2025 Season Prediction POLL Thread

[Husker_In_WI]

I really think a lot of Husker fans have overlooked this Cincinnati team. They're gigantic in the trenches and have a good QB.

Their OL versus our DL will be an interesting matchup for sure. We are a lot smaller on the DL this year, so it's an immediate test for whether being a "movement front" will work against bigger OLs. But this isn't Michigan, or even Minnesota. They are big an experienced, but they are not particularly well regarded. The LT (Joe Cotton) was 2nd team all-conference two years ago at South Dakota, and the RG (Taran Tyo) was third team all-MAC last year at Ball State. The Center (Gavin Gerhardt) was HM All-Big 12 two years ago, nothing last year - this is his 4th year staring though.

All that to say, they are not pushovers and our DL isn't going to dominate. But if we're not able to at least get a stalemate here, it bodes really badly for us against some of the Big Ten lines that are experienced, big, and significantly more talented.

 

[MyBloodIsRed16]

We are not a lot smaller on D line. We are two large humans 6'5 310 and 6'4 310 short. Replaced by 6'5 275 and 6'5 295. And a few 6'3 270+ guys who played last year. Then add 6'7 265 on the edge.

 

[Undone]

I'm going with a 7-5 regular season.

 

[Toe]

Anybody still thinking it's gonna be a third year leap for this team?

 

[Bobby_Axelrod]

10-3
We lose to Michigan; USC; and Penn State and win the bowl game.
Why? Winning the close games is the difference. Plus, alcohol makes me smarter.

 

[Hilltop]

Anybody still thinking it's gonna be a third year leap for this team?

I do. I think we finish with 9 or 10 wins if we stay healthy in the key roster spots. No, we aren't great but we are better and our schedule is manageable. Don't worry, easier competition at home for the next 2 games will have you drinking the Kool-Aid again.

 

[TGHusker]

I wish we had more options at RB. A injury to EJ would destroy my confidence in us getting 8 wins.
I also wish DR was more mobile to be a threat in the running game.

 

[Archy1221]

I wish we had more options at RB. A injury to EJ would destroy my confidence in us getting 8 wins.
I also wish DR was more mobile to be a threat in the running game.

A positive I take out it the game is, if this is the worst the team plays, it gives me confidence in an 8 win season and possibly 9 by stealing a game somewhere. I just don’t see the team not improving and tightening things up. Three new coordinators, a true sophomore QB throwing to 2 brand new receivers, and a rebuilt DLine, all of those things hopefully begin to jell with more game experience.

 

[Undone]

Prior to kickoff of the Cincinnati game, I voted for a 7-5 regular season.

I don't think I saw anything from the game that makes me feel like my prediction was too low on the win total. From where I'm sitting now, I think these games are automatic losses (yes, even the USC game):

• Michigan
• USC
• Penn State

I wish I didn't believe that to be the case about USC and I of course really hope I'm wrong.

So what is the difference between 7-5 & 9-3? I think we'll beat Maryland, a team who typically isn't that physical and is coming off a 4-8 season from last year.

It's almost definitely the Minnesota & Iowa games.

Can't believe I'm saying this, just shows how much oscillation there is in college football and the B1G at this point, but we're lucky we don't have to play Illinois this year, but we're unlucky that we don't play Wisconsin. Illinois is a good team, and Wisconsin is trending into the s*** can. Wouldn't have said that 5 - 8 years ago...

 

[presidentjlh]

Anybody still thinking it's gonna be a third year leap for this team?

I am more skeptical of this team now, but two things to consider: 1) Week 1 performance is not necessarily an indictment on how the season will go, see Oregon last year. 2) I think Cincinnati is a better team than many give them credit, just based on watching them.

I'd place my guess now at a 9-4 season as opposed to 10-3, which I think would still be good.

 

[TGHusker]

I am more skeptical of this team now, but two things to consider: 1) Week 1 performance is not necessarily an indictment on how the season will go, see Oregon last year. 2) I think Cincinnati is a better team than many give them credit, just based on watching them.

I'd place my guess now at a 9-4 season as opposed to 10-3, which I think would still be good.

I think after Michigan we will have a clue what the season looks like. Beat Mich and we are 9-10 wins. Lose badly to Michigan and we are 7 at best.

 

[Cornfed]

I am more skeptical of this team now, but two things to consider: 1) Week 1 performance is not necessarily an indictment on how the season will go, see Oregon last year. 2) I think Cincinnati is a better team than many give them credit, just based on watching them.

I'd place my guess now at a 9-4 season as opposed to 10-3, which I think would still be good.

Agreed. Satterfield is a good coach. He won ACC coach of the year in 2019 and also had four great seasons (9, 10, 10 and 11 wins) at App state. He struggled a bit at louisville but overall I think Cinci is a pretty good team that will see 8/9 wins this season...

 

[Cornfed]

I am more skeptical of this team now, but two things to consider: 1) Week 1 performance is not necessarily an indictment on how the season will go, see Oregon last year. 2) I think Cincinnati is a better team than many give them credit, just based on watching them.

I'd place my guess now at a 9-4 season as opposed to 10-3, which I think would still be good.

We beat the breaks off of Wisconsin last year, Oregon beat them by 3. Everyone is so quick to make judgements off of one game. I think the fact we were on the right side of a 1 score games speaks to the trajectory of this team. That was a curse we've been under for 7+ years.

 

[Undone]

Lose badly to Michigan and we are 7 at best.

Just food for thought: there were a couple times over the past 6-7 seasons where we played Ohio State really close and made them work hard for the 'W.' But neither time did it actually inform us all that much as to the final record for the season.

Now, maybe we'd have to define "lose badly" to Michigan. Like, if we lose 62-3 and their third string starters are in there by early third quarter, then it probably does inform us.

But what I'm saying is, we could lose to Michigan something like 31 - 18 and I don't think it would really tell us anything.

What I saw last Thursday confirmed my preseason thoughts: we're going to really struggle to get wins over the two major swing games of the season, which are in my opinion most likely going to be Minnesota & Iowa. Maybe UCLA is on that list also, but they looked like hot garbage against Utah.

 

[Crusader Husker]

I did go back andf watch a little of the U of Cinncy game. We seemed to be pretty vanilla on D.