2026 Season Previews, Predictions & Watch Lists

[ATX_Husker]

A little early but they are already coming so...

 

[Doc Fumble]

I like J.D. Pickell. He has always given props to Nebraska. I think he made a number of good points in the video ^^^^^. But I think most of the CFB pundits -- including J.D. -- underestimate the strength of our roster going into the season.

I'm not going to get into the record prediction business, but I am going to make one bold prediction:

We're going to have a marquee win this season!

 

[innmc]

I like J.D. Pickell. He has always given props to Nebraska. I think he made a number of good points in the video ^^^^^. But I think most of the CFB pundits -- including J.D. -- underestimate the strength of our roster going into the season.

I'm not going to get into the record prediction business, but I am going to make one bold prediction:

We're going to have a marquee win this season!

Roster potential alone I would agree, Chemistry within the team is key. Will they be able to jell quickly?

 

[ATX_Husker]

 

[Righteous Red]

I like J.D. Pickell. He has always given props to Nebraska. I think he made a number of good points in the video ^^^^^. But I think most of the CFB pundits -- including J.D. -- underestimate the strength of our roster going into the season.

I'm not going to get into the record prediction business, but I am going to make one bold prediction:

We're going to have a marquee win this season!

Doc, I hear ya about the Marquee Win. I would be just as happy if we could avoid those
Marquee Meltdowns.

 

[Jimbosc]

7 wins is certainly possible without a "marque" win (that would mean a win over tOSU, Oregon, Iowa or Indiana). I don't consider anyone else at that level (Illinois likely will be ranked, Washington also - but I don't see either team in the CFP.) Given the long history of Rhule's failure in Top 25 match-ups - I am not confident we will surprise any of quality teams we play this year. Just winning games that are forecast as close on point spread would be a good step IMHO. Michigan State will be a good early test on how good team this team will be.

Sorry to be Debbie downer - but until Rhule shows the ability to level up his coaching in tough games.....expecting a breakthrough seems like a reach. Is the roster better than last season.....marginally. Will the coaching changes level up the D and oline....probably. But a tougher schedule likely results in a similar record of Wins and Losses. The X factor is our QB - if he's able to thrive and the offense is able to move the ball on good defenses that improves our prospects. The Y factor is if our Special Teams take a giant step back - it likely eliminates anything our O and D improve on. Rhule is gambling in this area - it may blow up in his face.

 

[ATX_Husker]

That is fair. Rhule has certainly been outcoached his time in Lincoln. I think back to Mack Brown and how good Vince Young made him look by being able to improvise when the play broke down. As they state below AC may not be Vince Young but he certainly gives us a better chance of getting something out of nothing than Dylan did.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2074504279793008688

 

[innmc]

 

[Doc Fumble]

The X factor is our QB - if he's able to thrive and the offense is able to move the ball on good defenses that improves our prospects.

I think back to Mack Brown and how good Vince Young made him look by being able to improvise when the play broke down. As they state below AC may not be Vince Young but he certainly gives us a better chance of getting something out of nothing than Dylan did.

We have had--and still have--some Real Deal playmakers on offense. So it was frustrating to see last season's per-game scoring average and TD percentage in the Red Zone. Who would've predicted that, especially since we had an All-American RB?

The Bottom Line is that we went 'all-in' on our QB and he turned out to have some serious deficiencies to go with his strengths. For all DR's hype, B1G DCs exploited his weaknesses--which put our offense on the defensive each week instead of the other way around.

While we won't know if AC will be the X-factor, he will certainly 'open up' our offense, making us harder for defenses to scheme against. The key stat for Husker fans this season will be Anthony's TD to turnover ratio.

 

[Husker99]

I think we'll win our non-conference games and have better than above chances to beat Michigan State and Rutgers. So there are, I think, 5 wins...the other remaining 7? Probable losses. So I'll split the difference and say Nebraska is going to be 6-6 in 2026.

NOTE: There are many x-factors which can potentially make Nebraska better than 6-6. Can the Huskers

* Stop opponents run game?
* Stop opponents QB run game?
* Use the DL and affect opposing QBs?
* Can the OTs pass pro?
* Can the Huskers maintain on Special Teams or will they regress?

These ^^ are all questions that will be answered in due course.

Again, until Matt Rhule, his coaches, and these players prove on the field they're good and can win, I'll continue to doubt. Don't want to be Negative Nancy or Debbie Downer, but I'm just tired of, and not buying into anymore, the baseless hype.

 

[Huskergod84]

I think we'll win our non-conference games and have better than above chances to beat Michigan State and Rutgers. So there are, I think, 5 wins...the other remaining 7? Probable losses. So I'll split the difference and say Nebraska is going to be 6-6 in 2026.

NOTE: There are many x-factors which can potentially make Nebraska better than 6-6. Can the Huskers

* Stop opponents run game?
* Stop opponents QB run game?
* Use the DL and affect opposing QBs?
* Can the OTs pass pro?
* Can the Huskers maintain on Special Teams or will they regress?

These ^^ are all questions that will be answered in due course.

Again, until Matt Rhule, his coaches, and these players prove on the field they're good and can win, I'll continue to doubt. Don't want to be Negative Nancy or Debbie Downer, but I'm just tired of, and not buying into anymore, the baseless hype.

So you are predicting us to go 3-6 in the conference? If thats all the better we can do in Rhules 4th year then I think we have seen all we need to see with Matt Rhule. I dont want to continue on the coaching carasoul but if you cant win, you cant win.

 

[HuskerVotary]

I've no expectations. Truly. None.




but i'm ready to believe. yay. gbr

 

[Doc Fumble]

So you are predicting us to go 3-6 in the conference? If thats all the better we can do in Rhules 4th year then I think we have seen all we need to see with Matt Rhule. I dont want to continue on the coaching carasoul but if you cant win, you cant win.

YEAH BOY, Huskergod84!!!

If you can't do any better than 3-6 in the conference in YEAR 4 (and especially if we can manage only one conference win), then there's no need to give the guy a fifth year, right?

Sorry, Hg--I know that was dickish of me but I couldn't resist.

 

[KansasRed]

Considering the changed (and changing) landscape of college football I don't see our beloved Huskers being much more than average ever again. If we could just get to being a consistent 8 or 9 win team with the occasional 10+ wins thrown in I'll be thrilled. But I'm not sure it's going to happen. Guess that makes me a Negative Nancy (Nathan?) or Debbie (David?) Downer,

It pains me to say it and I'm thankful I got to witness the glory years. I wish it would happen again in my lifetime but...

 

[Hunchback Johnny]

ESPN predicts Big Ten order of finish ahead of 2026 college football season

Nebraska predicted to finish 14th in an 18-team conference in Coach Matt's 4th season. Is this progress? I sure hope they are wrong.

 

[Jimbosc]

Sort of my point is if Rhule can only get 3 or 4 B1G wins - is it time to move on? Likely - we won't - because of his contract. But I think there needs to be some serious thought about how to address his lack of results. Not sure what more the AD can do other than fire him......but open to suggestions.

 

[Husker99]

So you are predicting us to go 3-6 in the conference? If thats all the better we can do in Rhules 4th year then I think we have seen all we need to see with Matt Rhule. I dont want to continue on the coaching carasoul but if you cant win, you cant win.

I am genuinely sorry to say this, but yes it is entirely possible we could go 3-6 in conference play.

I am looking at our games vs Oregon, Indiana, Ohio State, and Iowa as pretty much guaranteed losses, so there are 4 losses right there.

Illinois and Washington are pretty much 50/50 toss-ups that could go either way. Lose both of those and yeah, there are your 6 conference losses.

Once again, I want to emphasize that I desperately hope and want to be wrong about this but until Matt Rhule and this team proves it on the field, I see no reason to buy into any of the hype.

 

[Husker99]

I sure hope they are wrong.

Me to.

 

[innmc]

At last! The sports world is counting on us to have another miserable disappointing season. It's about time. Instead of the usual hype that gets us all hopeful and raises the odds in Vegas they are all looking forward to Nebraska underachieving again. That just tells me to bet the farm on this year's Husker football team getting 9 wins!

 

[justino52]

Could Nebraska be a better team than last year but have a worse record?
I don't like to put a qualifier on a record and say if it's worse than this, then he's gone because so much can factor into it. I still am one of the delusional ones that says if they aren't undefeated and win a title than it was not a good season.
I think the staff is a much better staff than last year but do they get one year and that's it if the record isn't good or doesn't equate to the metric we want? Or does it depend on what happens in those wins or losses? Part of me thinks back to 2003 and wonders what another year with that new staff would have looked like and what might have been.

Anyway. 58 more days.

GO BIG RED!!