Rhule and everyone else knows the Wolverines will come in and try to pound the rock and test the Blackshirt’s defensive line. You better believe DC John Butler will have the Huskers ready.
Up next is USC at home, and whether they are 7-1 or 8-0, I don’t see the Huskers getting a win against USC in Lincoln. Lincoln Riley is too good of coach, and he has talent to work with. That means they would be 7-2 or 8-1 when they travel to UCLA.
You may have noticed I didn’t list UCLA as one of the teams that we shouldn’t be expected to beat regularly. That’s because we should, especially this season. This is DeShaun Foster’s second season and there are several new coaches on his staff. They also don’t have top notch NIL money, even if they did land quarterback Nico Iamelava. Nebraska should beat UCLA on a regular basis whether it’s in Lincoln or LA. Yes, the Bruins always have talent and are in the upper half of the B1G, but they are not elite. The Huskers also haven’t forgotten last season. Nebraska gets a win.
Next up is Penn State. It would be great for the Huskers to go to Happy Valley and get a win. But don’t expect it to happen even if the Husker are undefeated. I look for James Franklin’s team to be B1G champions this season. He will be fielding one of his most talented teams ever with QB Drew Allar, RB’s Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen and transfer WR’s Kyron Hudson and Devonta Ross. That plus the addition of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will allow Franklin’s team to take the next step. If both Nebraska and Penn State are having the seasons we expect, look for this game to be a white out and the crowd rocking. Everything will be against the Huskers.
That makes Nebraska 9-2 or 10-1 with Iowa up next in Lincoln. After two disappointing losses allowed by walk-off field goals, Matt Rhule knows what it takes to win this game. Think of Colorado last season. Rhule had his team cocked, locked and loaded. He’ll do the same for this game. Even if for some reason Nebraska would happen to be 7-4, Ruhle isn’t going to allow his team to lose this game, not again. Just the simple fact Mike Ekeler is the special teams coach will be the difference.
That means if Nebraska gets their seven must win games and goes 2-3 in their reaming five games, they will finish the season at 9-3. Will that get them in the college football playoffs? Not likely. But if they can go 10-2, which is what Ruhle feels it will take to get in the playoffs, they’ll be in.
As a Husker fan, what will be acceptable? As I said at the beginning, 7-5 is the absolute floor. Eight wins would be better, nine wins is the expectation, and ten wins or better would be gravy. It’s been a long time since Hasker fans have had gravy on their biscuits. Fans are tired of gnawing on and choking down dry biscuit seasons. It’s year three and time for double digit wins.
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