I’ve often been told, “You’re a glass half empty guy aren’t you.” Umm … maybe, but what I can tell you is, I’m one of those people that usually answers a question with a question.
My question, “What’s in the glass?” For me, a legitimate response, because it’s never as simple as half empty or half full.
For example, if we’re talking about Nebraska’s 2026 football schedule, there are some of those mood swinging spirits like Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, and Iowa in the glass. Around the salted ring, Michigan State, Washington, and Illinois. And yes, there are some little pieces of fruit to be plucked from the top like Bowling Green and North Dakota, but be careful, because there are others that could carry salmonella and have gut wrenching results like Ohio, Maryland, and Rutgers.
I don’t know if you have noticed, but the 2026 schedule has the potential to be a powerful cocktail that could cause euphoria amongst Husker fans or turn their stomachs. Matt Rhule will play one of two roles in the aftermath, he’ll either be a high stepping drum major, marching with his ceremonial mace or he’ll be the custodian cleaning up puke with a mop. The 2026 season has the potential for both.
I won’t even try to sugar-coat it. Right now, most Husker fans are saying 6-6 or 7-6 if we’re lucky. In my estimation, this season has an 8-4 ceiling with a 4-8 floor. I’m anticipating Vegas will set the Husker’s odds at 6 1/2. They’ll count Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, and Iowa as sure losses. Then they’ll throw Washington and Illinois in for good measure. They’ll count Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Rutgers, and Maryland as wins. Michigan State is a wild card.
I’d pencil it in much the same. I don’t see wins against Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, or Iowa. And yes, Nebraska should win against Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Rutgers, and Maryland. Which means the season comes down to Michigan State, Washington, and Illinois. Those three games will be the difference on fans seeing the season as progress or further regression.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m a football guy and that’s what makes being a Husker fan so hard. I still believe in my heart that this team can win every game if they get their minds right and they are coached up. They should be looking at Indiana and saying to themselves, “Why not us?” It isn’t an impossible task. It’s just that I had super high hopes for the Huskers last season with the schedule they had and they kind of peed that down their leg. So, I’m not going to allow myself to get too caried away this season.
Yet, I believe this team has the talent to catch fire, and I really like the improvements Rhule has made on his staff. See my article “It’s Not Just Jimmy’s and Joe’s.”
Mace or Mop
Even though Ohio isn’t one of my three pivotal games, I think the Bobcats are worth mentioning since they are the first game of the season. Ohio will be a good test out of the gate. They finished last season at 9-4 and have won 40 games over the last four seasons in the MAC, “the poor man’s Big Ten.” They have a new head coach in John Hauser who was their defensive coordinator. Under Hauser last season the Bobcats only allowed 295 yards a game, 8th in the FBS, and 17.5 points, 11th nationally. It’s also worth noting Hauser led Ohio to a 17-10 win over UNLV in the Frisco Bowl. That UNLV team was led by QB Anthony Colandrea, who will more than likely be the Husker’s starting QB in game one.
For me Michigan State is the biggest wild card on Nebraska’s schedule. The Spartan’s will be led by new head coach Pat Fitzgearld. It’s hard to gauge this hire. Fitzgerald has been out of football for the last three years and has never dealt with the transfer portal and NIL. As any coach will tell you, there is a huge learning curve in the new football world. Fitzgearld did some great things at Northwestern but finished 1-11 in his final season. That single win however was against Nebraska. Of his 13 seasons at Northwestern, he produced 9 winning seasons and was 6-6 against the Huskers. MSU plays Notre Dame the week before Nebraska, giving fans an indication of what to expect from Sparty. Notable hires on Fitzgerald’s staff include OC Nick Sheridan, DC Joe Rossi and STC/Assistant HC, Lavar Woods. Woods was a surprising hire as he was a long-time Kirk Frentz assistant at Iowa. Sheridan spent the last four seasons on Kalen DeBoer’s staff and before that spent five seasons with Tom Allen at Indiana. Rossi has coached either at Rutgers or Minnesota for the last 20 seasons. So, Fitzgerald and his staff bring multiple years of Big Ten experience to Michigan State, who has always given Nebraska problems in Lansing.
Washington will be a huge challenge for Nebraska under head coach Jed Fisch with QB Demond Williams. Williams is considered one of the top five QBs in the Big Ten and was tabbed by Lane Kiffin to be LSU’s next QB until Washington and the Big Ten stepped in and put the kibosh to things. The hope in Washington is that Fisch and Williams have mended whatever hard feelings there might have been between them. Last season Williams had a 69.5% completion rate while throwing for 3,065 yards, 25 TDs, and 8 interceptions. He also rushed for 611 yards and 6 TDs. As any Husker fan will tell you, the Blackshirts have struggled with mobile QBs. Will that be different under new DC Rob Aurich? Washington finished the 2025 season 9-4 with their four losses coming to Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Oregon. Wisconsin was the anomaly. The Huskers will play Washington at home on October 31st, Halloween. There is hope in Lincoln it will be a night game, and the University will call for another blackout. If so, the house will be rocking, creating a tough environment for the Huskies which could be the difference.
Nebraska plays Illinois at Champaign this season. The Illini finished the 2025 season 9-4, with losses to Ohio State, Indiana, Washington, and Wisconsin. After big wins over Duke and USC the losses to Washington and especially Wisconsin were considered upsets. Head coach Brett Beilema has work to do revamping his team with the departure of 28 seniors to graduation and 26 players entering the transfer portal. The Illini picked up 19 players through the portal. The key additions to be aware of are QB Katin Houser and WR Alex Perry. From Florida International, Perry is a big, bodied receiver at 6’4”, and 210 lbs. Houser, a transfer from East Carolina started his career at Michigan State but spent the last two seasons with the Pirates. He started 19 games and went 13-6 in two seasons. Last season Hauser had a 65.9% completion rate while throwing for 3,300 yards, 19 TDs, and 6 interceptions. He had 193 yards rushing and 9 TDs, so he can move if needed. His name was popular on portal lists. Houser has big shoes to fill as he looks to replace highly regarded Luke Altmyer who went 19-7 and threw for 5,717 yards, 44 TDs, and 11 interceptions while rushing for 459 yards and 9 TDs in two seasons. With the loss of leadership, Altmyer being a key piece, Beilema and the Illini are going through what Rhule would call a reset.
The Huskers have what I would call a slim chance to be 5-0 when they meet Indiana at home. After that they go to Oregon and then get a bye. The bye week will be needed after traveling to the west coast and facing two of their toughest opponents back-to-back. Then it’s what I’m calling pivotal games against Washington and Illinois. After that the Huskers will be nine games into the season. It would be nice to be bowl eligible at that point. A must win going into the last three games against Rutgers, Ohio State, and Iowa could be daunting. The Huskers under Rhule haven’t done well in November 2-10. The truth is, Rhule’s Huskers have not shown themselves capable in must-win situations over the last three seasons.
So, the way I see it the Huskers must defeat Ohio, Michigan State, Maryland, and Rutgers to be bowl eligible. If there is a slip up in there, then they create a must win against Washington or Illinois. And if for some reason there were two slip ups, then it creates a must win against Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State, or Iowa. Which makes the defining games in my mind, Michigan State, Illinois, and Washington.
Something big for Rhule to remember is that he’s got a good start on the 2027 class and as of now appears to be in the top 10, a 2026 record of something less than 7-6 does not show progress and could influence commitments, especially those that have already committed.
GO BIG RED!! Simple, Fast, Violent!!
Artwork by Lyle Harmon
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Stats gathered from ESPN – Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.