Nebraska has spent too many seasons as a nostalgic punchline or a hopeful underdog that never quite delivered. The glory days of the 1990s feel distant, and the post-Osborne struggles produced more frustration than sustained success. Many Husker fans can’t even celebrate anything more than a 9-3 season, because they were born after the golden years. Yet heading into 2026, there are concrete reasons for optimism that this program can break through toward consistent competitiveness in the Big Ten: 8-plus win seasons, ranked appearances, and the ability to hang with or occasionally knock off the conference’s best rather than fading into irrelevance.
Rhule’s track record at Nebraska stands at 19-19 after three seasons: a 5-7 rebuild year, followed by back-to-back 7-6 campaigns that included a Pinstripe Bowl win and a Las Vegas Bowl appearance. That marks tangible progress, but even Rhule has publicly stated he didn’t come here to go 7-6.
He secured a contract extension through 2032, signaling institutional buy-in, and the program has shifted from pure reconstruction to refinement. Rhule has historically elevated teams significantly by Year 3-4 at previous stops. The foundation of culture, physicality, and recruiting pipelines is in place; now it’s about translating that into more wins against a loaded schedule.
The 2026 roster is built differently, and better, than the previous ones. More than 70 percent of the players enter their third season or beyond out of high school, delivering experience and depth that Rhule’s earlier groups lacked. The offensive line received major upgrades, and Nebraska actually has a real offensive line coach now. That alone will greatly improve this group, and when you add in all the transfers they were able to bring in plus solid pillars in Elijah Pritchett and Justion Evans, it’s not a bold take to say this will be the best O-line Rhule has had at Nebraska. This conference punishes teams who can’t take care of business in the trenches, and this year I expect Nebraska to be one of the teams dealing the punishment.
At quarterback, the departure of Dylan Raiola will remove the theoretical noose around the neck of the offense. Dana Holgorsen will finally be able to call his offense and not try to play at a disadvantage. Anthony Colandrea has all the tools needed to be a great QB; he just needs to put everything together and limit his turnovers. His dual-threat ability pairs with all the weapons at wide receiver and tight end, creating more explosiveness potential. The run game should also be improved this year, with help from the new guys up front. On defense, portal help in the front seven aims to address late-season run-stopping issues from 2025, building on an already solid secondary. New coordinators bring fresh schemes, and the overall talent level supports competing rather than merely surviving.
The schedule is the toughest Rhule has faced thus far, with home games against defending national champion Indiana and Ohio State, plus road trips to Oregon and Iowa, among others, but it also offers early opportunities against Ohio, Bowling Green, and North Dakota to build momentum. Projections from ESPN’s FPI and others see a path to 7-8 wins, with a realistic chance at another bowl and the first season of more than seven wins since 2016. Even a 7- or 8-win campaign with competitive showings against the elite would mark relevance: staying in the Top 25 conversation longer, avoiding the November collapses that have plagued recent years, and proving Nebraska belongs in the upper half of the Big Ten rather than the middle or lower tier.
None of this guarantees 10 wins or a playoff berth. The Big Ten is deeper than ever, and execution in the trenches, quarterback consistency, and avoiding late-season fades will decide the ceiling. But relevance isn’t about perfection; it’s about sustained competitiveness, positive momentum, and no longer being an afterthought. Rhule’s roster is older, deeper, and more equipped than before. The coaching continuity is there. The early schedule allows for confidence-building. For the first time in a while, the Huskers enter a season with the pieces to push past “rebuilding” into “built.”