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Media Predictions for Nebraska 2026 Football Season

TGHusker

TGHusker

Assistant Coach

Nebraska​

CFN Spring Nebraska Win Total: 6.5
CFN Nebraska Projected Record: 6-6
Almost Certain Wins: Bowling Green, North Dakota, Ohio
Likely Losses: Indiana, Ohio State, at Oregon
50/50 Games: at Illinois, at Iowa, Maryland, at Michigan State, at Rutgers, Washington
2025: Total 7 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 7-5
2024: Total 7.5 | Prediction 7-5 | Record 6-6


In the analysis below, I suspect the worse case happens before the best case just based on Rhule's track record alone.

The Good​

The Huskers should have three wins before getting up to speed - they're not exactly pushing the envelope in the non-conference slate - and with Michigan State and Maryland to start, there's a real chance to start 5-0.

The trip to East Lansing is the only road game before October 17th, but ...

The Bad​

There's a ton of road work to do over the second half of the season.

The run of three road games in four dates hurts, and the season closes with four road games in the last six.

At Rutgers - there's a shot that's the only game out of the last seven that Nebraska is favored in.

What Big Ten Teams Nebraska Will Miss​

Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, USC, Wisconsin.

UGH. Sure, not playing Michigan, Penn State, and USC is good, but not getting Purdue hurts, and the Huskers getting Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon is a problem.

Nebraska’s Best and Worst Case Scenarios in 2026​

Best Case: The Huskers are still alive for Ohio State​

They rip through the first five games and are at least competitive in the back-to-back games against Indiana and at Oregon.

After beating Washington and getting past Illinois and Rutgers on the road, it all comes down to upsetting Ohio State in the home finale and beating Iowa on the road.

Or, in some way, shape, or form, they get to 10-2 and are off to the College Football Playoff.

Worst Case: Nebraska biffs in East Lansing​

The Huskers lose the Big Ten opener at Michigan State, and then it's a weekly struggle just to stay alive.

The four game-losing streak in the middle of the season puts the pressure on late, needing to beat Iowa on the road just to go bowling.
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Games That Will Decide Nebraska’s Season​

1. at Michigan State, Sept. 26
Lose the Big Ten opener, and there's a big, big problem the rest of the way. Win, and there's a great shot at a 5-0 start.

2. Indiana, Oct. 10
We're well past the point of being amazed at who the new Big Red Machine is. If Nebraska wants to be a thing again, it has to pull off something big like this.

3. Washington, Oct. 31
With three of the last four games on the road, the Huskers need to roll the Huskies after getting a week off to prepare.
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Personally, I would put the chances of beating the Maryland, MSU & Rutgers significantly above 50/50. Those three teams combined for a total of 4 B1G wins between all of them in 2025. NU is bad, but they're not that bad. Not saying they won't blow one or more of those games but they really shouldn't.

On the other hand, I would put the chances of beating Ill, Iowa & Washington below 50/50. They combined for 16 B1G wins last year and while we might be able to steal one or two games, those schools all have had better football programs than DONU over the last few years.
 
I'm in the camp we all seem to be feeling in terms of, "I'm done with the hype, show me the results", but at the same time, I don't really get why people are so actively down on their beliefs in what the team can accomplish.

We brought in some new quality staffers, and some great portal additions in places of weakness. idk, I feel like there's a decent chance Rhule's finally got clarity and pieces for exactly what he wants to do, and as much as I don't have any bitterness towards Dylan, I also recognize that he (and uncle) didn't fit Rhule's original plans, but you can't just say no to a generational legacy 5 star quarterback.
 
Lorewarn said:
I don't really get why people are so actively down on their beliefs in what the team can accomplish.
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I think we are between a rock and a hard place - Talent will be overall better but the schedule is perceived to be much harder than last year's schedule. Most thought last year's scheduled should have yielded a 8-4 at worst regular season and 9-4 including a bowl win at the low end and playoff contenders at the high end. Talent and coaching will be better.... will the mental part of the game be that much better to get us through a difficult season?? I think most of us have kicked over the kool-aide pitcher and just want to wait and see. It is hard for me to even be cautiously optimistic. I can see us going 5-7 or 6-6. It is hard for me to see that 7th win based on past results - maybe Washington. I hope I am wrong. Win first 3 games then MSU, Maryland and Rutgers. Beyond Washington I don't see an 8th win and a better record next year.
 
I feel like football is a little more predictable than basketball but it is still hard to put a number on anything these days. Teams change yearly and we are going to look and be different in many areas. No clue what that leads to lol but I'm sure of one thing. One of these years the team will over perform... why not cheer and hope it will be this year?
 
Hilltop said:
I feel like football is a little more predictable than basketball but it is still hard to put a number on anything these days. Teams change yearly and we are going to look and be different in many areas. No clue what that leads to lol but I'm sure of one thing. One of these years the team will over perform... why not cheer and hope it will be this year?
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We all cheer for them on a regular basis, but Rhule has crapped the bed for 3 years. Hard to see what the improvements have been.
 
TGHusker said:
Most thought last year's scheduled should have yielded a 8-4 at worst regular season and 9-4 including a bowl win at the low end and playoff contenders at the high end.
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See, I'm in a weird place this year because last year, I was one of those who didn't think we were going to have a breakthrough year. Before last season I said we were too young at too many positions for that to be realistic. And while there were certainly some aggravating things, for the most part the season ended up playing out about the way I expected it to.

This year? I just said we had too many young guys last year, right? Well, from last year to this year we move up almost fifty positions in the experience rankings...
 
I'm in the show me phase. 5-7 is sadly believable. 6-6 the bitter reality. New defensive staff and scheme. How long to get up to speed? A lot of new faces. Do we have a receiver who will actually be able to take the top off of the D? Will we have a true RB 1 or another year of RB by committee? Do we have quality2 deep yet at every position? Will Dana use our mobile QB's ability? Until we stop the run, the D will continue to be abused. So yea, show me this season.
 
Lorewarn said:
I'm in the camp we all seem to be feeling in terms of, "I'm done with the hype, show me the results", but at the same time, I don't really get why people are so actively down on their beliefs in what the team can accomplish.
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I don't think a lot of people are "actively down" on expectations, the fact is that Rhule has shown to be a .500 coach over his career and has yet to post a winning record in conference at NU. It's more "this is what we are/he is" until proven otherwise. No reason to believe any hype until the team shows something. Go beat a ranked team, don't lose to a team you shouldn't lose to, have a winning November and on and on.

We're all ready for more, and to be able to expect more, but that's not the case yet.
 
Show me phase for me too. Put up or shut up. Just win, baby. Guess what, the Big 10 is a hard football conference. Stop crying and certainly beat Iowa and Illinois this season.
 
lo country said:
I'm in the show me phase. 5-7 is sadly believable. 6-6 the bitter reality. New defensive staff and scheme. How long to get up to speed? A lot of new faces. Do we have a receiver who will actually be able to take the top off of the D? Will we have a true RB 1 or another year of RB by committee? Do we have quality2 deep yet at every position? Will Dana use our mobile QB's ability? Until we stop the run, the D will continue to be abused. So yea, show me this season.
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Exxxxxxactly - I feel I have to stretch my integrity to say we can go 7-5 this year. I think everything has to go just right for that to happen. Anything more seems like a LSD trip. If we don't have a receiver who can take the top off of the D, that will affect the passing game but also our QB's ability to run and our running game. If we can't stretch the D, we end up playing in a smaller space. Last year - that was our problem but we had EJ who got so many of his yards after initial contact. Quality 2 deep - not yet. The question about Dana using our mobile QB begs another question: Will Dana keep going with what is working instead of switching to pass, pass, pass and then 3 and out as he did so many times last year.
 
TGHusker said:
Exxxxxxactly - I feel I have to stretch my integrity to say we can go 7-5 this year. I think everything has to go just right for that to happen. Anything more seems like a LSD trip. If we don't have a receiver who can take the top off of the D, that will affect the passing game but also our QB's ability to run and our running game. If we can't stretch the D, we end up playing in a smaller space. Last year - that was our problem but we had EJ who got so many of his yards after initial contact. Quality 2 deep - not yet. The question about Dana using our mobile QB begs another question: Will Dana keep going with what is working instead of switching to pass, pass, pass and then 3 and out as he did so many times last year.
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Weeeee geeet itttt... Not sure why it has to be repeated so many times. You will be pessimistic about the season until proven wrong. That's ok by me. Enjoy your misery.

I will challenge one point you try to make. EJ was toward the top in the nation with yards before contact. His yards after weren't bad by any means at 3.0 but the O-Line did more than people give them credit for. I'll also point out our run/pass balance was run heavy - 451 rushing attempts to 378 passing attempts. It's your story so by all means don't let any of these facts get in the way.
 
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