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Tradition Crystal Ball: Predicting every Nebraska football game in 2024
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Editor’s note: Saturday Tradition’s annual Crystal Ball series continues with Nebraska. We’ll go in alphabetical order through the 18-team B1G.
Previously: Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Maryland | Michigan | Michigan State | Minnesota
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Welcome back to another installment of Tradition’s Crystal Ball series! We are in the process of predicting every single game on the 2024 Big Ten schedule, and the latest episode features a look at Nebraska’s schedule.
As we inch ever closer to Week 0 and the return of college football, Matt Rhule’s Huskers stand out as one of the most polarizing programs in the new 18-team version of the B1G. Nebraska has not been to a bowl game since 2016, a stretch that now covers 3 head coaches and a string of futility that includes 5 seasons of 4 wins or less.
At some point, the fortunes of Nebraska are bound to change. Right? No program with the rich history of the Cornhuskers can languish in futility in perpetuity, especially considering the strong defensive play throughout the 2023 season.
While football is indeed the ultimate team sport, all eyes around Lincoln will be on the quarterback this season. That’s because of 2 reasons: The QB position was absolutely dreadful last year, and the program signed an elite 5-star talent in Dylan Raiola in the 2023 recruiting class.
Whether Raiola earns the starting gig as a true freshman or Heinrich Haarberg takes a big step forward, the Huskers appear ready to elevate the offense. That’s because Nebraska also stockpiled some veteran receivers from the transfer portal to go with a budding crop of youngsters who got their feet wet a season ago.
What does all that mean for the schedule ahead? That remains to be seen, but there should be a growing sense of optimism around the Huskers.
Now, let’s get to the Crystal Ball.
Game-by-game predictions
Week 1: vs. UTEP (W)
UTEP is moving into a new era, hiring Scotty Walden, who was 26-14 at Austin Peay. That move might work out for the Miners, but it presents a golden opportunity for Nebraska, regardless of who starts at quarterback in Week 1. The Huskers will have a chance to get many players some early playing time in what should be a blowout. That will serve the team well in Week 2.
Week 2: vs. Colorado (W)
The first head-to-head matchup between Matt Rhule and Deion Sanders a season ago provided plenty of buildup, but it was not long before Colorado pulled away for a blowout win. However, the odds for 2024 have shifted favorably for the Huskers with FanDuel listing Nebraska at -6.5 for the Week 2 matchup. Considering the strength of Nebraska’s defense, the Huskers will be in a solid position if they can just avoid the 4 turnovers and -3 turnover margin from last year’s loss to Colorado.
We can say this for the majority of games, but nothing is a given for Nebraska until the program shows it can once again learn how to win close games. It’s unlikely the Huskers suddenly find something that leads to a blowout win over Colorado and Coach Prime. But I do think they take a big step when it comes to finishing off winnable games. Revenge will be sweet.
Week 3: vs. Northern Iowa (W)
Northern Iowa has seen a fair amount of success as an FCS program. But that’s exactly what the Panthers are. An FCS program that won 6 games last year and was blown out by Iowa State in its only game against a power conference team. If Nebraska gets past Colorado, the Huskers have a shot at getting to 3-0 in nonconference play, and that will be huge in their attempts to get to a bowl game. Nebraska has at least 1 nonconference loss in every season since 2017 and 2+ losses 3 times in that span. (2020 not included.)
Week 4: vs. Illinois (W)
Nebraska had dropped 3 straight games to Illinois before Rhule’s squad turned things around with a 20-7 win in Champaign last season. The Huskers will be home for this one, and I think they will be laser-focused for the B1G opener. Similar to Nebraska, Illinois is a program that struggled to hold onto the football in 2023, so I’ll lean toward the team with the better defense in this matchup. Advantage: Nebraska, in a big way.
Then again, the Illini did their best to improve a defense that could not stop anything a season ago. If Bret Bielema’s defense gets back to its opportunistic takeaways that were commonplace in 2022, this game could swing with the uncertainty at QB for the Huskers. I still think Nebraska’s defense has the big edge, but don’t be surprised if it’s another close game.
Week 5: at Purdue (W)
Let’s imagine Nebraska does somehow get to 4-0, an accomplishment that does not feel far-fetched looking at the game-by-game breakdown. In that scenario, I don’t see a way the Huskers slip up against Purdue, even on the road in West Lafayette. Remember for a second that Rhule’s program beat Ryan Walters’ Boilermakers 31-14 during Walters’ first season. I don’t think it will matter who lines up at QB for Nebraska. The ground game and the defense could be enough to shut down Purdue.
Week 6: vs. Rutgers (L)
If I’m honest, I’m still trying to convince myself a 5-0 start is even possible for the Huskers, who haven’t been 5-0 since 2016. Either way, Nebraska is likely feeling good with a winning record entering Week 6, and Rutgers is the perfect team to spoil those things, even in Lincoln. Fans know the Scarlet Knights are not going to try and throw the ball around the yard under Greg Schiano, and Athan Kaliakmanis has seen enough of the B1G to navigate a hostile environment.
I’m high on Rutgers this fall. A few wake-up calls are coming at some point for Nebraska, and this will be one of them.
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: at Indiana (L)
Curt Cignetti can talk the talk. Can he walk the walk in the B1G? The Hoosiers are unlikely to make a major splash this fall, but they are certainly capable of stunning a few of the mid-level programs that have become accustomed to playing a punching bag in Bloomington. And, let’s face it: Nebraska is the better team, but we’ve seen year after year that weird things happen against teams Nebraska should beat. And with a young quarterback prone to mistakes, they’ll get bitten at least once against a lesser opponent. Indiana also gets an extra boost from a Nebraska team likely looking ahead to a Week 9 matchup at mighty Ohio State.
Week 9: at Ohio State (L)
Nebraska is poised to make major strides in Year 2 under Rhule. That’s a great sign, but there’s no use dissecting how far away the Huskers are from the B1G’s elite teams. Ohio State has some of the best 2024 Big Ten Championship odds — and for good reason. This game also comes in Columbus, so Lincoln does not get the benefit of trying to provide a homefield advantage.
More bad news for Nebraska: This game comes 2 weeks after Ohio State’s trip to Oregon and 1 week after a bye for the Buckeyes. If Ryan Day’s team drops that game in Eugene, they may take some frustrations out on Nebraska.
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Week 10: vs. UCLA (W)
Chip Kelly’s sudden departure from UCLA (to Ohio State as OC) this offseason leaves the Bruins in a tricky spot. DeShaun Foster could be the right man for the job, but there’s no denying UCLA did not have a ton of options readily available. Foster’s first season could be rough, especially considering UCLA is adjusting to the new life of travel in the B1G. Heading to Lincoln in November will be among the rough moments for the Bruins, who, as Foster noted, are in sunny Los Angeles.
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: at USC (L)
Caleb Williams is no longer at USC, and questions about Lincoln Riley’s long-term fit in the B1G are bound to percolate throughout the season. Still, that doesn’t fully take into account USC still has some offensive pieces in place for the move to the B1G and a new defensive coaching staff to try and fix that side of the ball. I’m not sure the Trojans can fully turn around any defense under Riley until they show otherwise, but the offense will have its moments. Also, the travel component is at play and will factor into the final outcome.
Week 13: vs. Wisconsin (W)
Wisconsin is still trying to find an identity under Luke Fickell after the Air Raid offense underwhelmed in Year 1 and the defense failed to deliver what fans grew accustomed due during Jim Leonhard’s stint as DC. That’s not to say the defense was bad, but it was not enough to fully compensate for the offense’s issues. Also consider the fact the Huskers raced to a 14-0 lead last season before falling in overtime.
Nebraska has kept it close the past 2 seasons. I believe times are changing in Lincoln, and this will be the year to kick a 10-game losing streak to the Badgers.
Week 14: at Iowa (L)
Let’s be honest: A 7-win regular season, before we even get to the season finale, will feel like a storybook moment for Rhule and Nebraska. A chance to get to 8 wins will not be taken lightly, but even in a season as positive as this one, projecting a road win in Iowa City would be unwise. Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes have won 9 of the past 11 in the series, in a variety of ways. Iowa extends that run, but it will be a spirited effort to show that the tide is indeed turning in regard to the Huskers.
2024 Projection: 7-5 (4-5)
It’s finally time, Nebraska fans. Buy those plane tickets and prepare your postseason tailgate, the Huskers are going bowling this season! At least that’s what the Crystal Ball is telling me here in August.
I won’t fault any skeptics about the results of our preseason predictions. In fact, an early season-ending injury to projected starter Teddy Prochazka gives some sort of ominous feeling for the season ahead.
Then again, a second glance at the schedule shows a lot of potential. Nebraska has some tough games, particularly on the road, but only Ohio State stands out as a game of truly gargantuan odds.
Nothing will be given, but the Huskers have a brilliant shot at the breakthrough fans have been waiting on for years. They won’t blow it this time around.
States: MD, MA, OH, NY, AZ, MI, KS, KY, TN, PA, NJ, VA, CO, IL, MI, WV, IA, WY, IN
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Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.